always have. Warming food back up sounds and taste horrible to me.
I also enjoy sitting around ‘kitchen tables’ and sharing life with anyone. Hearing
someone’s heart about a certain matter, listening as they share their
brokenness without being ashamed, watching an idea pop up and spark passion, and
cultivating a place of freedom to ask questions about God and life without
being shunned away, this may be one of my favorite things in this world.
Yesterday, I sat
around a table with 6 other men working for AIM. We all desire in our own ways
to see Man come to know and understand their roles in the Kingdom of God here
on earth as we continue to step in our own. All of us have come from different
backgrounds, struggles, victories, and brokenness, but at the core we are all
walking more and more into Sons of God.
Yesterday –
Clint (Director of Short Term Mission Trips at AIM) shared a couple of stories
about men here locally that he knows who are natural provokers and do it well.
This is one of the last things he spoke and it has made me think again, “Provoking Christ In Humanity!”
Provoke: To stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.
This thought is not new to me; I actually have been chewing on this for a while. I love
being provoked but yet when it comes my way, it drives me crazy because it
stirs me to the core.
But yesterday
I thought more of you, the Church.
Why, do you
confess that you are a child of God, but do not PROVOKE your brother and
sisters more often to walk more fully in their identities in God?
Do you
provoke those men and women who are not believers
around you? Why can’t you just be real instead of religious with people in this
world. I truly believe they desire to know their Creator, but are so against it
because of what they ‘see’ and ‘hear’ from the Church.
What about
the ‘leftovers’
of this world (remember, I
like them). Yeah, those people who are classified as; ‘Atheist’ ‘Mormons’ ‘Gay’
‘Homeless’, etc. I mean, you may not say those exact words, but trust me…the
way the Church has treated and is treating them sure does bring me to a conclusion
not far from that…
Let me say
this: I believe you CAN provoke Christ in anyone! It is simply sharing with
them your Father – your relationship with Him. Again, not religion but your Father who loves them deeply.
And one more:
Why in our Church do ‘Pastors’ not provoke more often and cause questions to
arise, I mean hard questions among the flock, rather than giving all the
answers that they believe is correct?
I believe
provoking is healthy – it awakens something greater and deeper within the soul
and spirit of Man. But, I believe fear is holding you back.
But hear this
Church: You are Royalty, Crowned with Righteousness, Completely Cleansed, Forgiven,
Far and Wide; Seated in Heavenly Realms, and Loved by God himself. How is
provoking this in Man is bad??
The world
awaits Church. You have the Spirit of Truth, so go and
PROVOKE CHRIST IN HUMANITY!
