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Celebrate. Connect. Contribute.Archive for Evangelism/Outreach
Learning Curve
“I never learned from a man who agreed with me.” — Robert A. Heinlein
I find myself regularly befriending people that are unlike me in multiple ways. Some become lifelong friends that sharpen me, others become lessons learned in what not to think or how not to act. And of course, I have found myself getting burned from time to time. Still, I continue to listen occasionally to NPR, tune in to speeches of politicians I disagree with, read newspaper editorials, and watch the nightly “news”.
I learn. Character is betrayed, lies exposed, anger revealed, intolerance (in the name of tolerance) articulated. Yes, I learn. Sometimes as I learn those things about others, I see the same in me. But I have learned that I need the other side of the equation from time to time. But, not all the time…
There are times when the “enemy” (the Devil) is trying to get close. He is trying to get you to ”see the other side” in an effort to sway you that side. One lesson I have learned is that if you have no foundation to stand on, (beliefs, convictions), swaying happens more often.
So, learn from others but learn this first. You need to be grounded in God. You need more familiarity with His Word (the Bible) than you do with any philosophies, systems, or agendas.
I have a friend who works for a politician whom I almost completely disagree with. Yet, our friendship while challenging at times, is good for me. It makes me regularly put his beliefs, and mine, up against what God has said. On occasion I have decided that my belief wasn’t in line with God’s. Most of the time, neither of us are discussing anything that God has addressed in His Word, so other principles have to guide our talk. But I keep learning, and so does my friend.
I’m thinking that many of us live in such isolation that we may not be learning anymore. It’s the same reason evangelism bites in most churches. We only hang with the those just like us. It’s kind of hard to evangelize the already saved… Break out of your circle and start influencing others. You might learn something and you might help them learn, as well.
Engaging the World… Part One
Last year I heard Bishop T.D. Jakes preach at a conference. This guy is good. He gets the man thing. Anyway, he talked to a group of over 2500 pastors and challenged us with the following. I’m sharing this with you because it is spot on for our lives.
Get into the story of Joseph. You remember this guy. His dad’s favorite. A dreamer. Gets a pretty coat. Loses his coat as he is thrown into a pit and sold as a slave. Works his way up into a position of great power in Egypt. Loses a second coat to a woman he runs from. Hangs out with a baker and butler in jail. Becomes “the man” in Egypt, again. His brothers come to him for help during a famine. Read the story here.
He engages three types of people in his life. Read the story and watch these three types pop up.
1. Colleague – Someone who is for you because of what you are for. Whatever the cause, if they are for it and you are for it, they are for you.
2. Comrade – Someone who is for you because of what you are against. Whatever the cause, if they are against it and you are against it, they are for you.
3. Confidant – Someone who is for you no matter what you are for or against.
Here’s the rub with the first two. When you are no longer for what your colleague was for, or you are no longer against what your comrade was against, they are no longer for you! Pastors face this all the time in churches.
BTW, you might recall that I told you a month ago that I am not for sale. I cannot be bought, because I have already been bought by the blood of the Lamb – The Son of God; Jesus! That’s important for you to know. It means you won’t have to worry about me taking up an agenda or cause that doesn’t move all of us closer to God through Jesus Christ.
We typically regard people from what they are able to bring to the table. In other words, what can I get from them? The better question this morning is to ask, what am I giving?
So, which one are you? Colleague, Comrade or Confidant?
