It bothered me that my new teammates know that I stay away from green jokes.
I realized I don’t want to attract attention for things that I refused to do because it may make others feel bad and it’s hard to engage when people are turned off by you. And if I can’t engage, then I won’t be able to build relationships. And sharing the Gospel without a relationship is not just salestalk—but a guaranteed backfire.
Christianity is supposed to be a beautiful thing that attracts people, not repels them. Usually the stories that inspire others to give their life to Christ are stories of people who are willing to do something and not refusing to do something.
For example, they are inspired by people who are willing to share to the poor but repelled by people who refuse to associate themselves with the gay crowd; willing to listen and repelled by those who simply insist that the Bible is the final authority.
Yesterday, van (my mentor) and I were talking about the possible traps of “playing Church.” One of the questions we asked ourselves was if in case someone bombed VCF and the only Christian building available would be in Tondo where the place would not be as comfortable as the setting here in Fort, would I still be this unstoppable in attending services and serving in Kids Ministry?
That’s a heavy question. And in all honesty, I really don’t know the answer. I don’t know what’s in my heart because it’s very deceitful. That’s why I’m thankful that God taught us to pray for our hearts: Psalm 139:23-26. Because, really, I can easily say I am a Christian, passionate about following Christ but my sinful nature is a poison that everyday tries to impair the sincerity of my passion for Christ.
Christianity is after all who we are when we are alone. I don’t want people to know that I am a Christian just because of my facebook statuses. I want God to enable me to live in a way that other people would see the love of Christ in me. Because I, too, don’t always walk the talk. I mean, who would dare raise his hand to say that he has the complete package of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, gentleness, self-control, etc.)?
I’m weak. But like Paul, I want to boast in my weakness because God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.
I know that our Christian life here on earth is not an instant 100% transformation. Because God, like a dear Father He is, wants us to grow (with Him) day by day.
By His grace alone. His oh so beautiful, enabling grace.
