So on the World Race, we are blessed with a full day off each week to recoup and chill. In simple terms: we have a day off.
Being in the Philippines during a typhoon made our team's choices of activities for the day very limited. Luckily, Manila happens to be home to the Mall of Asia. 7 women spend a day off in an air conditioned mall so big it takes over a day to see it all? Heck yes couldn't be said quick enough.
We headed off with few goals in mind other than to chill, spend time together, and have fun. The Lord has truly blessed us with an amazing team so our basic goals were smoothly and lovingly met. At one point though, we did split up as a group so a few gals could go to a movie while the rest of us (window) shopped.
The team mates I was with wanted to check out a store that had a multitude of items that were legitimate items from the Philippines and/or of their culture. I had been to this store once before the previous week so I wasn't really intrigued by anything in the store. I did look around with the girls when I saw a young woman (who didn't look much older than me) with a "God's word is truth" name tag. Not thinking she could be anything but some form of evangelist I went up to her with a HUGE grin and said "hey! Amen to that!! Are you a missionary here?"
Very quickly she said no, rather she was a Jehovah's Witness and asked me what my faith was.
Before I continue, let me tell you a little bit of my background. I used to like to pick fights. Unfortunately still kind of do. If I know I'm right: I know I'm right. Although in my recent years I have more likely than not just gave up before I could prove how "right I was", deep down I love a good debate. Whether it be on something small (like what to do) or something big (like religion or political topics), I loved proving my point. There aren't many points I'm absolutely passionate about and fortunately/unfortunately they're points that I don't typically have to fight with "my crowd". Christianity being one of them. Last month: the team I was on watched "Furious Love" as part of our team time (you should watch it, too!) and The Lord convicted me like nobodies business on how yes I loved, but I didn't love like He loved. The love I gave was definitely conditional. I was also completely closed off from other people that had a different faith and had an expectation that if they were anything but a Christian or an atheist (because I can relate, understand, and evangelize to them), they just need to realize MY truth and get over themselves. Does anyone else see the irony and flat out ignorance there?
Okay, we're back now. I was shocked with myself that the first thing I thought of was that movie rather than "how can I prove to her that she's wrong?" kind of deals. She actually told me a lot about her faith and why she believed what she believed and was (what it seemed like) trying to evangelize me into her faith! A couple cool things I found out about her is that she was from the states as well, she had tried out many other faiths before, and she did believe in Jesus. So for all I know: she is my full sister in Christ because she accepted the adoption. Sweet, right??
About 3/4 of the way into our conversation I finally asked her why she just wasn't a (normal) Christian. She told me that when she was searching for a religion, Jehovah's Witness' were the only ones that were untied. No matter where you went, whether in the states or around the world, all JW churches (or meeting place, I didn't get the politically correct name) taught the same thing. She found a unity there that she had never seen before. Now, I've personally never gone from JW congregation to JW congregation to see if that's true or not, but I could definitely and very unfortunately agree than the Christian church was not unified by any means. I tried justifying it as much as possible, but my heart shattered in that moment knowing that this was a point I honestly couldn't defend.
We ended our conversation very cordially and gave each other some challenges to help us understand the other person's belief system. I left with a troubled heart and my mind going what seemed like hundreds of different directions.
Why is it that we can see anywhere between 1-100 churches or more in one city alone but can't trust that they're all going to be unified in spirit, teaching, and even worship to God? Why are we allowing insignificant differences in minuscule areas in our church systems separate us from one another? Why do we keep trying so stinking hard to get people to believe and know our theology rather than teaching and disciple people to love God above all else, love their neighbors, and lead them to His word rather than our own?
The youth pastor back at my home church prays a prayer before he speaks that I not only admire but also imitate because I truly feel this is something a lot of churches don't do:
"God, let anyone who hears what I'm going to say forget anything that is not of You. Let only Your words and truth come out of my mouth. Don't even let a memory linger of anything I say that may be of my flesh."
What if we truly died to ourselves?
What if the church worried more about getting uncomfortable and reaching out to our communities rather than waiting for the community to come to them?
What if the church stopped worrying about how many people attend/are members/give financially and seek The Lord above all else?? I mean it's all God's anyways, right?
Why are we allowing satan to have us in his palm by allowing so many divisions from loving not only the lost, but also each other??
I don't have any answers to this. This is more of a word-vomit-via-blog. If you have any insight feel free to share.
I will say this though, Christ didn't die for us to sit in comfortable chairs, sing songs, do our "Christian duties", and criticize those who "are doing it wrong". He died because we are literally hopeless without Him. He died because He loves us. He died so we could love others with the overflow of love He has given us. Are you ready to let that love pump through your veins? Even if that means letting go of disagreements? Even if that means being uncomfortable?
<3
