Yesterday, Facebook asked me what’s on my mind. Souls. That’s what is on my mind. Prepare yourself for a lengthy post, don’t you just love those!
I am sitting in Divine Coffee texting one of my very good friends about something that happened to me when I first got here. As I ordered my coffee and bomboloni (selfish plug) the cashier was someone who I’ve seen in here many times before. By no means are we on a first name basis but after a few more times coming in maybe, but what she doesn’t know is I know her more than she knows me. Why? Because I have brought her to the Lord on her behalf before.
Now, this post is both sensitive and hard so odds are, if you are reading this you know my heart on things and if you don’t you are about to get a glimpse of it. So please, hear my heart and if you have any questions feel free to DM me or lets grab some coffee in order to keep things healthy.
So, long story short. When I came in to order I do what I always do, I thank them. I like to be courteous and make up for little Ean because he didn’t help big Ean out, ha. Anyway I am all about being personal so if people have name tags on or anything I love using their names, yes it does catch them off guard at times but it’s okay. Well this time around she didn’t have a tag on so I just simply said, “thank you ma’am.” As I walked away I noticed a small hesitation on her part but nothing came from it so I walked away, found a table, and waited for my order. Upon return for my coffee I noticed on the very top of her apron she had her pronouns written, it said “they/them”. Now, everything made sense on why there was some hesitation on her part. So, upon returning to my table I got to thinking and sent my friend a text telling her what had happened and ever since then, I have sat at this table thinking, pondering, praying. Why? Because of her soul.
The very soul that will one day spend eternity facing the Lord in awe or facing the Lord in terror. The very soul that could sit by me at the Feast of the Lamb or could miss the meal completely. The soul that currently, at this very moment is believing a lie. So, here comes the difficult part of this post. The sexual orientation problems that are ruining so many people is a sin. Now, I know this is a sensitive subject for some because I know that even right now that for some of you reading this, this is a very real situation in your family/friend circles. However, just because it is hard does not give us permission to avoid it or to speak unloving towards them. One of the biggest hurdles we face is that at the same time we are facing this problem we are facing a truth problem. I say this because humanity, are the ones who make things hard. Humanity, is who makes things grayish. Humanity, are the ones that make it difficult to distinguish between right and wrong because we love justifying the things we do, and we make it very easy. We say it’s “how we feel” or “it’s how I see things”. In society we have this big problem called “relative truth” (I took a philosophy class last semester) my truth is not yours and you’re wrong if you think what I am doing, saying, believing is wrong. Scripture on the other hand is a universal truth. It does not fade, it counts in all areas of life, it holds within its beautiful, rich pages the truth that can and will forever change the life of an individual. It is THE truth not “a truth”. It is the same truth for me who is a 30 year old male in the Suwanee area of Georgia in the United States than for the 60 year old Russian woman living in Moscow, Russia. Why is scripture this way because it is the words of Jesus and Jesus is truth (John 17:17). His ways are the truth (John 14:6). God is not a liar so he must speak truth (Numbers 13:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrew 6:18). Relative truth offers no correction, or rebuking because one is always right if the individual decides to change things and do things differently they weren’t wrong. Scripture offers all of that plus more. 2 Timothy 3 says that scripture is good for many things “teaching, reproof, correction, and training”, why? “So that the ‘man of God’ is is FULLY equipped for EVERY good work”. Scripture shows us that there is hope for the individual to grow towards the likeness of God. Our goal is not to become more and more like the world and to go on vacation and “find ourselves” but that we are to “Die to ourselves” (Mark 8) we no longer exist but it is Christ who lives (Galatians 2:20).
Now, none of this means anything to someone who doesn’t believe it. The dead heart that resides in them is simply dead. The heart of the unbeliever must be called from dead to life and only the Lord can do that. What the Lord does call us to do is be faithful to Him. It is to conduct ourselves in a manner that is wise and loving. “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each question” (Colossians 4:5-6). A few helpful steps in this passage is that first, we walk in wisdom. Wisdom comes with us wherever we go so that any and all conversations we have wisdom is our filter. Secondly, we make “best use of our time”. We are not spending our time wisely if we argue or act in aggression so that the one time we have a conversation with someone it will be our last. This can also look like speaking way less and listening more (James 1:19). Thirdly, our speech is to always be “gracious”. To be kind with our words, to offer hope in every conversation we have. To speak with words that have life and meaning and those can only be found in scripture, and fourth, all of this help us in knowing how to answer. If we speak aggressively, not watchful for the time, and not gracious with our words towards unbelievers we are not living in accordance with scriptures.
So all this to say is yes, society around us is living in sin and they seem to be just fine with where they are at (but don’t be surprised when sinners sin) but we have the truth that changes lives and we, as believers should desire among many other things to see the sins of those around us be forgiven just like ours once were. To witness them experience true freedom from sins and to walk in the newness of life as image bearers of Christ.
So, my challenge to you and myself is that if you don’t know what to say or you need wisdom pray to the Lord who is the giver of all good things for wisdom and strength to converse biblically with them so that they would hear the gospel and then pray on their behalf. Bring their name to the throne room of God where He hears the cries of his children. In short, don’t fight for the things of God in a sinful manner but in a way that reflects the very nature of God. Have tough conversations with people, speak truth in boldness and love and carry the name of Jesus with you wherever you go because that’s the one name that has true identity in it. Much love to you all.
