Avoid Being an Idiot

So we’ve switched insurance carriers at work. Again. It happens every year because the old people take too many drugs, see too many doctors, and have too many surgeries. Yesterday, we had our big annual meeting to meet the friendly new insurance company and go over the new policy. To borrow a line from Clayton, I’d rather set myself on fire, slowly, by rubbing sticks against my flesh than go to this meeting. Everyone hates it. The most exciting thing about the meeting was hearing Aaron explain why you can’t eat macaroni ‘n cheese and spaghetti at the same meal because you need meat, “chicken, beef, or somethin’.”
I couldn’t help but wonder if some people view our churches like I do this meeting. If Sundays are met with more dread than excitement.
I noticed a few takeaways for ministers:

• I was shocked that they presenters did not answer the most important question (nor did anyone ask): What does it cost? How much did the premiums go up? Church takeaway: Are you answering the most important question? Are you telling people to believe in the Gospel and repent of sin or are you just giving them five steps to having a better marriage/relationship with kids/financial situation/work life/etc.? (For the record, I think there are just two steps that work for all these issues: believe in the Gospel and repent of sin.)
• They told us that many people use the emergency room when it is unnecessary. As a precaution, we are given a nurse hot-line number or an online chat with a nurse to really diagnose whether it is an emergency or not. WHAT?!?!? If I think it might be an emergency, I’m not calling any 1-800 numbers or waiting for Internet Explorer to finally load. I’m going to the hospital. Church takeaway: Do you say or expect silly things that make normal people scratch their head and wonder exactly what type of crack you are smoking?
• The insurance lady explained that some prescription drugs, like Nexium, are no longer covered because there is an over-the-counter alternative. One guy explained that there is a chemical difference between Nexium and the over-the-counter version and that he had to spend three days in the hospital last year because he ran out of Nexium. She offered a forced look of concern and a “sorry.” And told him he could appeal. Church takeaway: People want to know you care. Genuinely. Faking it doesn’t work. Not caring doesn’t work.

Most of all, people hate this meeting because it is boring and they know it’s not going to change anything. Don’t let this be said of your church or ministry.