"Have you always been this outgoing?"

a friend asked, the other day.

"Well, I've always loved people", I said, while struggling to think whether this was actually the case or not. I think I also said something about how I'd made an effort to work on my people skills throughout the years - but either way, that conversation died a natural death after a while.

But because I'm a slow processor, later that day, I suddenly remembered this: I'd become a Christian late in my high school career, and had become a welcomed part of the church family. But, in the years before that, in my travellings and wanderings with my family to many different types of churches, I'd rarely felt genuinely welcomed. Many a church service, my siblings and I had sat there, a bit awkwardly, while wondering what I was doing there. [I mean 'we'. They had better things to do with their time than to think about what I was doing there specifically.] And who wants to join a church where you feel like a squirrel in a group of rabbits? We never had a real desire to come back, nor a real desire to participate with whatever church group we were interacting.

After I became a Christian then, I've made a conscious decision to be friendly and welcoming to people in whatever context I find myself in. This is just made easier by the fact that I can talk a donkey out of its ears, and that I do really find people oh-so-amusing and interesting. But my resolution was (and still is) never again, as much as it was in my power to, would newcomers and people around me feel as lost/unwelcomed/unconsidered as I did.

A little bit of a (sad) confession:

I decided a long time ago to never invite my non-Christian friends to my Christian friends' parties. Instead, I try spend one-on-one time with them, or tag along to their parties.

This isn't a hard and fast rule, but generally, if there's an open invite, I pitch up alone. For one, this allows me to meet and speak to the strangers and friends-of-friends that come along, but for another it's because I've learnt that most people don't really make the effort to get to know my people. [I'm not saying that no-one makes effort. I recognise that at these types of parties there are tons of people around, and that you can't always get through to everyone - I have just observed in the past that we could all do better at meeting others, and developing those friendships.]

Anyway, last night, friends of ours had an open-invite house party, so I pitched up, started chatting, eating other people's chips, you know. The Sister comes in a bit later with some of her non-Christian friends. They stay for a little bit, and then leave. "Did they enjoy it?", I ask her this morning. "No one really made effort with them", she responds, so I was a bit sad."

That too makes me very very sad.

The Non-Christian Significant Other

We are always all to ready to judge, and all too slow to love and to try understand. I can claim this, for I am the same as you. And so it is, that I'd always been quick to judge (albeit silently) Christian girls and guys who ended up with Significant Others who didn't love Jesus. But God is a patient Teacher, and I've been taught to have compassion in this particular regard, so when a friend of mine was telling me about his sister who's currently with a non-Christian, I didn't respond as I might have a few years ago: 'She shouldn't be with him; what is she thinking?; if she'd acted properly in the first place, it wouldn't have gotten this far'.

Instead, I told him about how an older friend had recently told a group of us that his best friend doesn't love Jesus, but he married a Christian woman. 'But', our friend had cautioned as he [perhaps] saw the looks on everyone's face, 'before you are the first to throw a stone at her, just wait a few years until your own body clock is ticking and you're looking for someone to marry'.

This is not an exercise in looking for excuses- the Bible is quite clear that we are not to end up with non-Christians as marriage partners, but I told my friend this story as I think that our friend was saying this to caution us against being too quick to judge - for even if things are black-and-white, as people on the outside of the situation, we forget how hard it can be for the person inside.

So let's be more compassionate in the way we implement the black and white in our lives..

Something that's been irking me lately

is the way that we as Christians tend to fall into the habit of talking about our non-Christian friends as projects, or objects of conversion instead of people who are all uniquely diverse, crazy, wonderful, different. I'm not immune from this danger, and I use the word danger, because if we see them as goals-to-be, we lose sight of their uniqueness as humans created in God's image and as beings with the right of free will, and we see our relationships with them as duties, and not as choice. And then the way we interact with them becomes guided by rules and not by love.

Dear God

Dear God

Thank you for being patient and for giving us another day in which we can tell others about you. Thank you that you have given us another day to learn what it means to be your child and to walk in faith. However, there are many things we still struggle with (me especially). I'm struggling to see why you can't just make everyone I love a part of your family RIGHT NOW, 'cause Father, I know you can if you want to. But you know what, with you it's more than just a case of 'if you want to'. 'Cause if my heart is breaking to see how confused and alone some of my loved ones are, how much more compassion do you feel for a whole earth of your creations. You know far more than me when it comes to these matters.

So, Father, instead I pray for more patience on my part and trust and willingness to be obedience. I also pray for more patience on your part, and for mercy. Father, I know there is nothing I can do to twist your arm, but I also know that you hear my prayers and know my heart, so please have mercy on my friends and family that don't know you yet.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Good ol' Richard Dawkins, Mr Public Science himself...

Wowee! I finally got a chance to read a review of Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion today, and man oh man, the author is scathing at times.

Terry Eagleton, the eminent literary critic, has written an article for the London Review of Book, in which he not only tackles holes in Dawkins' argument, but also presents many of the doctrines of Christianity concisely and clearly. I'm tempted to haul out all the bits that I enjoyed, but I think that mean that I have to copy and paste the whole article, so I'm just going to cut a few snippets out, that are particularly thought provoking and insightful.

For anyone else who wants to read the rest of the article, here you go:

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n20/eagl01_.html

"Dawkins considers that all faith is blind faith, and that Christian and Muslim children are brought up to believe unquestioningly. Not even the dim-witted clerics who knocked me about at grammar school thought that. For mainstream Christianity, reason, argument and honest doubt have always played an integral role in belief. (Where, given that he invites us at one point to question everything, is Dawkins's own critique of science, objectivity, liberalism, atheism and the like?) Reason, to be sure, doesn't go all the way down for believers, but it doesn't for most sensitive, civilised non-religious types either. Even Richard Dawkins lives more by faith than by reason. "

"Dawkins rejects the surely reasonable case that science and religion are not in competition on the grounds that this insulates religion from rational inquiry. But this is a mistake: to claim that science and religion pose different questions to the world is not to suggest that if the bones of Jesus were discovered in Palestine, the pope should get himself down to the dole queue as fast as possible. It is rather to claim that while faith, rather like love, must involve factual knowledge, it is not reducible to it. For my claim to love you to be coherent, I must be able to explain what it is about you that justifies it; but my bank manager might agree with my dewy-eyed description of you without being in love with you himself. "

"Dawkins thinks it odd that Christians don't look eagerly forward to death, given that they will thereby be ushered into paradise. He does not see that Christianity, like most religious faiths, values human life deeply "

"On the horrors that science and technology have wreaked on humanity, [Dawkins] is predictably silent. Yet the Apocalypse is far more likely to be the product of them than the work of religion. Swap you the Inquisition for chemical warfare."

"Nor does [Dawkins] understand that because God is transcendent of us (which is another way of saying that he did not have to bring us about), he is free of any neurotic need for us and wants simply to be allowed to love us. Dawkins's God, by contrast, is Satanic. Satan ('accuser' in Hebrew) is the misrecognition of God as Big Daddy and punitive judge, and Dawkins's God is precisely such a repulsive superego. This false consciousness is overthrown in the person of Jesus, who reveals the Father as friend and lover rather than judge."

"Because the universe is God's, it shares in his life, which is the life of freedom. This is why it works all by itself, and why science and Richard Dawkins are therefore both possible."

Last but not least: food for thought. "Dawkins quite rightly detests fundamentalists; but as far as I know his anti-religious diatribes have never been matched in his work by a critique of the global capitalism that generates the hatred, anxiety, insecurity and sense of humiliation that breed fundamentalism. Instead, as the obtuse media chatter has it, it's all down to religion."

Evangelism

So the link pasted below will take you to a 5 minute monologue by the comedian, Penn Jillette, who's known for being an atheist, and at that, someone who's crystal clear about his stance on God (basically: there is no God).

In this video, he talks about being given a Bible by someone after his show, and he then gives his opinion on proselytizing (evangelism) in general. What he says might not be what you expect an atheist to say. I definitely was surprised.

....

Okay, now that I've hinted at something unusual, you might be able to guess what happens. (No, he doesn't become a Christian.) (No, he does not get smote by lightning either.) (No, I'm not going to tell you anything more than that.) (Yes, watching the clip for yourself = Good Idea!)

Watch the clip on Patrick Madrid's blog

"As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God"

Interesting title, even more interesting read.

Matthew Parris, writing for the Times Online, writes that "missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem". It's really amazing to read his article and read how he acknowledges the positive changes Christians have brought about in Africa. It's even more exciting to have this written about in such a respectful manner!

I've found it a more common occurrence to have Christians scorned as hypocrites who don't do anything and Christianity attacked for various historical events, so this is definitely an encouraging read, especially considering its source!

Have a look here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

Happy New Year! AND Sharing your faith in the New Year

Hello, are you well?? YAY! I'm back, alive and well from holidaying with family and friends in a wonderfully warm place further upcountry. I am now multiple shades of brown (and pale), have an uncomfortably darker nose than the rest of my face, and featured as the local Dish of the Week for that area's mosquitos, but am wonderfully relaxed [well, except for when I'm busy scratching away at my mozzie bites!] ! Ready to face the New Year.... Bring it on! [dum dum dum] ...oh dear; famous last words!! ;)

Like many of you I tend not to make or keep any New Year's resolutions. Or if I do, I facetiously say that my New Year's resolution is to not make any! But if I were to say one thing I'm striving for in the New Year, it is what I've been striving for every year ever since I became a Christian: "To live a life worthy of the calling I have received" [Ephesians 4:1]. And I think part living a life worthy is to share our faith with others: with non-Christians so that they too may participate in eternal life with us; and with Christians, so that they are encouraged to keep on.

God's been amazingly gracious and given me ample opportunities with one of my non-Christian friends (many of which I blundered) but right now we're busy in an honest dialogue concerning Christianity and other religions. It's quite exciting that he's interested, but also daunting, 'cause he asks amazingly good questions! (Thank God that He's in control!!)

But while I'm petrified stiff at the questions he's bringing up and the questions that he will still bring up, I'm very grateful that he is asking such good questions- they've been really good at sharpening my thinking and understanding of the gospel.

As Paul writes in Philemon 6:

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith SO that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

So, here's a New Year's challenge to you! Grow by going and sharing your faith with others!

God's amazing Word!

I recently wrote a post on talking to others about Jesus (see Being offensive versus being on the offense. In this I briefly mentioned how God's Word does all the work. And it's true, it does!
I think in all stories of how people became followers of Christ there's one thing that's always present, no matter how weird, interesting, or 'boring' the story is. This one thing is that it was hearing about what Christ had done that had struck a chord in the listener!

One of my friends says that his story of 'conversion is 'boring', because all that happened to him is that he went to church once, and he somehow found himself going back. I myself don't find any stories of how people began their relationship with Jesus boring, 'cause they're all such encouraging examples of how God's Word works!!

Let us not be discouraged if what we tell others does not result in them wanting to become Christians there and then! God's Word does what He wants it to do!

As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
(Isaiah 55:10-11)

Paul also reminds Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:9, that unlike Paul who is a prisoner at the time of the writing of that letter, God's word is not chained!

There are many other verse I could quote here, but those two touched me particularly today. I suggest that you read 1 Corinthians 1-2 if you have time as well.

Being offensive versus being on the offense

Recently I had the opportunity to be a leader on the Christian youth camp where I myself had understood the amazing news of salvation and forgiveness in Jesus Christ for the first time. Obviously it has a very special place in my heart for this reason, but also for the reason that it's ALWAYS so great to go back there and just see how God's amazing Word works in people's lives! I especially get a kick seeing young people change, 'cause come on, not to insult all the people I know, but when you were younger, did you ever think further than what you were going to eat next, the latest fashions or the newest lipstick colour?!? [Okay, okay, I was a bit of a tomboy, so the first thought occupied my mind MUCH more than the latter two]. Seeing them arrive as materialistic, worldly teenagers and sometimes leave as drastically-altered, Jesus-focused youths is amazing!

Anyway, this year was really really really really awesome, 'cause God gave me some great opportunities to talk to the non-Christians in my group about Him, and He gave me numerous opportunities to encourage the Christians in my group. Now, to be honest, the previous two years I'd been a leader, I think I was more concerned about being cool and popular with my girls than actually concerned about seeking opportunities to talk to them about Christ. Also, as half of my group always ended up being my local youth girls, I didn't make much effort 'cause I thought I'd have ample time to challenge them at the weekly youth bible study.

However, this year my group consisted of 8 girls I hardly knew, and who I probably won't see again they come on camp again next year. God had also been teaching me throughout the year that my laissez-faire attitude to ministry was not on, so I also arrived with a more serious attitude to speak about Jesus!!

Which brings me to the point of this post: Being offensive versus being on the offense.

I think one of the stereotypical characteristics of Christians is that we are offensive, judgmental people. As God's people, if we show these characteristics, WE ARE TO CHANGE THAT!!! Obviously, the gospel is offensive - who enjoys being told that they're rotten, guilty, evil wretches who'll die to face eternal judgment??!?! But at the same time, I think that Christians have earned this reputation not because of the offensiveness of the gospel, but because of their manner in which they share it!

Have a look at the following verse:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

Sometimes we panic and think that we're in charge of converting people; that they need to become a Christian after we tell them the gospel, and so we're going to force it down their throats whether they want to hear it or not. This is WRONG! We are not in the business of converting people; God is. Let me say that again: WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF CONVERTING PEOPLE; GOD IS!! God is in control. We are not. God is Sovereign. We are not. God's Word works miracles and brings the dead to life. Our words can barely get our siblings to bring us biscuits from the kitchen. [I know this. It is a fact of life.]

All we are called to do is to share the gospel with those who we have been given opportunities to share it with - that means that if they ask that we stop sharing the gospel with them, we STOP.
(To make it easier for people, if an opportunity presents itself I sometimes tell them that I tend to get excited about Jesus and sharing the gospel, but if at any point they want me to stop, they can just tell me to.) However, that does not mean that we stop praying for them and for more opportunities!!

At the same time, I think it's quite easy to quite complacent about opportunities, and that we wait for God to hit us over the head with a tree branch or something before we realize that Susan telling us about how meaningless life seems all of a sudden is actually an opportunity. Which leads me to the second point: we need to be on the offense!!

Just like in football movies, we mustn't just wait for opportunities for the other side to stumble so that we can score.. We must constantly be looking for, and creating opportunities!!

This athletic speak can actually be found in the following verse:

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)

[Hehe, okay okay, I don't think Paul was really thinking of a football team when he wrote that.]

For example, if Susan says "Wow, life seems so meaningless right now", it'd probably be silly talking about the amazing pasta you had last night...

It's tough going sometimes, but yay for a Sovereign God who's always in control! I was reminded of this recently when I had two amazing opportunities in two days, and I found myself unable to say anything coherently or lucidly!! Thank God that other people's eternal lives don't rest on my wisdom, but on God's working Word!

Let's go out there, not being offensive, but being on the offense!