August 26, 2017 - "Humility"

Chaplain’s Corner

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Humility

Greetings, Patriots!

Well, friends and family, I feel the need to say something, and I hope you will all take the time to read it, completely, and understand where it is coming from: my heart. I find that as I get older, I also find myself succumbing to the weakness that many people have as they age: I find myself judging others. I know better than to do that, but I also know that it is a weakness that we all struggle with.

God has been so good to me in forgiving me for my past, and for the love He shows me daily, and I am constantly learning humility on a whole new level. I would like to share an example with you.

About 15 years ago, I was attending Horizon Christian Fellowship in the Geist area, and was really getting closer and closer to our Lord. I was at all of the meetings, prayer sessions, and took part in many ministries. I did notice, however, that there was a group of young ones that had started attending, and they looked different. They wore all black clothes, had piercings and tattoos, black fingernails, and many of them sported dreadlocks. They were sincerely nice people, and I liked them, and I was eager to see them grow in the Lord.

As time went by, I began to have doubts about them. I kept thinking that in time, they would want to clean themselves up for the Lord, and wear normal clothes and remove the piercings, and maybe cover up the tattoos. Maybe even get a normal haircut. I was of the opinion that they were enjoying walking the line between God's Grace and staying part of the dirty world they were supposedly being saved from. I wondered why the Holy Spirit was not convicting their hearts to quit trying to be so "different" and just join the rest of "us" in changing our looks, manners, and demeanor to a more "normal" one.

One Sunday, it was announced that during the week, on Wednesday evening, we were going to do a special outreach through street witnessing in the Broadripple area. I was eager to be a part of it and agreed to meet everyone there. On Wednesday evening, I parked and started walking to an area that is well known called "the painted bridge." It is a bridge in the Broadripple area that has tons of graffiti and artwork on it. It is the local "hangout" for the youth in the area.

As I approached the bridge, with my white shirt and tie and my Bible under my arm, I noticed the "Goth" kids from our fellowship were there already. As I would approach someone to try to strike up a conversation, they would all turn and walk the other way, or ignore me entirely as they walked by. I could not get ANYONE to talk with me about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I could not share a message of hope with one person. I was really disappointed. I had high hopes that this would be a productive evening.

I noticed something very important, though. As I looked across the bridge, I saw my "Goth" friends standing there, surrounded by young people. They were actually back-to-back as they talked to small groups of young ones, and I was amazed to see them start to reach out and put their hands on the young one's shoulders and bow their heads and start to pray with them. These young people who were blowing me off entirely were bowing their heads and allowing prayer!

I was very conflicted at that moment. I had very mixed emotions. With tears in my eyes, I started to feel the Holy Spirit convict me. I was guilty of judging others by their appearances. I was guilty of thinking that there was one "way" for Christians to act, dress, worship, and share the Gospel. I was guilty of being the exact type of Christian that was responsible for turning so many potential believers away from the Gospel, by my attitude toward variety. I was devastated that I had been thinking in such a way, and I was so grateful to our Lord for setting me right.

I notice now that many churches are big enough that they need at least two services on Sunday. Our home church at Valley Mills Christian Church has a "traditional" service at 9:00 and then they have a "contemporary" service at 10:45. The main difference is the style of music, but I even noticed that communion is a bit different. In the first service, we are all asked to hold our bread and cup and partake together after the reading of scripture, whereas the second service tells them to partake as they are led.

I notice that some churches stress rules and structure, and other churches are more laid back and you see a lot of tee shirts and shorts. I am starting to understand that God allows different styles of fellowships so that all people will be able to worship in an element that they are comfortable in. Who am I to judge how a person is dressed on Sunday? Who am I to decide how "spiritual" they are? My lesson learned from this and other experiences is that God meets us when and where we need Him. It is said that people don't care how much you know, they want to know how much you care.

I have my preferences in how I dress, and the music that takes me to worship my God. But I also have to understand and appreciate that my tastes are not the only way to approach God. As long as we are all humble before Him, and seek Him, He will let Himself be found. He is not worried about your hair or your clothes. He is concerned with your heart. He is concerned with your attitude toward Him and true acceptance of the free gift of salvation.

Now, don't get me wrong on this: There is a need for us to leave our sinful lives behind us when we accept salvation in Jesus. We cannot continue to live in sin and not expect consequences. God will help us, through His Spirit, to clean our lives up on a moral level, as long as we let Him work in our heart. The Great Potter can and will make a useful vessel out of each of us if we allow Him to mold us and make us into the person He intends us to be.

So, if you don't like the "Jesus Freak" style of concerts and worship with the light shows, heavy drums, and electric guitars, that is fine. Just don't go. However, don't be so pious as to decide that simply because you don't like it, it must be repulsive to God and must be a ploy of the Devil to steal us away from true worship. Remember that God is always in control, even when we can't see Him working in the shadows. Stand back and be still and behold the glory of our Almighty God as He shows up and shows off with His awesome love and Spirit. He is stronger than the evil one, and will overcome. Let's not try to do His job. Let's try to mind our own business and work on our own relationship with Him as we seek His glory.

God bless you, every one, and:
God Bless America!
Stephen King
Chaplain@3upi.com