Thinking in a Direction

We all think in certain directions. We see the world in particular ways. This is brought about by the culture we grow up in, the temperament we are born with, how our family does/did things, the experiences we go through (both good and bad), and the "foundation" we stand on. None of us are immune to this.

In recent years, outreach has been largely defined in christian culture as specific events/programs, organized by specific groups/churches to target specific people, so that they will be drawn to our services. The church in America has done much of this and the results are dismal.

People are leaving the North American church in droves, while the church in so many other places is growing exponentially. So what are we missing?

There are a lot of opinions about this and I will offer mine.

We really don't believe what we say we believe. It's not a reality that permeates our entire life. It's not what we rely on to give us hope in desperation. We rely on personal and financial security, nice homes and enough pleasurable activities to make us "happy." When people see how we do things they don't see life, they see the same old thing in a different package.

I believe that when a pagan gets cancer, a christian gets cancer so the world can see the difference. When pagans go through marriage problems Christians go through marriage problems so the world can see the difference. This list could go on and on.

The problem is that we mostly do things the way the rest of the world does them. We've bought into the lie about how things work, where our security lies, what my comfort is in life and in death, etc. We are seen and dismissed as people who are no different than anyone else but more pitied because we can't even have the "fun" that a pagan life offers.

Our children look at our marriages and don't want what we have so they look to the world's answers because the church's answers (because we claim to live the church's answers) don't give life. They want life! God put the desire in them (and us). We can't fake things like marital satisfaction to our kids.

So how do we get life? What do we say we believe? That our only comfort in life and in death is Jesus Christ?

I believe outreach is first and foremost learning to live loved. What would change inside of me if I lived each moment (the tough and enjoyable) as if I was loved and cherished and special and cared for and upheld by the greatest power in the universe? During cancer, during marital strife, during unemployment, during heartbreak, during the everyday routine, during dealing with my children, being stuck in my sin, during times of depression, during celebrations and time with family and friends, etc?

This is not about having it together and being good. Jesus didn't die to make you good, He died to make you His.

People who live loved are very attractive. When I meet people like that I know I had found something special, something different and I want it. I see parts of this reality in the lives of many at Bridge of Hope and it makes me want it to a greater extent and in even more people (and not just at Bridge)!

I believe effective outreach starts with this: May each of us ask God to make loved living a greater and greater reality in our lives and in our homes. Let's do this and see what He does around us.

Learning to Live Loved,

Deon