Minigreet

Read Diogenes on the infernal Minigreet. Like Orwell's Minitruth, the "Ministry of Truth" devoted to propagating the state's lies, a Christian church's "ministry of greeting" also belies its name - the grip-n-grin Minigreet ordeal at the front door can easily drive people away.

A long time ago Lisa and I went to a little Stone-Campbell church in Champaign. Their times were listed wrong in the yellow pages and we arrived halfway through the Sunday morning service, missing whatever gauntlet visitors usually run. We sat in the back corner of course, as normal people do when in a new place, and after things were finished we were mobbed by these people - they were magnetically drawn to us like pale vampires looking for fresh blood. Being normal people, we escaped and never returned.

A commenter at Diogenes' place wrote:

A little off the point, there is a fourth group - the crazy people. Some of them are homeless, some of them think they are Kaiser Wilhelm. Some will stand up through mass, mirroring the gestures of the priest. Most are very harmless. I love them there, and I think they are dearly loved by God. In New York, everyone just lets them be, and I think it's great that in a non-interfering way, they are "welcomed."

Indeed - that goes for normal people, too. Respect visitors enough to let them be alone with God. Soon enough, they'll find who they need to talk to.