A young preacher recently came upon a farmer working in his field. Being concerned about the farmer’s soul, the preacher asked the man, “Are you laboring in the vineyard of the Lord, my good man?”

Not even looking at the preacher and continuing his work, the farmer replied, “Naw, these are soybeans.”

“You don’t understand,” the preacher said. “Are you lost?”

“Naw! I’ve lived here all my life,” the farmer answered.

“Are you prepared for the resurrection?” the frustrated preacher asked.

This caught the farmer’s attention, and he asked, “When’s it gonna be?”

Thinking he had accomplished something, the young preacher replied, “It could be today, tomorrow or the next day.”

Taking a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiping his brow, the farmer remarked, “Well, don’t mention it to my wife. She don’t get out much, and she’ll wanna go all three days.”

The Bible, in 2 Timothy 2:16, says, “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.”

Talking past each other. Two people having a conversation … or are they? A simple introduction might have saved this young preacher some frustration. If the farmer knew he was speaking with a preacher, then the context of his questions would have been understandable.

I know I often assume someone should know what I’m taking about because, well, it’s obvious to me. This is all too common when we talk of God and Jesus and salvation. We think we know something, so everyone else should already know it too. It’s what we think should be common knowledge for all believers … but those still searching for Christ aren’t on that page yet. Condescension on our part can drive them farther away; patience can bring them forward.

We are all at different stages in our walk of faith. If we don’t learn to listen, we may miss the lessons from those farther along the path or miss saying what those just starting out need to hear.

That path is being walked by the folks in our local churches. Pick one this Sunday and take a stroll. You will find some folks up ahead, some lagging a little and surely some walking right beside you. It’s a journey with an unbelievable ending.

It’s Advent season. Visit a church. Come renew yourself as we prepare for that day of days when the Word became flesh. Presbyterian service is at 11 a.m.

“
We think we know something, so everyone else should already know it too.

”