“Where do you go to church?” he asked.

It’s East Texas etiquette essential, same as “Nice to meet you.” But it’s a lot more informative.

“I try never to go to church,” I replied. This is my standard answer. It is doctrinally correct, of course, but no one ever thinks of that.

“I find church an incredibly boring waste of time,” is usually my next comment after they recover from the shock of my first answer.

You’d be surprised at how many people will immediately confess that they totally agree with me on that last point. I’m not trying to be ugly. I just think spiritual topics deserve honest thought. And spiritual topics shouldn’t be dumbed down to the point of boredom, even for etiquette’s sake or for the ritual of a sermon.

So, if you are willing to think about it, here is another list of weird things we say about church:

•We have new church members today — perhaps — if they just chose to follow Christ today.

•We joined the church today — maybe, but only as a corollary to the above statement.

•We’re going to church. How do you go somewhere that is not a place?

•The church at such and such address. You probably mean congregation.

•We’re leaving the church. Ooh, that is kinda hard to do.

•God is leading us to build a church. The church, yes, but not with bricks and mortar.

•There’s no such thing as the perfect church. Yes, actually, there is. And the fact you think the people in it are not perfect, while you may be correct, is a whole ‘nother doctrinal issue.

•Youth group is a great thing for teenagers. I wonder what the statistics on that concept really are. Along with the related idea: God led my child to go on a mission trip.

We want our kids in Sunday school. Do you know the history of Sunday school, it’s original purpose?

•We want you on our church membership roll. “Why do you think we have so many denominations?” I asked a wise friend one time years ago.

“Cathy, think about it. Who invented denominations?”

And so there it was. Just ask.

The first step in having knowledge is to ask a good question.

Cathy Primer Krafve lives and writes with a Texas twang. Visit checklistcharlie. blogspot.com.