“I’m a Turn Back.”
It’s a phrase that I have heard many times in our door to door evangelism this month. The first few times I heard it, I didn’t understand and actually didn’t pursue the meaning of it, but once it was explained to me, I was baffled at this label they gave themselves.
In Jamaica, there is definitely a spirit of religion that has a hold on these people. Jamaica is one of the most churched countries in the world, but as we tend to rejoice in those things, that is actually part of the problem. In our conversations with the people of Pembrook, Providence, and Castleton, there is this reoccurring theme of works-based faith.
Sometimes our conversations lead to asking them where they would go if they were to die tomorrow and the answer seems pretty repetitive: “If I live the good life, go to church, read the Bible, and be a good Christian, I will go to heaven.”
Now for the people who enjoy stepping into the party scene and living for themselves, they are shunned out of the church and labeled as “Turn Backs.” Meaning, they grew up in the church and once upon a time, they attended regularly, but they have now turned back from the faith. They do not consider themselves Christians unless their works show it.
Now I’m not discrediting putting our faith into action, that’s important, and I’m certainly not condoning drinking and partying, BUT here I find many people who miss the most important part of the gospel! GRACE! We do not have the gospel without grace, so even though Jamaica is one of the most churched countries in the world, I don’t think a lot of them have heard or really understood the TRUE gospel. I just wanted to grab every single person I came into contact with and shake them with the truth. But because I can’t talk to every citizen of this beautiful country, I will write them a letter here.
Oh my sweet friends of Jamaica,
Do you know how much the Creator of the Universe loves you just as you are? That there is nothing that you can do to earn that love? Sometimes we get caught up in religion too much that we miss the relationship. Believe me, I know. My story, my testimony was that! I struggled my whole life to perform and do all the right things to be a good Christian. If it wasn’t church, it was church camp, or ministry, or missions trips, or worship team, or Sunday school helper, you name it, I did it. I did not see my faith without these works. And yes, although those works were still “good,” my heart wasn’t in it, and I found out later in my life that God cares so much more about my heart.
Put aside what the world has told you, how the church has hurt you, and what you have heard about what you need to do in order to receive salvation… God just wants you. He wants to hear how you are doing, He wants to know how your day was, He wants to walk life with you and be in every step you take and every breath you breathe.
I’m a “Turn Back.” We are all “Turn Backs.” That’s what we did when they were nailing Jesus to the cross. We turned our back on Him. But do you know what’s beautiful? His grace is so big that He says if we just turn back around, He will be standing there with open arms, tears welling up in His eyes, so happy to have you. Just you.
He ate with tax collectors and sinners! If you want to label yourself as that, go ahead, but Jesus is still eating and hanging out with you! That’s the God that I serve!
You are not a Turn Back, you are His. Step into your true identity and feel the weight of His GRACE. You are a child of the One True King and the Most High God.
Oh how beautiful that grace is. I pray that every single one of you feels it one day.
All my love,
JJ
