Don't ask me how I started thinking about this--I just did. Actually, it probably started when I was at the nail salon last week and saw a Jehovah's Witness, well, witness. Despite us not being in close proximity to each other, I was able to hear her all the way in the front of the salon where I was. The young lady (we'll call her Jessie) she was witnessing to was not the first person in the salon that she shared her message with, but for some reason, my ears perked up this time. Though I couldn't hear exactly what Jessie was saying, I could tell from the conversation that she was engaged/married to a man that was not "into church" (ask me if I'm surprised) and she was therefore concerned about whether or not it was a good idea for her to get involved with being a Jehovah's Witness. The Jehovah's Witness (we'll call her Simone) gave her some reassuring words, a few scriptures (which she used incorrectly, but that's for a different post) and encouraged Jessie to meet with her at a later date to get a bible study started. Jessie was "hooked" and will no doubt become a Jehovah's Witness soon.
As I was listening to Simone chop up scripture---uh, talk to Jessie, I was unsettled. No, unsettled probably isn't the word. I'd say I was envious. Why? Because with no hesitation, Simone swooped in, started a conversation with Jessie, and within mere minutes had a new convert. And the thing is, I could tell it was like breathing for Simone. She didn't have to coerce, intimidate or beat Jessie over the head. Since I wasn't able to get to Jessie after Simone, I went from envious, to saddened/upset. Hopefully Jessie will hear and accept the gospel. If not, there goes another potential saint.
That incident somehow got me to thinking about atheists (hey, don't ask me how my mind works. It often goes on it's own tagents). I used to have disdain for atheists, just angry with them, for no other reason than their non-belief in God. And though I still strongly oppose what they stand for (I just can't understand how you can look at all of creation and believe that the earth/"mother nature"/universe made this happen. I would think the mere fact that a slight tilt of the earth one way or the other could freeze or fry would be glaring evidence of the existence of God, but...I digress), I respect the fact that they're clear on who they are and what they believe. There's no back and forth, there's no hot and cold. They're not on the fence. What I've also noticed is most atheists wear their belief (or is it lack thereof?) as a badge of honor. They're at the ready for those who seek to proselytize them.
Though I disagree with Simones of the world do and am saddened by what atheists do daily in attempting to prove there is no God (and encouraging others to do the same), I can't "hate the player". They're doing what they feel convicted to do. They let others no, in no uncertain terms, what (who) they stand for!
That got me to thinking...do others REALLY know where my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ and me stand?
As grateful as I am to not be living in the "dark ages" of the church (y'all know what I mean. No women preachers; no pants or makeup for women; the broker you are, the closer you are to God; God wants you to be broke, etc.), I'm fearful that we're becoming too "free", so to speak. We're becoming too fly. Please understand, I am not a "everything but church, the Bible and Christian programming is the devil" type of person, but what happened to our standards? What happened to our unflinching convictions? What happened to Christians not caring if people disliked us because of what we believed?
Christianity has seemingly become the flavor du jour. It appears Christianity is the new "it" club to be a part of, as long as the standards are tailor-made to suit each individual, because who wants to be told they have to make some changes, huh? Who wants to deal with potentially losing family or friends, temporarily or permanently because they speak against actions and behaviors that are morally wrong? But that's what we signed up for. Not a social club where we determine what "rules and regs" we'll adhere to, while ignoring those that make us or others around us uncomfortable. Joining was not supposed to be so we could rock the newest, flashiest cross-adorned shirts, the biggest, most gaudy "Jesus piece", or adhere an Ichthus to our ride(s) (though I see no problem with any of those things). Jesus was very clear in Matthew 10 when He said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--a man's enemies will be the memebers of his own household." (v. 34-36). He knew that for every person who got saved, there may be a relative or friend who would resist the gospel. What that means is, sometimes we have to say the thing that nobody wants to say. At times we have to decline being a part of/going to different affairs. As harsh as this may sound, sometimes we'll have to stand alone (so to speak). Is it easy? NO!!! Is it comfortable? NO!!! But He never said it would be either of those things. Do I struggle with these things? I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But every day I wake up I try to remember that I'm representing Him, to my children, my husband, other family, friends and strangers. I want my children to look at me and say "that's how I'm supposed to live my life before God". I want my unsaved husband to look at how I submit to him/pray for him/take care of our home & children and in turn accept Christ for himself (he doesn't currently believe in Jesus, but I do believe that he respects me for not being wishy-washy on the subject). I want to freely, passionately, lovingly and effortlessly talk to nonbelievers about the Lord in such a way that they too want to be saved. I want everyone to know, without question exactly where I stand!
How about you?
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