A friend I were talking the other day......we were talking about how you approach another person about something you have heard or know about them that is damaging to them and uncomfortable to talk about. We were talking in generalities (this was not a gossip sesh, people). We truly had concerns about how, as Christians, we confront people with the sins in their lives (as the bible instructs us to) when that sin is a touchy subject (i.e. sexual sin, alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc). Also, how to confront someone about a "rumor", something that if true, would be devastating to their walk with God, and if not true, could be devastating to their reputation in the church. We talked a really long time.......
We ended the conversation in agreement that there are just certain things that are not "politically correct" to bring up with people. We don't want to embarrass them (or ourselves) or make them feel "judged" or hurt their feelings. This conclusion.......we BOTH agreed with.
However, it really stuck with me the rest of the day. I couldn't get it out of my head. Politically correct?!? Is that what Jesus calls me to? To be so concerned about what the rest of the world says, that I let a fellow brother or sister in Christ remain in slavery and darkness to their sin? Would I want someone to do that to me? Would I want my friend to not call me out for fear of not being "politically correct"? I seriously could not stop thinking about this........
Jesus was never "politically correct", he healed on the Sabbath Day....that was a BIG no no. He called out the woman at the well and the adulterous woman...........and they were both freed from their sin. He healed those that no one else would touch or talk to. He looked into the hearts of people so enslaved, so entrenched in their sins and ailments, that no "politically correct" person would dare be seen with. Luke 7:36-50, tells us of a sinful woman who washed Jesus' feet with tears and her hair, she poured expensive perfume on Him......she wanted to be seen for who she was, so that she could receive forgiveness and freedom. She didn't care that He knew she was sinful, she did not care that she would be seen for who she was. And Jesus didn't care that it might hurt her feelings, He obviously didn't care what the others in the home thought..........He just freed her.
Jesus also tells us that we are to do the same things He did. John 14:12, Jesus says "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." Jesus told us that we would and can and should be doing even greater things than He did here on Earth if we have faith in Him. WOW!!!
That means that if I can stop worrying about being "politically correct" and hurting people's feelings and all that other mumbo jumbo.....and have faith in Jesus....then I can help people reconcile their relationship with God and be freed from their sins!!!! What?!? DUH!!
If I am called to conform to the image of Christ, then I should be doing what He does.Talk about a smack in the head for me :) That's what I should be doing, every single day.
I sincerely and truly just love people. I really really do. But there is so much more to love than just being nice and doing nice things for them. I need to love them so much that I can, without fear, confront those I love about their lives and sins and help them find freedom in Christ.
I don't wanna be "politically correct" anymore........I wanna be like Jesus :)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Boy With No Shirt
One boy with no shirt completely changed our Youth Group............
It was a typical Wednesday evening, about 15 teens (both Jr and Sr high). We were having our "fun" time......at the beginning of each youth group, we eat together, talk a little, play a few games before the lesson starts. I was watching some teens play basketball when one of the small group leaders came up to me and said, "There's a boy outside that really wants to come in. But he doesn't have a shirt. Can he come in?"
I thought about it for a minute, thought about the impact that he may have on the kids already there (which at the time, were pretty much all "churched" kids), thought about what it could mean if I let someone not wear a shirt (something you certainly have to think about when Jr high boys are around :), then I thought about our Youth Leader covenant. One of the points on that covenant says, "I will never turn away a teen that needs what this youth group offers".
So I said, "Sure, tell him to come in". It changed everything....
All the outreach that we had tried up to that point to reach kids in the community had failed. But a split second decision to let a neighborhood kid come in with no shirt on turned our group upside down. After that night, we have had 40+ teens join our group.....most of them "unchurched" neighborhood kids. We grew so large that the Jr and Sr High formed 2 groups, instead of just 1.
We continue to see a fairly large number of new kids every week. No shirt boy still attends youth group (side note - he wears a shirt now), over a year later. And has brought many many friends in with him.
I am still amazed that one little decision had such an impact....I wonder what would have happend if I had said "No, he can't come in". Would we still be where we were?
It has been a difficult adjustment for everyone involved, the leaders, the teens that already attended and the new teens who are learning about a whole new way of life..............but I wouldn't change it for anything in this world :)
We have ALL (leaders and teens) learned a lot about patience, love and sacrifice. I was forced to look at the way we were doing things and admit that they weren't really working AND be brave enough to change the things that needed changing........we are still changing things and will continue to do so.
We currently have 12 small group leaders!!! And are always looking for more as we continue to grow. We are maxed out in small groups, we see new faces every week, we are touching lives for Jesus, we are seeing kids accept Christ and get baptized...........
Because of one boy with no shirt :)
It was a typical Wednesday evening, about 15 teens (both Jr and Sr high). We were having our "fun" time......at the beginning of each youth group, we eat together, talk a little, play a few games before the lesson starts. I was watching some teens play basketball when one of the small group leaders came up to me and said, "There's a boy outside that really wants to come in. But he doesn't have a shirt. Can he come in?"
I thought about it for a minute, thought about the impact that he may have on the kids already there (which at the time, were pretty much all "churched" kids), thought about what it could mean if I let someone not wear a shirt (something you certainly have to think about when Jr high boys are around :), then I thought about our Youth Leader covenant. One of the points on that covenant says, "I will never turn away a teen that needs what this youth group offers".
So I said, "Sure, tell him to come in". It changed everything....
All the outreach that we had tried up to that point to reach kids in the community had failed. But a split second decision to let a neighborhood kid come in with no shirt on turned our group upside down. After that night, we have had 40+ teens join our group.....most of them "unchurched" neighborhood kids. We grew so large that the Jr and Sr High formed 2 groups, instead of just 1.
We continue to see a fairly large number of new kids every week. No shirt boy still attends youth group (side note - he wears a shirt now), over a year later. And has brought many many friends in with him.
I am still amazed that one little decision had such an impact....I wonder what would have happend if I had said "No, he can't come in". Would we still be where we were?
It has been a difficult adjustment for everyone involved, the leaders, the teens that already attended and the new teens who are learning about a whole new way of life..............but I wouldn't change it for anything in this world :)
We have ALL (leaders and teens) learned a lot about patience, love and sacrifice. I was forced to look at the way we were doing things and admit that they weren't really working AND be brave enough to change the things that needed changing........we are still changing things and will continue to do so.
We currently have 12 small group leaders!!! And are always looking for more as we continue to grow. We are maxed out in small groups, we see new faces every week, we are touching lives for Jesus, we are seeing kids accept Christ and get baptized...........
Because of one boy with no shirt :)
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