Into the Light

Right. I have stepped out of my cave. I've reached a landmark decision in the way I think - or choose to think. I prayed about it, I thought about it and I ask myself some hard questions. I waited and waited hoping to hear God's audible voice to give me some direction. The voice did not come but direction sure did.

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I ask myself

1. "FD, do you believe in God?" Yes.
2. "FD, if you do, then you believe in His Word?" Yes.
3. "FD, if you believe in His word, then do you believe that His word can change your life?" Yes.
4. "FD, if you say yes to all the above, then why are you waiting for an audible voice when God had already given you explicit instructions on how to live your life?"

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So I stopped waiting/hoping/praying for God to speak in an audible voice or send angels or do something miraculous. Instead, I turned to the Bible. I've started with the 4 foundational questions and concluded that the answer to all my problems lie in God's word, however, the Bible isn't exactly a 3 page instructional manual, it has many many pages. So being impatient, I asked God for a little help.

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It seems that the clue God gave me lies in the very attitude I've used to approach these issues - Impatience. God's clue - HAVE PATIENCE. So I looked about in the bible for verses that contain the word 'patience'. One verse in particular stood out.

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James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
" 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. "

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I've come to conclude that the solution to my current problems lies in my attitude. I have concluded that no matter where I go, no matter which Church I go to, no matter where I'm working, there will always be people, and where there is people, there will always be the potential for friction. I must drive this point into my head - " I can only change myself, it is the job of the Holy Spirit to change the hearts and minds of others. "

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I searched a little more, hoping to find the right attitude to adopt. There are just so many in the Bible. I mean of course if I follow every single one of them, that would be most ideal, but change takes time and I wanted an attitude that would be my cornerstone. It was then that I recalled a sermon I heard a long time ago. I do not remember what was said verbatim but I managed to find the verse which Pastor used to expound.

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Philippians 1:15-18
" 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. "

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So here is what I will tell myself from now onward.

1. If Chrsitians are jerks, I don't care, so long as Christ is preached.
2. If people are insensitive, I don't care, so long as Christ is preached.
3. If others take credit, I don't care, so long as Christ is preached.
4. ... ... , I don't care, so long as Christ is preached.
5. ... ... , I don't care, so long as Christ is preached.
6. ... ... , I don't care, so long as Christ is preached.

No matter what happens, no matter what people do, no matter what people say, I will try not to take offence nor allow that offence to affect me for prolonged periods of time. I will seek to change myself for the better, pray for all the qualities that would allow me to have a bigger capacity to sail through life, all the while believing that the Holy Spirit is continually doing a good work in the lives of others.

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So the answer to my 2 questions?

1. I will not leave Church 'A'. I will not leave a Church that has such a strong tangible presence of God. I will not allow myself to run away from my circumstances. My driving force must stem from faith not fear, anticipation not apprehension.
2. I will actively try to have more non-Christian friends. But I will do so for the right reasons. I want Christ to be relevent in both society and culture.

Kristos Kai Kosmos

Christ In Culture

It must start with me. I must change me. I must transform me. I must represent Christ in my culture, in my society. I will change me and only me. I will do my job and allow the Holy Spirit to do His.

And that's that.