Myths of the Church #2

Yesterday I was telling a friend from our church that I had an appointment to discuss partnering with New Horizon Ministries. NHM reaches out to young street people. My friend said that they won't listen. That is the myth! That they won't listen.   

I still remember a time, about fifty years ago now, when my step mother told me that Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were very rare because they were active in Hollywood's Motion Picture industry and still married. They were Christians. Years later, that witness spoke to me, even though it didn't appear that I was listening when the story was told.

My part, and other Christians, is to reach out with the Love of God. That is the end of our responsibility. Those receiving God's Love, either spoken or demonstrated, may appear to not listen or to receive. But sometimes testimony takes time and goes circuitous routes. One thing is for sure, if the words aren't spoken, they will not be able to hear. My choice is give, and not withhold, give the chance that once was given to me. 

Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

It becomes apparent that it is necessary to be speaking the word of the Lord. 

Myths of the Church

Years ago I had a preacher talking to me, while I was drunk. When I tried to respond to him, he threw up his hands, saying that he couldn't talk to me, he was only talking to the alcohol. I have not had any alcohol for many years now. I still hear preachers say that they can't talk to people that have been drinking or are on drugs.

Two things make me disagree with this statement. The first was experience, the second is the Word of God. Decades ago when I was a long hair, not the classical musician type, but the other more radical type. I was homeless, but was crashing at a friend's house. He left one day to go to a park and get stoned on acid. When he came back he had a quizzical look on his face. He stated that he had gotten stoned, and as he sat there in the park a man came up to him and told him about Jesus and the Bible. He just commented that it all made sense. 

In Isa 55:10-11 The word says,"For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 

Since God's Word is His Word, I would think that if you are only speaking to the alcohol then you are only speaking your own words. But if you are speaking God's Word, it will accomplish God's purpose. As it did when the man in the park spoke to the stoner.