Radical Lovers
Posted by simplisticthoughts , Tuesday, September 23, 2008 7:19 PM
Okay this may step on a few toes although I am not intending it in such a way as to point fingers at any specific person or condemn or even cast a display of self righteousness, yet conveying a message that has literally been burning inside my heart lately. God has certainly been challenging me in this area and neither have I achieved a hundred percent excellence in this area but it is something that I feel needs to be addressed. Call it critical, I hope it is more of an exhortation to all of us who call ourselves Christians. In return to this exhortation I ask for even accountability in this area as well. Okay what is it that has me riled up? Christian cliques, yes I said it...I too have fallen into this category and let me confirm that I am not saying that you should not have a core group of friends that are Christians. I am talking about being selective of who we allow in our daily lives to spend time with and help them grow in the Lord. A lot of the times in the church, we get together and we worship God and then in the time where we should be making connections (and I am not talking just introducing yourself, but making real connections!!!) with people, we spend it with our friends who we see on a day to day basis!
Recently I have made it a goal of mine that when I am at church or a church event/party, etc...that I will not spend my entire time mingling with those who I am close with. One of my best friends at the church is Jennifer Glover, but rarely will you see us sitting by one another in service or clinging to one another. We still hang out most every day together but there is a time for fellowship with the "Barnabas" and the time for connecting with the "Timothy's". I am tired, even in my own life, surface level relationships with new people in the church. You have the introduction and then the occasional hello's and the occasional myspace message or text message. That is not enough! It is in our nature to want to feel accepted and feel like we fit in, it is hard enough going to a new place, being new in your faith and not develop any deep relationships. I know that when I first got saved the people who really poured into me and talked to me and would have me sit next to them was so important to me. I still haven't forgot those people and I know I would not be where I am today if it was not for those people taking the sacrifice out of their daily lives and friendships to love me!! I get a lot of hassle (not really in a bad way) about how I am always putting together stuff and inviting people to do things, HELLO...it's not because I get too bored with my life that I always have to be doing something but I know when I invite someone from the church to do something that is not always about the church it means a lot to them. They become more of a friend than someone who we are trying to occupy a seat at church. And you know what frustrates me sometimes, the people who I have the hardest time getting involved is leaders! Look, I am not trying to shut down the church, because I know how important it is to have church be such a priority in your life. It's where you grow, become equipped, fellowship, have accountability, etc...but I am telling you, if the only relationship you have with people is only inside a church building, and they are new in Lord, they are going to go elsewhere to find relationship.
Let's become radical lovers of people! I have had some amazing friendships form because of getting together and involving people in activities. It is good to invite them to church, it is good to invite them to small groups, it is good to invite them to conferences, but do something separate of those things! Be spontaneous! Be creative! Have fun! And one more point to make before I close this (LOL) when someone stops coming to church, keep calling them, continue to make time for them. Fruit comes from persistence, when you don't give up on people. Thank God that He never gave up on me, and He has not given up on those who have left the church or are struggling. So if God does not give up on people, why should I? When you tell people how you miss them and set times to hang out, that does a number on someone's heart! No more of this asking people how so and so is doing, why don't you pick up the phone and ask them yourself? I am challenging myself to refrain from asking that question to people and if you hear me do that, please remind me of this exhortation. Because ten to one, you are going to get much better perspective than a third party response. And when you ask them, pray for them or ask them to meet up.
So I have said a lot...I mean a lot, but like I said I am stirred in this area right now and I know that we all could become better radical lovers (myself most definitely included). We can step out of the comfort of cliques and take the time to love people and loving people takes time and relationships. I mean if Jesus, the God man had to spend as much time with His disciples as He did, don't you think we need to step it up in our own lives a little more? I love you all reading this and I hope this does encourage you as it is a standard that has been encouraging me lately.
