Filed under: fellowship, switch | Tags: gospel, life, students, switch, truth
I have been having a few conversations lately with this guy and a few other leaders from this place about our ministry and our students. He asked a good question today,
“If you knew this Wednesday was the last time you had with the students at Switch, what would you do? Would you do something differently?”
It made me think. What are my priorities? Am I more concerned about comfort than leading? Do I care more about them liking me than I do about sharing the truth? I don’t think I like the answers.
The truth is, I tiptoe around things too often. I often get so worried about my relationship with students that I don’t want to offend them. The problem is, the truth is offensive. Christ offended. He loved wholly, but he did offend. In fact, our very faith is offensive. We worship a God that came to earth to be condemned and executed as a criminal. That isn’t easy to swallow.
Truth offends. It hurts because it has a way of cutting into all of those dark spots where deception and sin lurk. It hurts to hear that you are wrong, even when you already know. The truth offends but it also sets free. It is my duty (and my blessing) to show these students the way to their freedom in Christ. For them to be free, they must be told the truth.
Oh, and go see Patrick’s thoughts here.
So, what is your focus? What would you do?
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Christ mainly offended those that did not want to hear anyway. When He spoke He spoke with urgency and with a heart of compassion. I agree with you that truth is hard to swallow, even today. As God shows me things that I need to get better in I have to deny pride, embrace humility, and consume myself with the idea that I must decrease. The people closest to Christ didnt get it at times, and He never gave up on them because they wanted to know the truth. Sometimes He had to unpack it for them, but He never watered it down.
Comment by Patrick December 3, 2008 @ 12:39 pmLove your thougts here, Hope! The TRUTH does set us free! Thank God.
Keep loving on those kids. The Spirit of God will give you the right words to say at the right time. When His spirit and Truth collide—lives change!!
Comment by manymeadows December 3, 2008 @ 8:20 pmPatrick and my husband have been discussing this all week. It has be quite eye opening!! good thoughts here
Comment by misti December 4, 2008 @ 9:14 pm