CWW Week 27 - Day 4 - Keeping Church Simple

Scripture.

Matthew 7:6. It says:

“Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6, ESV)

This verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount and is often interpreted as a warning not to waste valuable wisdom or teachings on those who are unwilling to appreciate or understand them.

A friend of mine once said that if you get into the ring with a pig you both end up dirty.

So what does this have to do with keeping it simple?

One of the main reasons people come unstuck when talking about God is getting into an argument with someone.

This can happen when a believer engages a passionate non believer or when two passionate believers argue over an interpretation of scripture. Either way it can get messy and counter productive.

We must keep coming back to the fact that we are not measured on this journey by what we know as much as who we know.

So we have a number of options when we find ourselves in a faith based confrontation. First of all we must allow the other person to feel heard. Resist the temptation to be so focussed on your answer that you fail to hear the question.

Secondly we must not let spiritual pride get in the way. God is in control and doesn’t need us to defend Him as much as He wants us to experience this great faith challenge. We must be prepared to admit that we don’t know the answer and have some catch phrases ready to soften the challenges.

One of mine is “You know what? There are a lot of questions that I can’t find an answer for but the scripture that I get goes straight to my heart. For example; the Bible has shown me that it’s easier to love some people than it is to like them. So instead of me condemning people who behave badly, I am shown to love them through the pain that causes that behaviour.”Don’t let your own perception of a lack of knowledge on your part deter you from speaking to others about Jesus but always remember that less is more and people need time to digest new concepts in small chunks.

Then there are those situations when you know that all the other person wants to do is attack you for your beliefs. That’s when you shake the dust off your sandals and walk on because some battles aren’t ours to win. That person may be ready to be reached later by someone else when their circumstances change.

I once attended a science and freedom conference. As the event was starting I felt the need to pray for the success of the event and I did.

I got a very lukewarm response but that’s ok. During the coffee break a man approached me being quite irate. He was most definitely in attack mode. “How dare you bring religion into a science and freedom conference?”  “I didn’t” I replied. I don’t have time for religion so I prayed for Jesus to bless us all.”

He went on to say that he thought it was inappropriate and it triggered him. “I am a homosexual man and I hate being homosexual and I hate how I am judged by religious people and made feel inferior. I framed everything he was telling me in a frame of love. I listened and looked warmly towards him and when he stopped his tirade I told him that I was that glad that I didn’t have that issue because the ones I struggled with seemed insurmountable.

I told him why I put no stock in religion but focussed on relationship because that was what Jesus was all about. He asked me to give him an example. I said that if Jesus was here now….and He actually is, Think I know exactly what He might do. He asked me what that was and I hugged him.

Jesus knows your struggles and He knows your heart and He died to redeem you as much as anyone.. He cried as he hugged me and the onlookers were amazed at what they had just witnessed.

I am so grateful in the knowledge that all I am required to do is spread the seeds and love the ground on which it is cast.

There can be no greater calling.

Questions.

1. Do you sometimes haver trouble with target recognition?
2. Have you been attacked for sharing Jesus and has that cooled your enthusiasm?
3. Did you know that a relationship with the Holy Spirit will guide and serve you in doing his will?

Prayer.

Dear Lord, Papa God.

I know that I may be confronted when I share the gospel with others. Help me to frame my language with love as I do your work and not your job. Papa help me grow as I spread the good news to others as I learn on the journey. Thank you for sharpening my character and covering me with your armour. For this is my prayer in your precious name Jesus. Amen.

Have a great day today with Jesus.

Graham Hood.