Make People Feel Like People.

I'll be the first to admit that I struggle with putting myself out there in terms of friends and relationships. I fear rejection or I just don't put forth the effort to be intentional in my relationships.

Sometimes it leads to isolation and other times (and maybe even worse ) shallow relationships -- small talk and putting on your best face, pretending to have it all together.

As Christians, it is our responsibility to put ourselves out there to build relationships, both with Christians and non-Christians alike. It means taking risks and being intentional.

It is our responsibility to make people feel like people. To make people feel loved and important and valuable. It means being vulnerable and going beyond surface-deep conversations. It means being the ear to listen and the hand to help.

I want that. I want people to feel like people. I want to see people as Christ does.

I'm working on it. But it's hard. But I want to do it. I really really want to do it.

The Good News I'm Too Afraid to Talk About

I took a nearly two year hiatus from the New Testament. Mostly, because that's where it's easy to read and my understanding of the Old Testament was in need of some intense study. But now, I'm coming back the New Testament again, hopefully with fresh eyes, for a new look.

I'm reading Romans. Which I had honestly been rather tired of reading -- verses were constantly being "picked" out to support different viewpoints...and I learned the "Romans Road" evangelism "technique."  And I grew weary...I know all these things are done with great intentions...and many people have found Christ because of this....but I'm tired of the gospel becoming some some sort of cheap sales pitch that I have to make if I want to be a good Christian.

As I read Romans today, the good news is so much more than a 5-step plan for your ticket to heaven. I'm reading Romans in light of my study of the Old Testament...and I'm seeing thing I have never seen before.

I'm seeing the work of God...his plan of redemption for the entire world...as good news that I actually want to share. The gospel is new life -- both in the heart and in the mind and in the actions of a believer. Belief and faith isn't just a prayer you pray to "accept Jesus into your heart," it is conviction that you are living in a world that God has and is redeeming and renewing through the work of Christ on the Cross. The gospel is justice -- God has and is keeping the promise he made to restore humanity after the fall. The gospel is faithfulness, faithfulness to the covenant he made to Abraham through which the whole world would be saved from death, and corruption, and evil.

I'm no salesperson. I'm not particularly talkative, aggressive or confrontational. But that's ok. Because I'm not trying to sell anything.

I am called to live in light of the good news and share it's goodness with those who God has set in my life.

Gossip.

One of the greatest challenges and temptations I must deal with on a daily basis at my workplace is the pervasiveness of gossip. Not only does hearing gossip give me a negative view of others, but it is a constant temptation to participate myself. And while gossip might seem like a relatively minor sin, Paul makes it clear that God categorizes gossip alongside some other very offensive sins.

[29] They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, [30] slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, [31] foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (Romans 1:29-31 ESV)

On one hand, I want to build a sense of honesty and openness with people in my workplace without seeming judgmental or unfriendly; however, at the same time, I know that gossiping is unacceptable in the eyes of God – it ruins relationships, creates dissention and fuels quarrels.

Lately, I’ve been trying to think of practical ways to combat gossip in my own workplace :

1. Pray for those who are gossiping- pray that God would reveal the destruction that comes from their cutting words.
2. Pray for the victims of malicious gossip- pray that God would redeem their dishonor and restore broken relationships.
3. Seek to uplift those who are the subject of gossip in my conversations with others- be looking for evidence of God’s grace in the life of every person.
4. Thank God for his gift of grace in my own life and extend that same grace to others – remember that I am far from perfect and rely on God’s grace every day to sustain me.
5. Reflect on how Jesus treated those who were rejected in society. Make that behavior my standard for loving others- Christ made a point to reach out to those who were the subject of contempt.

I have found that when my focus is actively ministering and serving people in my workplace, gossiping about them becomes not a sin that I must actively avoid; but rather, the gossip is replaced by genuine love and concern—when I view people the same way that Christ did I can better understand why God so adamantly detests gossip and grieves its destructive consequences.

Culture & Christ

The other day I was talking to a friend who showed me pictures from a  Hindu Temple. As we scrolled through the pictures I was fascinated by the beautiful dresses and dances and the powerful community. The culture is so rich and beautiful.

And to be honest, I felt almost guilty for wanting to share Christ with him (well actually the voice in my head was more abrupt and asked me why I wanted to "convert him"). I felt like I was stealing something from him.

As I was talking to Jordan about this concern, he pointed out that many cultures around the world, unlike the United States, have religion woven deeply in their cultural practices. However, as Christians, we are called to a radical separation from the world - even our cultures - in order to join the the community and work of the Kingdom of God. We are ambassadors.

As I thought more about it, I realized that as Christians in America, we have not taken this idea and put it into practice. We try to fit Christ into our culture- we are of the world. And since the United States does not have a religion that is associated with our culture, it is easy to think that is an o.k. thing to do.

If you were looking at the United States as a person from somewhere else in the world, we would look like people who call ourselves Christians, gathering in a Mosque or a Hindu temple singing praises to God while at the same time celebrating and worshiping the Gods of the other religion. Just replace Islam with Materialism or Hinduism with Individualism and you might just have the religion that is intertwined into American culture.

Through God's grace, all cultures have aspects that are beautiful and created by God. As Christians, we are called to reclaim that beauty and present it to the Lord, for His glory. And that is a wonderful thing to remember as an ambassador of Christ to all nations and cultures.

What Matters?

It does not take long to figure out what matters to someone. Someone's conversations, time, interpretations, money, and so forth all tell what has value in someone's life.

Once I know what matters to someone, it is one hundred percent easier to share with them how that passion fits into a bigger picture: God's Kingdom. Not only is a conversation no longer forced but usually someone is more receptive to hearing about Christ when what is important to him or her is also important to God.

I have found that I neglect doing this on a regular basis. Every day I have what seems like a million times where I talk to someone about something that matters to him or her and every day I just listen and say no more.

So this leads me to one more thought....

So, what would people say matters to me? If you asked me directly, I would easily say my relationship with Christ, glorifying God and living in and sharing the kingdom of God. But, if someone didn't ask me directly, would they come to the same conclusion?

It is is my goal to speak and live boldly, each and every day.

Walls

Recently I've been thinking about the maze of walls I walk through everyday. Everyone seems to have them decorated really nicely. Some even have a mural painted, so at first glance, you might not even realize that you're looking at a wall. Why is everyone so afraid to let others know who they really are?

I wish I could even this blog post with something deeply personal about myself and say that I'll the the first to demolish my own walls. But I'm not. Not here at least.

Humility, Grace, Trust.

The end.