Geeks and the Church.

We all want to be accepted.   We want people to look at us and see something valuable, not as if we are from another planet.

Yet, not all of us are socially adept.  Sometime, the timing, the cadence of our voices, the content of our talk make others feel uncomfortable, or just plain confused as to how to respond.  It used to be that these people were considered geeks, dweebs, nerds, and other more injurious labels.  Now, there are a lot of us.  In fact, the number is growing all the time.

We are all socially awkward.  We all have moments when we have no idea how to respond to other people.  There are more and more situations where we feel alienated or disconnected from others.  Sometimes, we all feel like we are oddballs.

So what do you do if you know that you are socially awkward?   Join a church.

Churches are great because they usually give a little more slack to people who are different.  A few always spend just a little more time getting to know someone who is different.  Sometimes, this is all that makes the difference.  Sometimes, all us geeks and oddballs just want a second and third time to make a first impression.  Strangely enough, a lot of us oddballs are welcomed into a church for the long-term.  It is great when a social institution and a spiritual institution encourages people to be accepting enough to get over the Geek Bump.

The Geek Bump is the time it takes for others to realize that the geek is a person too.  We all have periods of time before another accepts us as "normal enough to talk to," but the geek usually has a much longer period of time before that happens.  The church gives time for others to get over that Geek Bump.

Why should churches be going after us Geeks?

There is no one more loyal than the dog who was lost and is now found.  A geek who feels accepted will feel protective, loving, inspired, and dedicated to the group who has accepted them.   They will work harder, do more, and add to the overall richness of that church.

Geeks know technology and love showing it off.   If you want to have a ministry Twittering, get a geek.  You want a virtual classroom for Sunday School, get a geek.  If you want your church computers to be up and running all the time, get a geek.  If you want to explore the Video Conferencing so churches across the world can join in service and ministry, get a geek.

Lastly; a geek is more likely to be accepting of others, and add the the outreach of the Church.  I am not saying that Geeks are the only great compassionate or accepting people.   However, anyone that adds to the atmosphere that attracts the different, the misfits, the fringe, the geeks, the oddballs is a good thing.

Acceptance attracts acceptance.

Accept a geek in church today.