Just recently I have met a number of people bringing with them tales of woe and tragedy that would have been more than enough reason for them to have thrown in the towel and given up, but they haven’t. Not only haven’t they, but they continue with an optimism and such a positive air that makes me gasp with admiration (and feel more than a little ashamed at my own pathetic little problems).
This is what faith does. The amazing thing is that these people didn't consider themselves to have any faith. They weren't 'Churchgoers". They didn't wear any fish badges or mutter 'Praise the Lord' at the drop of an 'Hallelujah'! These were good old plain and simple non-Christians. You know the sort, those we are supposed to be bringing back to God and taking the Gospel out to.
I have met people who, having given birth to a child prematurely, see their child die before (and in two cases actually on) the EDD (Expected date of delivery)! I have rung their doorbells expecting to have to defend God (which I never do - He's big enough to do it for Himself) and get a bit of an ear-bashing as His representative here on earth (isn't just the über pointy-head in Rome who does that!). Just about every time I have encountered this I have found the family being grateful to God because having been prem' they have got to know a live child rather than experienced the awfulness of having one they never got to know.
I have met so many people who have experienced the pain and life-stopping brokeness that a stillborn child brings. One recently were hurt, broken and confused at the loss of their beautiful child. Hoped for and yet not seen - perhaps the greatest tragedy a parent can experience?
the ability of people to make the best of an awful situation and to overcome the greatest of opposition and disappointment only confirms the reality (to me) that what we (Christians) should be doing is not trying to take God to people but try to see what God is already doing in and with people and bless it!
I am also becoming more and more convinced that what we need to do is stop trying to drag people into church and work harder at making them Church! I am so tired of people being mere scalps for the the "Look who I saved' book or worse still, a means of paying Parish Share (or the bills if you're not Anglican) and filling empty buildings.
We need to resist the temptation to save the world and instead help people live in the world God made in the way that He intended it to be lived in. No point in claiming to love God and hate your brother now is there? So let's love others, bless them and the places they find themselves encountering God in and seek to live our faith rather than legislate with it.
NOTE. This does not render that which God does not approve of approved of, but in those places it might help us to lead people into a right relationship with God and with others too!
2 comments:
Brilliant, thoughtful post Vic.
I have been thinking something along those lines - but not in any formed way. You have given me some real food for thought. Thank you.
Another great post - just catching up after absence on holiday for almost a fortnight. Thanks, Vic.
I have often thought that it is probably the case that the things God most wants to clear up in people's lives are not the things that seem most obvious to us. And that the things we want to see change are much lower down God's priority list.
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