Just the other day, as my husband was playing outside with our kids, he met a “new” neighbor and his little boy.  I say “new” because he has actually lived in our neighborhood for about eighteen months.  In the course of conversation, my husband mentioned that he is the principal of a church-based Christian school.   The man seemed to perk up and replied that he and his family had been going to a church in the area for about the past year.  He could describe the location, which my husband was immediately familiar with, but he was at a loss as to the church’s name.

When my husband told me about this later, my immediate thought was if our neighbor doesn’t know the name of the church that he’s been attending for over a year, what are the chances that anybody at the church knows his name?

Somewhere along the way, church-goers in America have place a premium on anonymity.  When you have the Joel Osteens with mega-congregations, being a “no name” is a matter of course and, quite possibly, a matter of preference.  Months back, I caught a snippet of the reality show Jon and Kate Plus 8.  It was from a previous season and showed the Gosselin family going to church.  In the voice-over narration, Kate Gosselin explained that they had chosen a church about an hour away from their home for two reasons.  First, the children’s ministry could accommodate all their kids, and, second, Kate said, “They leave us alone.”  I understand that part of her meaning was that people didn’t ogle them, snap pictures, or ask for autographs.  But is church really the place to be left alone?

Church should be a place where you are known–and not left alone.  Certainly, people should know your actual name, but they should also know your other name.  You know, maybe you’re experiencing a season of spiritual prosperity.  Your name might be something like Joy or Hope.  Or maybe you’re struggling.  I so identify with this list from I Thessalonians 5:13: “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the Unruly, encourage the Fainthearted, help the Weak, be patient with them all.”  When you are truly known, you can receive admonishment, encouragement, and help.  And this isn’t just a one-way street.  David Powlison in his book Speaking Truth in Love says this, “Grace and truth are ministered in the spontaneous give-and-take of talking, doing and relating with one another.”  That’s a pretty good formula for community life in a church.

So the next time you feel like being anonymous, take a deep breath and say, “Hello, my name is. . . .”