Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
November 22, 1993
Good Morning!
LaBou is a chic coffee shop in my town...The "in" place
to grab a cup, chat with friends, or catch up on last night's
ball game. Shorts, tank tops, genes, and open shirts are the
dress code. People cluster around the room relaxed in easy conversation...Neil
Diamond saturates the air.
Amidst this slice of vintage California enviorn enters a guy in
a black suit with a huge notebook and a "Holy Bible"
tucked under his arm. His gait is stiff and hurried.
I couldn't help but think, "Hmm, Joe Formality on a mission
to save the world." If I hadn't seen the "Holy Bible",
I would have concluded this transplant was either an undertaker,
a newly arrived Mafia type from New Jersey, or a pall bearer imbibing
a cup after a tough day at the cemetery. In reality, he is probably
a sincere believer on a mission to help someone.
Question: Just how far does a person go in identifying
with the lost. What does it mean to be in the world,
but not of the world? Paul said, "I am
all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
( I Corinthians 9:22)
In other words, Paul was willing to enter their comfort
zone, rather than force them into his. If we are persecuted,
I sometimes wonder if it is for being truly righteous,
or for simply being strange?
Is it possible for a follower of Christ to be fun, casual, relevant,
contemporary, knowledgeable, and...Christ like? We know that people
from every station in life flocked to be around Jesus. Somehow
He was righteous without being religious, and people
found themselves irresitibly attracted to Him.
On the question of identifying with the lost, perhaps the place
to begin is with unconditional love. Paul tells us, "Love
looks for a way of being constructive." (I Corinthians
13: 4 Phillips).
In other words, love does not censor non-Christians for acting
as non-Christians. The only issue I need to address with
the lost is not their dress code or social patterns, but simply
their rebellion in ruling Christ out of the center of their lives.
Putting as few barriers between myself and the lost will facilitate
the communication process of getting Christ's message of love
to them in terms they can understand and respond to.
Have a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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