Haters….Urban dictionary defines a hater as such…
-A person that simply cannot be happy for another person’s success. So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person.
-Hating, the result of being a hater, is not exactly jealousy. The hater doesnt really want to be the person he or she hates, rather the hater wants to knock someone else down a notch
I’ve been fielding calls to our church lately that I’ve begun categorizing as “haters”. We’ve heard from many “haters” since we’ve started our most recent post card campaign. Cards went in bulk to households in the Joliet area explaining that we are beginning two worship services and introducing our latest message series. It’s unbelieveable how many people get raging mad when they receive these mailings. First, they want to be removed from the mailing list. When they begin to understand that there is no list to remove them from, then they feel compelled to inform me they are already affiliated with some other church. “Great,” I tell them, “you’re certainly under no obligation to attend here simply because you were invited. If you’re not interested, simply recycle the card and have a great day.” Well, you’d think the conversation would end here but it almost never does. They tell me that they care about the environment (I’m proud of you….one word RECYCLE) and how they just can’t fathom this waste of earthly resources OR they again reassure me they attend a church. I try to direct them to recycle the mailing, discard it, disregard it, but they still don’t stop. One lady was really wound up about it and complained that she just can’t stand that we have contemporary music. Maybe it’s just me but, WHO HAS TIME FOR THIS?? I can’t seem to find the time to accomplish everything I need to do much less, call every organization that sends me random mail and demand they remove me from their list. Iiii yiiii yiiii.
God is present at Crossroads and these “haters” are just further testament to that. Something good is happening to create such a stir in the neighboring community. So many are finding time in their busy lives to try to knock us down at “the office” but we smile and continue because that’s how we roll .
