A couple days ago I wrote about the delightful customer service I received on my Thanksgiving Road Trip. I wonder how that relates to church?
Some people think the church is too consumer-oriented, and they're probably right. Yet, I wonder if we treated people like customers when they came into the circle of the church, would we express love better? And I don't mean that the staff should treat people like customers. I mean each of us could treat the others like customers, like people who matter to us.
The primary question of a good customer service provider is: How may I serve you? That is a great question for Christ-followers to ask in any context: How may I serve you? When I am not thinking straight--in other words, when I am consumed by my sinful, selfish, normal way of thinking--I usually want to ask: How can you serve me? But when I get myself behind me, and I begin to think about others, my question can change. I can begin to think about serving you. And suddenly we have a Christ moment, a moment when grace is given, a neighbor is loved, and people get a glimpse of Jesus.
Such customer service need not be limited to the church lobby. I can offer this service in every context I enter. How may I serve you? It's a game-changer.