| If you are anything like me, you have moments when you dream of overcoming the Christian stereotype. Deep down, we long to be part of a loving and diverse community. We long to be part of a church known for caring for those the world has forgotten. We want to live out our lives of faith in ways that would please God and intrigue those around us. Wouldn't it be amazing if people saw our lives and wanted what we have? Wouldn't it be tremendous if people saw us living by faith, expressing love, and sharing hope? Rather than coming across as judgmental, homogeneous, isolated, conflict-filled, and irrelevant communities, we need to show the world what Christ truly intended us to be. We need to practice what I like to call "the art of woo." In the sixth century BC, Sun Tzu taught us how to destroy others in The Art of War. Someone else has taught us how to manipulate people in The Art of Seduction, so why can't we learn "the art of woo?" I love The Gallup Organization's definition of woo: "winning others over." The more common definition implies a romantic pursuit, one's attempts to gain the affection of another person. Both descriptions are helpful for us in this journey. We need more woo. Since we are God's children and representatives, those around us need to feel loved by us. My hope is that as followers of Christ, we would develop "the art of woo" so that we might learn to develop diverse communities, resolve conflict, overcome bitterness, create a better future, and even heal our fractured world. Wouldn't it be amazing if as followers of Christ we found ourselves as part of the solution in  | | © Svlumagraphica | Dreamstime.com | our divided world rather than as part of the problem? In the end, don't people matter most? Signs of change are all around us. I am meeting more and more leaders who are determined to create communities that show and share Christ's love in fresh ways in their cities. These leaders and communities have inspired me to believe in a new future. In addition, serving at Mosaic in Los Angeles has been a life-changing experience. Whether volunteering in the parking lot, hosting a small group, working with teenagers or college students, or serving as part of the leadership team, I'm continually amazed by this community. There are so many loving, sacrificial, talented, and courageous people, and we are all from such varied backgrounds. Not only are we diverse ethnically; we are diverse socioeconomically, generationally, politically, and even spiritually. Stepping into this diverse community as outsiders in 1998, my wife Debbie and I immediately felt welcomed and included. For the last several years, I have learned a great deal from our community and our leaders. My desire is to live a life that embraces the people Christians love to hate. I want to gain influence among those who look different, act differently, live differently, and believe differently. I want to overcome the Christian stereotype with love. I want those around me - whether or not they have a similar background and worldview - to be aware of God's love through my words and my actions. I want to take Jesus seriously when he challenged us to love God and love our neighbor. I want to learn "the art of woo."
Eric Bryant is the author of Peppermint-Filled Piñatas: Breaking Through Tolerance and Embracing Love and serves as an elder, speaker, and navigator overseeing the leadership team at Mosaic (www.mosaic.org) in Los Angeles with Erwin McManus. Eric lives with his wife Debbie, his son Caleb, and his daughter Trevi in the middle of Los Angeles County. Check out Eric's blog and more info at www.EricBryant.org
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