A Couple of Tales from the Frontlines

I've had a couple of unique experiences, at least to me, this past week and thought I'd share them. Both of them gave me cause for thought and that's never a bad thing, although the situations themselves are not necessarily so squeaky clean.

The first experience I had was of being invited to church. Now, this is not some sort of watershed moment, as I've been invited to church before. But, in a certain way, this time was different. I think it, in some way, allowed me to see the other side of the spectrum for a moment. I mean, I grew up in church. I was always the one inviting friends to youth group or to some special shindig we were doing, oftentimes with the thinking of getting them there to get them "saved". I'm not sure but it was a surreal experience having this person suggest their church to me, commenting on the fact that they're "casual, but not disrespectful" and that the teaching is "solidly biblical". I was flattered that they would ask/suggest, but in all honesty, I'm okay right now. God is leading me where I'll go. I don't know. I know that someday I'll be back in the position of inviting people to church in some way or another, although my motivations will most likely be different from those of my younger days, but it was just kind of weird.

The other situation was a story and reaction related to me by a young girl that I work with. This young lady is as sweet as they come and is passionate about her faith. As I spoke with her, late in the day, she related to me a quick story that had just come her way.

"My friend, Mitch," she said,"He came in here and bought a Bible and some tracts and stuff like that. He took it down to the CVS to give it to some guy and got kicked out! Isn't that awesome? That's so hardcore!"

Um, no. I suggested that she find out the rest of the story and go from there. Turns out, "Mitch" had apparently spoken with this guy that worked at the store a few times here and there and "possibly" about some matters of faith. Yet, when Mitch presented this gentleman with the Bible and these tracts and whatnot, the guy showed him the door. Maybe I'm getting softer in my understanding of evangelism and all of that good stuff but to me, this is not hardcore. Rather, this is an error in judgement. "Mitch" no doubt intended this to be good, but it went very awry.

Perhaps what was most painful though was my friend's response after I shared some very reserved comments on the issue.

"Well, it's just important that Mitch was obedient to his heart. That's the important thing."

I don't know. Maybe it's just me, but I think the important thing is that we love people and let the power of Christ, through love, be seen in us. That provides us the platform and the right to share the Gospel. But that's just me.