Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Last night I was reading part of a rather contentious thread on one of my email lists. It seems there is some among the conservatives on the list as to whether or not evangelicals will toss out the Bible to lead people to Christ. If your mind is blown by that statement, you are not alone. I am pretty sick of labels. I want to see people come to Jesus, and let the Holy Spirit do His work. One of the people on the list, who I consider to be a voice of reason and a man of Godly wisdom, related two stories of people whom his church met "where they were." In both cases the people came to Christ and are now living as His disciples. It did my heart good to read this and it led me back to when people met me where I was. This is my story.
I still remember when Jesus met me where I was. He transformed me when no one else could have. I'll never forget the first time I met my Father In Law, the minister. I figured he'd take one look at me, throw me out and forbid me
from seeing his daughter. Instead he loved me and met me where I was. I showed up at his house in my Kiss concert shirt that said "if it's too loud, you're too old." No judgement. I showed up at his house in my Motley Crue shirt that said I was every mother's nightmare. Nothing but acceptance. Slowly I began to care what this guy thought of me. Slowly I wanted to be more like this guy. When stuff hit me I fell to pieces, when much worse stuff hit him, he took it in stride. I wanted that peace. Slowly through his love and his example, I began to change. As I began to respond to their invitations to church, I began to find what was missing in my life until eventually I gave my life to the Lord. My wife's family met me where I was and led me to the Lord. They didn't change me, only Jesus could have done that, but they didn't turn me away. They loved me.
Today I pastor a small church, and it hasn't been easy. I've heard I'm not Brethren enough. I've heard people say that can't believe they left me be a minister after all I've done. I think I'm the poster child for Romans 8:28. All I can tell you for sure is that God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise, I'm living proof. Jesus Christ has completely transformed my life and I am going to tell everyone I can. Do me a favor friends, if there is someone that your church people will not accept, send them to Reading. I could use a few more people that know what it's like to be lost and found.
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I still remember when Jesus met me where I was. He transformed me when no one else could have. I'll never forget the first time I met my Father In Law, the minister. I figured he'd take one look at me, throw me out and forbid me
from seeing his daughter. Instead he loved me and met me where I was. I showed up at his house in my Kiss concert shirt that said "if it's too loud, you're too old." No judgement. I showed up at his house in my Motley Crue shirt that said I was every mother's nightmare. Nothing but acceptance. Slowly I began to care what this guy thought of me. Slowly I wanted to be more like this guy. When stuff hit me I fell to pieces, when much worse stuff hit him, he took it in stride. I wanted that peace. Slowly through his love and his example, I began to change. As I began to respond to their invitations to church, I began to find what was missing in my life until eventually I gave my life to the Lord. My wife's family met me where I was and led me to the Lord. They didn't change me, only Jesus could have done that, but they didn't turn me away. They loved me.
Today I pastor a small church, and it hasn't been easy. I've heard I'm not Brethren enough. I've heard people say that can't believe they left me be a minister after all I've done. I think I'm the poster child for Romans 8:28. All I can tell you for sure is that God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise, I'm living proof. Jesus Christ has completely transformed my life and I am going to tell everyone I can. Do me a favor friends, if there is someone that your church people will not accept, send them to Reading. I could use a few more people that know what it's like to be lost and found.
