It’s Not about the Groceries
Recently, I saw the following “online headline:”
A grocery chain is removing self-checkout after realizing executives hate it as much as customers do: ‘We like to talk to people’ – Steve Mollman – Fortune – 11/10/23
The grocery chain which is the subject of the headline and following article is located in England. However, I’ve recently seen and read information about various businesses in The United States doing the same thing. Some are not totally removing the self-checkout lanes, but are significantly reducing the number of them. Even corporations such as Costco, Walmart, and others are studying and/or implementing this.
To be fair, every source of information I’ve checked includes a variety of factors behind the reason(s) to diminish the number of self-checkout lanes. Some of these include glitches in the systems, difficulty of use, and some other factors.
While all of that is true, there is a common theme in every source I’ve seen. It may be worded somewhat differently, but that theme always boils down to the importance of the personal touch.
I am more than grateful for modern technology and I appreciate it more than I can express. That is true even though I am way behind most people (especially young people) in knowing how to use it. At the risk of upsetting some people, though, I will suggest that personal interaction has much more to do with people obeying the gospel and remaining faithful to Jesus than anything electronic.
Two significant instances in which people became followers of Jesus (Christians) come to mind. The first of these is a man known first as Saul of Tarsus and later as an apostle by the name of Paul. Even though he interacted with Jesus on the road to Damascus, it took a man by the name of Ananias to tell him what to do (cf. Acts 9:1-19; 22:6-16).
The other instance I am thinking about has to do with a very good Gentile man. Although Cornelius is described in very positive terms, had been praying, and had what appears to be a heavenly messenger speaking to him, it took a man by the name of Peter to tell him the “…words by which [Cornelius] and all of [Cornelius’] household will be saved” (Acts 11:14, NKJV).
I don’t intend to “start chasing rabbits” at this point, but I believe a point needs to be considered here. In neither of these accounts in the New Testament or in any other account of people becoming Christians is there any mention of a “sinner’s prayer,” “asking Jesus into your heart,” or “praying through.” Instead, what we find as we read the New Testament is that the process of becoming a Christian involves baptism (Acts 2:38; Rom, 6:1ff; Gal. 3:26-27; etc.). To state the obvious, that necessitates the human touch in a very personal and significant way.
Not only is the personal touch important in leading others to Jesus, the New Testament is full of both examples and instruction concerning how the Lord’s people are to personally interact with each other. In fact, there are passages that show that there is more than examples and instruction. Emotions are also involved.
Consider these from the pens of two apostles, Paul and John:
I desire to be with you now… (Gal. 4:20, KJV)
I had much to write to you but I would rather not write with pen and ink.
I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. (3 John 13-14, ESV)
It is impossible for a text, a post, or a lot of other “electronic interactions” to replace a smile, a hug, a pat on the back, a spoken kind word, and so many other “old-fashioned” but very human things.
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
