(by James Bailey, Southside Church of Christ, Lawrence, KS)
While looking at Wikipedia the other day I ran across this definition: A default, in computer science, refers to a setting or value automatically assigned to a computer program or device. And the idea sort of “hit” me that a good question might be, “What is your “default” when you come to worship? When you walk in the door what “setting” or “value” do you automatically assign to the whole experience of worship?
• Do you automatically “default” to the idea that what is needed is to “just get
through” the hour? You know, find something else to do with your mind from the
opening song until the final “Amen”.
• Does your “default” go automatically to the “I’m just here to observe everyone
else” mode? Not necessarily the participant, more the “inspector” mentality. And not
too easy to please.
• Or maybe you “default” to the “Cross-I’d-bear” position. “Oh, I could be doing so
many other things, and this is so-o-o boring, but this is what is expected, so I’ll just
do the “religiously expected thing” and endure.
• Still another “default” is the one where we come to the building, but we never make
any effort toward becoming family. I don’t mind being part of the “called out” but
don’t even think about me being part of the “called close” to the rest of these
redeemed folks. Some would admit that they already know more about some of these
folks than they really want to. Which leads to a new “default” which is, “if there is
anything else I want to do, Hey it’s OK, because anything would have to be better
than being here, and my absence sends a message.”
• Maybe you “default” to the position of “being above it all”, you know, God should
be so proud to have me, that all that “brotherly love stuff” is for the commoners
down below. So this would be a good time to work on next week’s schedule, take a
nap, look at the floor, etc.
I sincerely hope that your personal spiritual “default” is “what a beautiful day to be with the brethren” —folks just like you, with strengths and faults just like yours, whom Jesus loved enough to die for. And no memory of another brother or sister is going to detract from the need to love them with all my being. And we need to show it, shaking their hand, hugging their neck, giving them a big smile and joining in to sing songs of praise together with these, my brethren. It starts with enthusiastically being on time for each meeting, making each new comer feel at home, and personally getting involved by
singing, praying along with the leader, following along, or taking notes on the sermon, and then staying long enough to meet someone you don’t know as well, each Sunday.
There is another definition of “Default”, it is, “Default may occur if the debtor is either unwilling or unable to pay their debt.” Since by God’s amazing grace our debt of sin has been paid at Calvary, do we dare default on the debt of love we owe Jesus, or share with our brethren?
