I don’t know if you’ve ever been violated by someone taking
something that belongs to you, but I can assure you:
something that belongs to you, but I can assure you:
It’s deeply personal.
Unfortunately, this seems to happen all too often on the
World Race, no matter how careful we are.
I remember being in South Africa and having a girl in our group come
back stunned with the reality that the camera that had been strapped across her
body, UNDER her jacket was somehow cut away and taken right off her
person. It’s deeply personal, I
assure you.
World Race, no matter how careful we are.
I remember being in South Africa and having a girl in our group come
back stunned with the reality that the camera that had been strapped across her
body, UNDER her jacket was somehow cut away and taken right off her
person. It’s deeply personal, I
assure you.
It’s so much easier to empathize with the victim in these
stories. The injustice of it all
gets a rise out of us. We band
together to come against those evil enough to commit such an atrocity. But it’s not often we see ourselves as
the perpetrator…even when we are.
stories. The injustice of it all
gets a rise out of us. We band
together to come against those evil enough to commit such an atrocity. But it’s not often we see ourselves as
the perpetrator…even when we are.
While those that would steal have motivations of greed or
power, we justify our thievery by calling it “protection” or “compassion.”
power, we justify our thievery by calling it “protection” or “compassion.”
Don’t believe me?
I suggest that we rob others, probably every day, of the
opportunity to make their own decisions.
We take away the option for others to form their own conclusions by
withholding information or flat out excluding them from our lives.
opportunity to make their own decisions.
We take away the option for others to form their own conclusions by
withholding information or flat out excluding them from our lives.
Think about how you rationalized not sharing the Gospel with
the last stranger you had a conversation with. What was your internal argument?
the last stranger you had a conversation with. What was your internal argument?
“I don’t really have time to get into it all…”
“They probably wouldn’t be interested…”
“They don’t know me, what right have I to talk about this?”
So we don’t.
We rob them of the opportunity to make a decision because
we’ve already made the decision of that moment for them. They don’t even have a chance.
we’ve already made the decision of that moment for them. They don’t even have a chance.
Or when was the last time you invited someone you barely
knew to join you and your friends in a community event?
knew to join you and your friends in a community event?
“I wouldn’t want them to be ‘the new kid’ or feel awkward…”
“I don’t know if my friends would be okay with it, it’s kind
of ‘our thing’…”
of ‘our thing’…”
“They’re probably too busy with their own life and friends…”
So we don’t.
This is a HUGE part of my life right now as I enter a
support-raising season. I look
over the lists and lists of people I know. People from my life now, people from the past, people I meet
along the way, even readers of my blog or Facebook profile.
support-raising season. I look
over the lists and lists of people I know. People from my life now, people from the past, people I meet
along the way, even readers of my blog or Facebook profile.
“They’re probably not financially in a place to give…”
“Surely they have others they’re already giving to…”
“I haven’t seen them in forever, who do I think I am asking
for support when we’ve been out of touch for so long…they should be more in
the loop before I ask.”
for support when we’ve been out of touch for so long…they should be more in
the loop before I ask.”
So I haven’t.
It’s a battle we fight. We assume the best of intentions, but what we’ve really done
is take away the God-given free will of others by robbing them of the
opportunity to make their own decisions.
is take away the God-given free will of others by robbing them of the
opportunity to make their own decisions.
The truth is: we’re not nearly as noble as we might
think. We don’t actually protect
them at all, we save ourselves the risk of embarrassment or appearance of
weakness, vulnerability or need.
You see:
think. We don’t actually protect
them at all, we save ourselves the risk of embarrassment or appearance of
weakness, vulnerability or need.
You see:
It’s always about us.
With the return of ownership comes the trust that if people
make a decision, I get to respect it.
Sure there’s a place for persuasion, debate, negotiation or conversation. But it takes us to a new level of
relationship, a new level of respect and a new level of intimacy.
make a decision, I get to respect it.
Sure there’s a place for persuasion, debate, negotiation or conversation. But it takes us to a new level of
relationship, a new level of respect and a new level of intimacy.
In case you haven’t asked me for prayer, support or
friendship because you assume something about me, here’s some things you should know:
friendship because you assume something about me, here’s some things you should know:
I give to support missionaries (even though I raise support
myself).
myself).
I desperately desire to be included and fear rejection (just
like everyone else).
like everyone else).
I live on the generosity of others, but am not embarrassed
by that.
by that.
I’m giving you the option. I’m giving you the information, the opportunity and the challenge
to seek God. Whatever the Lord
leads, would you be faithful and obedient?
to seek God. Whatever the Lord
leads, would you be faithful and obedient?
Would you grow to intimacy with those around you in this
way? People need you, and you need
them…let’s not waste our time.
There’s too much to do to advance God’s kingdom to live in petty ways.
