Compromise Ourselves

To follow up on my previous post, I think we need to be strong enough to compromise ourselves for the sake of others. As that passage from 1 Corinthians states, that does not mean compromising important beliefs, nor does it mean acting sinful in any way.

It may mean disregarding the 'grey areas' of our beliefs for the sake of others. That's straight out of Romans 14.

It may mean developing hobbies or interests beyond our usual preferances. It may mean wearing a tie in order to speak more effectively to seniors, or wearing a mohawk in order to speak more effectively to youth.

It may mean changing aspects of your very personality if that's what turns some people off. That's a fun lesson that I'm still working through. I take a measure of pride if declaring myself to be quite obnoxious. I think it's funny to irritate people a bit about minor things, and I happen to be very good at it. Heh. There came a time when I had to face the reality that various aspects of my personality was hindering my effectiveness as an evangelist, mentor and leader. And let me tell you, it's tough to change a personality that was 25 years in the making. I've seen the direct results of changing how I behave as a leader my youth worship team, and I would say that I am a much more effective leader now than I was two years ago.

It's like stand-up comic that starts using material that isn't funny. Sure, they can continue using stale jokes and Seinfeld rip-offs. They may even get a few laughs from the crowd. In the end, though, that kind of comic won't succeed because they refuse to change. Like Seinfeld showed in his movie Comedian, there is a process that is needed to find the best jokes, to develop the best delivery and to get people laughing.

If we refuse to change, it may not because we are strong but because we are weak. I am not suggesting that we merely become Chameleon Christians or bow to peer pressure. It's a question of what is more important to us: Reaching people or defending our own rights to live as we prefer.

That By All Possible Means I Might Save Some

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

This passage had a big impact on me in the past year or two. We have a responsibility to evanglise, disciple and minister as well as we can for God's sake. The people we minister to are responsible for their own decisions and responses to us. What is the balance here? Where can we draw the line and say with proper humility, "I've done all that I can do?"

I think this passage answers that question.

Take My Worlds Apart

To love you - take my worlds apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my worlds apart
To need you - broken on my knees
Jars of Clay, Take My Worlds Apart

May 16th was my birthday. It was also the day that my church leadership at Faith Congregational Christian Church (FCCC) announced that our church would be closing it's doors as of the last Sunday in June 2004. What could be better for my birthday then to have such obediance to God?

On May 30 we were already planning on having a baptismal service. I think it's rather fitting, since it represents the death of the old self and the birth of new life. Our congregation will experience that this June. As with our spiritual salvation, the physical and organizational aspects of our church may be disappearing but who we are as a church is not dying, it is being reborn. God will give our church new life, though we do not yet know how our new life will look.

Take my worlds apart, God. Like the rich young man who was told to leave everything behind to follow Jesus. Like the man that was told to let the dead bury the dead and follow Jesus. We, as a church and as individuals, now give up what we have in order to follow Christ.

Evangelism vs. Discipleship

Should we go into the world and preach? Or should we go into the world and disciple? (Reference: The Setup)

The Great Commission isn't fulfilled just because a person becomes a Christian. It takes more to help that young Christian grow and mature. You're not done with the person when you're done at the altar. Jesus is telling us that it takes more.

The question I posed above is a bit of a trick question. It's not that we should do one or the other; we should do both. We need to evangelise to the lost and help them come to Christ, and we need to be there for them to help them grow in Christ afterwards. As a group of Christians, and for each of us individually, we need to fulfill the full scope of Jesus' command.

The Setup

The Great Commission

Matthew 28
"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Mark 16
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

Advice Can Go Two Ways

I was speaking to a friend the other day who was expressing doubts about various aspects of Christianity. This person is a Christian but was having some trouble with questions like "How can real Christians be hypocrites?" and "What about the historical truth of the Old Testament?"

The thing is, this particular person has found a lot of real-life, meaningful freedom in their personal knowledge of Jesus as saviour. I suggested that they should focus on this core of their belief for the current time. Don't get caught up in the petty arguments or the frailty of others, keep your eyes on Christ. Work from what you do know and go out from there. It's like a student entering law school - you don't try and complete third-year studies immediately; you have to work your way up to it gradually, building on a solid foundation of knowledge and experience.

This is more true than I know, I think. Previously, I asked how we could live in the life of Christ and not live under the Law. I think this advice may answer my own question.