Thursday, February 19, 2009

There is a Man, A Certain Man...

I have a very, very dear friend. We grew up together practically as brothers. When we were teenagers, he moved to another town a few miles away and we didn't see each other as much. As we grew older, we each developed our own interests and, while we remained close, started to go in different directions. Well, maybe that's not the right thing to say. Maybe its better to say that we "grew" in different directions; we shared common roots, so to speak, but our branches spread out to cover different areas. I make this distinction because I think its important, at least for me, to realize that even to this day we've never separated. We remain fast friends. I would do anything for him. At least that's what I say...

See, I've come to realize that over these past, oh geez... 15 or so years, that the one thing that he has not only been asking me to do, but practically begging me to do, is give him some reason to believe me, one reason to think that what I say is different from what everyone else says. Let me back up. One of the things that he and I "covered different areas" on is religion. I grew up going to church, hearing the Scriptures spoken and explained, being encouraged to read the Bible, etc., both in the church and in the home. God and Jesus Christ were facts of life for me. My friend on the other hand, if I remember correctly, had some exposure and familiarity with Christianity, but did not have this background. As young kids, and even more as young adults, I was a representative of this area of life to him. Please, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm not boasting in this. In fact, just the opposite. I am ashamed that I did not, and even to this day have not represented God or His people in a proper manner to my dear friend. I look back on visits and conversations and only now see the times that he has literally grabbed me by the arm, shaken me, and cried out, "Save me, brother!" Sure, he did it in a joking manner, but the challenge was offered. He knows what I believe, at least the basics of the gospel, and I really don't think that he simply wants me to tell it to him again. No, he wants me to prove it to him, he wants to be shown that what I say is true. He wants to see that I truly believe what I say.

My friend has gone to church a few times as an adult, but, as I understand it, he has pretty much written it off as an organization of liars and hypocrites. He sees judgement and ridicule, oppression and bigotry, and sees that there is no reason what-so-ever to believe a word they say over and against anything anybody else says. He, like many, many others, has this view of the church because he sees no difference in the way the church does business from how everybody else does it. They work in the same places as everyone else, they play in the same places as everyone else, they have their groups and clubs and societies just like everybody else. They are just another group of people with another opinion. And honestly, on the whole, I can't say he's wrong. And this is where I fail him as a friend.

I found myself in a familiar place today, lamenting over my sin and thanking God that my place with Him is secure in my King, His Son, Jesus. While confiding in God my despair over returning to my sin as a dog to its vomit, I cried out, "What am I doing differently?! How does what I'm doing speak of Your glory?!" And then, in a moment of horror, I realized that I was asking this question not simply of the moments I succumb to sin and temptation, but of every moment of every day, and I immediately thought of my friend. How does my life speak to the world of God's glory and the peculiarity of His people? How does the way I live speak salvation to those around me? How does my every second, every action, every thought, every breath, speak the truth of Jesus' Kingship to my dear, dear friend? I know that I can not save him, that my words and actions have no power in and of themselves, but when I speak the gospel, what reason do I give him to believe one single word that I say? What reason do I give him to think that God truly redeems His people and that they are indeed different from the rest of the world? How am I salt? How am I light?

Those of you that I talk to on a regular basis know that "how shall we then live" (thanks, Francis Schaeffer) has been a topic of conversation for about the past year or so. Michelle and I have been trying to put some thoughts down on paper on this topic, specifically to help us articulate our ministry goals, but haven't found much success (we are, well, I guess I am easily distracted). But today, I felt undeniably compelled to start writing about these things, to start the conversation once again. It is a vast conversation that covers not just specific action, but motive. Not just means, but ends. Not simply reasons, but justification. It asks not only how to do something, but why do it; if we're doing things that we shouldn't and not doing things that we should. It challenges us to ask not what is common to culture, but what is common to mankind. It speaks of individual and community. It speaks of identity. It speaks of love and hate, redemption and restoration. It speaks of justice. It speaks of salvation in God through Jesus the King.

In the past, this blog has been a collection of posts about random things and I have had a hard time keeping it going. Now, however, I intend to devote my blog to carrying on this conversation through specific topics and by asking specific questions. It is my desire, brother and sister, friend and neighbor, that you join me. I need your wisdom. It is the fruits of this conversation that we, God's people, must give as a true testimony of God's glory, a reason to believe what we say, and as proof that we believe it ourselves.

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
--Matthew 5:13-16