Month 7 in Nepal was one of the most incredible months of my life so far. As you know I did a lot of evangelizing to drug dealers, but one day God called me into a bar!
One cool afternoon I was prayer walking in Kathmandu. I hadn’t seen any of my drug dealer friends yet. I had a strange feeling God was calling me to a specific bar. I tried to ignore it and tell myself that it wasn’t God’s voice. The feeling would not go away. I did not want to go into that bar so I tried to go into a cleaner, safer looking bar. When I got there it was closed and I felt The Lord say again to go to that specific bar. I ignored it again, and found a different cleaner, safer looking bar. It was also closed.
“Ok God, I’ll go where you are calling me.”
(Wow, I just don’t get why I can’t listen to Him the first time.)
So I walked up a dim lit, narrow stairway into a seemingly empty smoke filled bar. There were only a group of locals in the corner, and a white man standing alone at the bar.
A few minutes passed by, I began to wonder what in the world I was doing in that cold, smokey attic. All of a sudden the white man shouted my way.
“Hey,….hey where are you from?”
I told him I was from the United States. He celebrated my answer, and proceeded to give me a brief history lesson on the alliance between the U.S. and England. Then invited me to sit with him.
“I guess I can chat with an American. Come have a seat brother.”
He was already a few drinks in. His half empty pack of cigarettes rested in between the empty mugs, while an unlit cigarette hung from his lips. His name was Simon, he was a smug helicopter pilot with a strong British accent. He was wealthy, divorced and in his lower 40’s. For the next hour, we talked about everything you could imagine. We agreed on so many topics and had refreshing intellectual conversation. He was arrogant, and obviously full of suppressed pain.
I had been praying for him throughout our whole conversation. Despite his excessively large ego, and false portrayal of a “manly man”, I could see a lot of good in Simon. He finally hit me with the big question.
“So tell me Ryan what’s a fella like you doing here in Nepal?”
He puffed his cigarette in anticipation as I rejoiced on the inside. That question was my big opening, my gateway to sharing Jesus with people. I replied with a smile.
“I am a missionary, I’m here to share the good news, and love of Jesus Christ with the world.”
His response was heart crushing,
“oh, you gotta be kidding me.”
(His language was a bit more colorful.)
“C’mon Ryan, you’re too smart a young man to go and fill your head with such nonsense. I really liked you man, and that’s rare because I don’t like anyone. I knew you were too good to be true. Take this wisdom from me, you are wasting your time!”
(Again, his language was a bit more colorful than that.)
I asked him why he felt that way, and tried to get to the root of his bitterness. He made a lot of great points about Christians, and missions that hurt more than help. I 100% agreed. I explained to him that Christians aren’t perfect, and yes there are some terrible “Christians” out there who give the rest of us a bad rep. I explained to him the difference in religion and relationship with Jesus. I explained to him the difference between a fruitful mission trip and a “Christians” 2 week paid vacation. I mentioned how there are a lot of things I didn’t agree with as well. I explained my views, but he continued his rants, bashing all Christians.
For about 30 minuets we went back and forth, he would debate and I would just turn it back to Jesus. This guy really hated Christians. Over and over I patiently responded out of love. I really liked this guy and had a deep desire to see this man accept Jesus.
As the conversation went on I could almost feel his heart softening. His powerful voice became gentle, the look in his eyes was more focused and genuinely interested. He even apologized and told me that I was the only Christian he liked.
“Look brother, you’re obviously different. I like you. You are the only Christian I like though. I can’t figure out why but you’re just not like a normal Christian. If you were anyone else talking to me this way I’d “bleepin” punch your face in. So consider yourself lucky.”
He asked how I came to know Jesus and I shared my testimony.
“Well, everyone needs a crutch I guess. Mines right here!”
He responded while chugging down another beer.
I shared the gospel with him but he wouldn’t accept. I decided it was time for me to leave. As I went to shake his hand he slapped it away and went in for a hug.
“You’re a good man Ryan, I wish you weren’t wasting your time with this Jesus stuff. I like you and I don’t like anyone, so that’s saying something. Take care brother.”
I walked out of that bar smelling like a tobacco factory, but I was full of joy. I couldn’t help but laugh and shout thank you God, over and over, as I made my way downstairs. Simon didn’t accept Jesus, but He accepted me, and Jesus is undeniably alive in me. I was full of joy knowing that God was about to be pursuing Simon in a big way. The seed was planted, I pray the water and sunshine come soon.
You see, there is a lesson here. The first hour of our conversation was amazing, we became two buds having great conversation. The last 30 minuets, Jesus was brought in. Things got rough, shaken up and uncomfortable. That’s exactly what Jesus does! He shakes things up.
Just like the conversation with Simon, our lives can be comfortable, safe and smooth sailing without Jesus. When Jesus gets brought into our lives, He shakes things up, He makes them uncomfortable. Jesus is counter culture! Being a Christian is hard and dangerous, it’s the hardest thing you could ever do, but it’s so worth it.
