Listening

Yesterday during the worship services I focused upon the reasons why people outside the church don't like Christians, churches, or organized religion. After listening to a lot of people and reading various things such as Letters from Leavers I was struck by how many people are simply turned off by our own narcissism. The reality that many Christians feel that it is all about them, what they believe, and what they "know" are the answers. In the midst of that narcissism they seem to forget how to listen. They seem to forget how to have an open spirit and to meet people where they are at before trying to get them to go to where they assume they need to be. Maybe it would help if we began to speak less, listen more, and let the Holy Spirit do more of the work than thinking we are the ones who have to do it all.
So will you join me in listening more and allowing Jesus to be presented in ways that are invitational rather than in your face? I know that we have a lot to overcome because there are far to many people who present Jesus in this way rather than as someone most people would want to follow.