THE DIRTY TRICK

I like being in relationships that have no hidden agendas. If I feel like I'm being patronized, used, abused, or set-up I probably won't be itching to be around that person very much. I think we all have been around people where you knew that your sole purpose was to fulfill some sort of role in that persons plan. When considering my calling and purpose in life, my calling is clear.... "Make disciples." In those two words, there are volumes of things to consider.

One thing that I have been thinking about recently is how do I develop a relationship with someone, have no strings attached, show love, show acceptance, all the while not having a hidden agenda... then drop JESUS on them?

The more I think about it, the more it seems like a dirty trick. No doubt, the days are over where we get dudded up in the suit and tie and go door to door handing out tracks and asking the cheesy question, "do you know Jesus?" The truth is that I DO have an agenda and if we would admit it, If we are called to be servants of Christ and we take his commission serious, we can view it however we want but it is an agenda. We may re-market it as "Mission" or "Missional" but it can be the same thing. Agendas don't always have to be devious in nature. At times, I have found myself repackaging Jesus to be palatable and tasteful in kind of the same way that the Israelites repackaged Jehovah as a golden calf....He's great to look at... easy to worship.... he's comparable to the other gods and most of all... not offensive..... but isn't the gospel the most offensive message out there? Yeah its the "Good News" but it's an offensive message that tells me that I have "sinned and fallen short" and that I couldn't do anything about it but Jesus came to live a sinless life that I couldn't and died on a cross all bloodied and broken and if I don't accept what He did for ME then I'm lost in my sins, forever separated from my creator and will suffer forever in a lake of fire.... are you serious? that's either offensive or the greatest news I've heard all day.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God


I'll admit that it may be a big turn-off if you go through that whole scenario when you first meet a person, however as a Christian who has this ministry of reconciliation, I HAVE to..... I repeat.... I HAVE to arrive at that conclusion with my friends, relatives and anyone else that I care to minister to at some point. The trick is, when do I drop that truth on them? too early and you show your cards and you come across as a person with some sort of religious agenda..... too late and you come across as a disingenuous, smooth-talker with a hidden agenda all along.... or just love people, be their friend, show kindness and acceptance and never share that truth and miss the point all together. I know, "show" Christ and "be" Christ... but even that can be inadequate. "American Idol" is being more Christlike than a lot of American churches with their special about helping starving, hurting people in third world countries.

I can either be truly "Missional" or simply playing a dirty trick.