10 people could listen to a sermon or a public speaker and you could easily have 10 if not more opinions by the end of it.
A facebook friend could quote the Bible at me on their thoughts on evangelism and I could quote something back that backs my style of evangelism.
Yesterday we took the kids to Glasgow and a street preacher was giving it his best. I don't really like street preaching. The kids were somewhat bemused by this man shouting at people with his Bible in hand. Standing on step ladders with a sign round them he preached it big time.
After about 10 or 15 minutes he came to a close, changed his tone from yelling and spoke normally and proceeded to invite people to church where he assured them of a warm welcome.
As a Christian, I was rather surprised. Why would anyone want to attend after a rant like that?
I sometimes have "debates" with fellow Christians about their attitude that seems rather aggressive preaching to me and they seem to think of me as a liberal.
I equally know Pastors that seem so focussed on numbers and commitments that they seem to have disengaged their brain at times.
The Bible does not promise us a nice life. In fact the last few years have been quite crap. It is true to say that if I did not have God, I would have been in a worse position but my personal circumstance was made worse by ill thinking Christians. I knew that their actions were not in line with the God I know, so how then to you line that up?
How could I invite a friend to church when my recent experience was awful.
I hasten to add the situation was made by a handful of people, but it was enough for me to be aware that my health was being affected.
Non - christian friends were stunned. (I did not lie to them.)
I can empathise with Job.
I have been in an almighty wrestle and the blackness have enshrouded me for the greater part of recent years.
Does that mean I have got it wrong?
No.
Does that mean that God has failed?
No.
People are people and it would not be the first time man's thinking on what they think is theologically sound strategy falls flat on their face abus as they have jumped to the wrong conclusions, jumped ahead to get to the result rather than just do what they have been asked to do.
The sad thing is these rash decisions have severe consequences. People get hurt. People withdraw from what they have been called to do. Sometimes whole ministries are shut down.
People that have a strong faith are crushed, some even walk away. Broken.
Potentially eternal life changing consequences because of human actions.
In recent years the "Me too" and historical abuse stories have been on the rise.
Abuse can take many forms. Spiritual abuse and psychological abuse are still evident but are rarely addressed. Manipulation of people and the hope of applying guilt is not uncommon. Manipulation of someone to assert your power or indeed to cover your own incompetence is another ploy.
You can bet your last pound that for every person brave to raise their voice their are dozens that have been silenced.
I've heard people be incredulous about those that remain silent, but the reality is that it can be a matter of self preservation. The mental torment and stress has been bad enough that they just need to survive.
It all seems rather bleak, doesn't it?
So how do we see the rainbow?
The promises of God last forever.
The steadfast love of God is a constant amid the storms of life. No one can rob you of the promises that God has given you, what's more is that their actions do not go un- noticed. God sees the lies, the deceit and the cover ups. He remembers those who fail to keep their promises. Those that abuse their position. He sees the people who have crushed and been crushed.
Those that have been crushed he holds gently and helps the wounds heal. The scars may remain but they are a gentle reminder of how strong you are.
He puts you through the refiners fire and gives a shimmer of Gold in the healing.
What looks like weakness is actually a stronger bond.
A bit like the Japanese art of Kintsugi mending pottery with Gold, only not all the gold can be seen on the outside.... sometimes the work has been done on the inside.
You see not every intimate detail of my transformation is for everyone in the church to know.
Some people might proclaim their transformation for all to hear but some of us share as a need to know or spirit led basis.
I know what I have come through and how God has been there through the darkness. That is when you see the rainbows. By remembering who God has made you to be.
Sometimes that means forgetting the restrictive mindsets that you have been taught. Stop trying to conform to what someone else thinks you should be (especially if these people swing in and swing out of your life at their choosing and could not give a toss about you unless they need you or unless you do what they want)
Know you strengths, acknowledge you weaknesses and be real with who you really are.
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