Acts according to Pinterest?

I believe that one of the biggest deterrents to church participation for women might be the women's ministries. 

Yes - you read that right. The place that women should be able to be real - about their heart ache and inadequacies and fears and failures is too often the place that so many feel they have to dress up to go into. 

I love our church. Our pastor pushes us when he preaches to be a follower of Jesus - not a fan. The disabilities ministry allows us to attend church each Sunday and my two kids with disabilities are ministered to in a way that Jesus becomes real to them. Our church is a vibrant "hands and feet of Jesus" in our community. 

However, our church has a women's ministry that I just don't connect with. 

The Christmas event this year sums it up better than I ever could. 

This year, Women’s Ministries is launching our first ever COME (to my) HOME FOR CHRISTMAS event, Saturday November 8 from 8:30 am–12:30 pm on main campus.

This will be a Saturday morning dedicated to motivating and empowering women to open their homes at Christmas for the purpose of hospitality and friendship. 

Pre-choose three out of 15+ seminars that will equip you for Kingdom conversations and outreach to your family, friends and neighborhood. Don’t miss options like “A Very Pinterest Christmas,” a bunch of “How-tos” (Cookie Exchange, Caroling Party, Craft Party), things to do with children and grandchildren for Advent, events to invite your neighbors to, ways to simplify, decorate and entertain—and much more.

Are you uncomfortable yet? This isn't an outreach event to bring non believers to church; this is an event designed to "equip" women for Jesus conversations.

Here are the other options for seminars:

1. THE HEART OF HOSPITALITY: TO BLESS (NOT TO IMPRESS)

2. A VERY PINTEREST CHRISTMAS

3. FINDING YOUR FOCUS AMIDST HOLIDAY HURRY

4. SET A CHRISTMAS TABLE

5. MIXING AND MINGLING AROUND THE HOLIDAYS

6. BEST CHRISTMAS BRUNCH EVER

7. HOW TO HOST A CAROLING PARTY

8. DIY FUN FOR THE NON-DIYer

9. MAKING YOUR KID THE TEACHER’S PET

10. A VERY NEIGHBORLY CHRISTMAS

 12. JOY TO THE WORLD: BRINGING CARBONATED HOLINESS INTO THE SEASON

13. HOW TO HOST YOUR OWN CRAFT PARTY

14. SIMPLIFYING CHRISTMAS

15. TEN THINGS TO DO WITH A MASON JAR

16. CHRISTMAS BOOKS FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

17. THE ART AND HEART OF HOSPITALITY: THREE PARTY IDEAS

I am not seeing a whole lot about equipping people to talk about Jesus and the significant of Christmas here. 

Don't misunderstand me - I am sure that all these seminars have wonderful information, and I am sure that I would actually enjoy them. I would love to know how to set a beautiful Christmas table. I would really, really love to be able to DIY as a non-DIYer

It's just that none of this is terribly biblical. 

In the days of the early church, hospitality was the backbone of the church. People gathered together to eat and to worship and to celebrate. They sat together around a table over meals and they had fellowship and this is how the gospel was shared. This is how people came to know Jesus. This is how people came to be followers of Jesus. 

And they did it all without Pinterest. 

Hospitality isn't about what your table looks like. It's not about what food is served on your table. It's not about the "theme' of the party. It's not about any of that. It's about opening your heart to the needs of others. Not at Christmas but always. 

When church puts pressure on women to "dress it up" so that we (or our homes) look "good" to entice people to hear our message, we cheat precisely those who we hope to share the gospel with. We become bearers of the church message "dress up to be acceptable to God". 

A subtle message is sent that "God will use you with your neighbors and friends if you clean it up and dress it up" right. 

And that's not the way it works.

I am sure that when my neighbors see us struggle with our kids - and our lives - yet continue to praise God they hear the gospel. When in the midst of our struggles we deliver them a meal or invite them to dinner, they experience true Christian hospitality. 

I am sure that it doesn't matter if we are eating on fine china or paper plates. 

I am sure that what my Christmas table looks like has nothing to do with the miracle of a God come to earth in form of helpless babe to save us from our sin - but when it is filled with people who have no other place to go, it is heaven on earth. 

I am sure that programs like this put more pressure on broken people to "clean up" before God can use them - which is precisely the opposite of what God does. It says God can't use your dirty floors, mismatched silverware or non decorated mantle" to show people His Glory. 

This isn't just about "our church - its about the churches everywhere that focus on "what" women do, rather than who they are. That are so committed to their programs and studies that they forget that so many need to sit with God and His people - in their brokenness and struggles and they need to not feel alone in those things. And not just in segregated support groups but with the body. 

That's the gospel message that needs to be shared and the meaning of Christmas. 

Tune in tomorrow for "The seminars special needs moms would like to see offered!"