8/15/2024 Found a new drinkin' buddy.....some other "confessions". and kindness that literally killsRead Now HAH!!!! Made YOU look! Nyuk nyuk nyuk! No gimmick is too low.....no gimmick too cheap.....no gimmick too gimmicky....to get ya'll to read my blogs! LOL Now that you've fallen for it, read on..... I always (ok...ALMOST ALWAYS......) pray for God to move before meeting w/friends from that "other Abrahamic religion".....'cause the Oil of the Spirit must fuel the icebreaking....or melting, as it were.....Friendship & presence. Not manipulation or clever arguments. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) We don't need knucklehead, egghead or airhead theologians & their agendas because our internal radiance beats our yapper to the punch every time if we just chill. The wise theologians of our age would do well to learn that children's Sunday school song...."This Little Light of Mine". And, here it is: So, after swearing me to secrecy, a friend recently divulged a secret.......He drinks wine sometimes.......(but only for his stomach.....or so he says....Ahem.) I'll call him....let's see...uh......I know! How about "V" for vino! Hah! (Not his initial.).....Quite a disclosure for someone w/his heritage but not shocking. I asked, "Did you know those exact words are in the Bible?".....Someone w/at least a modicum of Bible literacy likely told him this. After “confessing” that I'm no Bible scholar, I said, "It's somewhere in 1 Timothy.......Ah yes…..vs. 5:23”.....as I googled. Then, I "confessed" that I, also, drink moderately. It was natural to next ask if he'd ever read the Word. He was interested, so I offered a hardcopy in his language, but he said, “I'd prefer to start w/a Bible app. Can you can send a link?" He now has the app & we plan to study soon! Relaaaaax......no plans to drink socially w/him....as there's legit concern about chemical dependency among these people. Opression has made them vulnerable, as evidenced by rampant heroin addiction in their homeland. Just saying this: Proceed confidently. Folks from that religion are rarely as "holy" as the gruff huff & puff of their PR campaign......And some of them DO puff. Nyuk. The shock factor of such "confessions" receded yrs ago after knowing many students from "that religion" who engaged in the same immorality common among American students. (1 Corinthians 10:13) Confession is a deep human desire.....(James 5:15)....for relief.....& acceptance. Regardless. This forges real relationships. The weight of confidentiality in their culture is amped 100X from our context. Holding a secret gains lifetime friendship. Their cultures are mostly networks of fear & threats while the missional Church is one big relationship thrust by the Power of God, Himself. We're a community of image bearers ornamented w/Spiritual Gifts for which we never petitioned. 1 Cor. 12:8-10. Ok.....gonna go on a b-rant since alcohol is the topic. FYI, I avg. about 1 drink a week, for which I'm scandalous to some. Legalists annoy but far more annoying are those who selfishly exegete "Christian liberty" & ludicrous "rights" from 1 Cor. 8:2-6 to the exclusion of the verses following. Many otherwise mature believers carry on like juveniles w/their 1st beer.....strutting as they role play some sort of legendary rite of passage from fundamentalist "oppression".....whether or not it was personal to them. Rolling my eyes, thinking about the futility of both extremes. Drinking alcohol is no more of an "achievement" than drinking ice tea. I once left a Church because of its permissive alcohol policy. A friend from that “other Abrahamic religion” 25 yrs. my junior attended w/me for 3.5 yrs. Forming many friendships w/people his age, he hung out mostly w/them. It all came out one day. He was disgusted after seeing drunk Christians several times. The final straw for me, too. I informed the entire staff by email that "I won't remain where my ministry isn't honored". This, after my pleading in vain w/the pastor to form a dry home group so these friends could come to a Bible study. By the Grace of God, the policy has changed in that Church! .........Ah, yes......Mission.....Isn't that why we're here? But not enough hands are on deck (& as noted, some are in the way).....The stark reality of this lack was distilled once more in a recent study at a Church I visited. They were examining the oft-overlooked Book of Nehemiah....I'd never noticed before, but EVERYONE in chapter 3........from the high priest in vs 1 to avg. people....as in vs. 13....was involved in rebuilding the Jerusalem wall. Pls read it! EVERY.....I SAID EVERY ministry is hurting for volunteers! Most believers aren't doing ANY Kingdom service......And sometimes, it feels like the Mormons are eclipsing the good works of all evangelical Churches combined. It's equally impressive & disheartening to see all that the local LDS community is doing for our refugee friends. The CEO of a secular agency said that the local LDS community had distributed $100K worth of food! And their English classes are bursting at the seams!.....It's already devastating that Mormons believe that the 3 Divine Members of the Trinity are 3 separate gods w/independent wills. But it becomes much worse if they ever tell people from "that other Abrahamic religion" what they REALLY believe!.....Because Christianity is already misunderstood by them to be polytheistic.......YIKES!!!!! Mormons confirm this misunderstanding in their minds! Mormons are extraordinarily kind but are killing people w/kindness (spiritually).....literally! We must do better. Below is a song they teach their children....... For seizing contextual moments, moderation in all things and more Gospel workers...... Just another witness to His Glory! Comments are closed.
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