“I can do anything I want, anytime I want,” I explained to the
pretty young girl at the booth. She had seen my Christian t-shirt, and asked
what I believed. What church I went to, seeking, but also looking for an excuse
not to hear the gospel. So when I answered the way I did, it caught her off
guard. She was ready for a being preached at, and told what a lousy sinner she
was, she told me later, but my answer took her by surprise, and she wanted to
know more about my answer. At that point I got to share my testimony, about my
walk with Jesus, in real terms, not some manufactured denominational condemning
way. I went on, “I can drink and get drunk, I can do drugs, and being married I
can commit adultery, even with you if you like. But I choose not to, for in the
spirit of the Lord I have the freedom to choose, and I say no to all those
things because I no longer wish to do them. So I don’t, without laws or
religion to condemn me, because I am saved and forgiven by Jesus Christ.” After
a few stunned seconds, this was at a secular motorcycle rally, and she was
scantilly attired, she looked at me, and said “where is this church you talk of,
I would like to meet a God who loves me just as I am.” And we talked more, I
left her my card, and went off. She had had preconceived ideas about
Christians, religion, and even about God, but never knew there was freedom to
become one. To her and many others it is all about the “thou shalt nots,” and
your money becoming their money, and although there is truth in that, the truth
is in the spirit we find liberty. The right to say yes to being forgiven, or no
and hell.
I have sat through fire and brimstone preachers, who literally wanted to
scare the hell out of me, but left me lacking in love. If you remove something
you must replace it or else the weeds of sin grow back, and too many times love
was not offered. I have friends who are saved but have never experienced all of
Jesus, they stick to their teaching, their religion, some even being shepherded
by an older brother in the Lord, really being told how to live with no freedom.
Free from sin, but still in bondage to religion, and man’s interpretation of the
Bible. And without the spirit guiding, will be handcuffed until they choose to
not be. To say no to the church’s teaching, denominational demands, and
familiar legends, and find freedom in Christ, via his spirit.
I engaged a man recently in discussion who is known as the “Bible man.” He
can quote scripture, and has an audience because of it. They never question his
knowledge, and when I did, I became an enemy, at least for few moments. He knew
what he knew after years of study, I knew who I knew after years of experience.
He had fallen into the trap of knowledge and doctrine, but left out the love
that makes it all work. He seemed confused at first, searching for scriptures
to combat my trusting the spirit, and he even agreed that although memorization
is good, the fact that Jesus wrote his word, his love on our hearts is better.
For we always have Jesus with us via his spirit, and he does run into those who
misquote scripture, and without his Bible to fall back on, they would win the
argument. And so we find knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Knowledge is
self centered, love takes into account the other person. Love reaches out to
others to include them in your message, the gospel.
Paul again had to deal with this in 1 Corinthians 8, where the subject of
food sacrificed to idols came up. Just one of many doctrinal issues the church
stumbles over. So when I answered the young girl at the booth that day, I was
concerned about her and not winning an argument. She asked an honest question,
and got an honest answer, spoken in love. You see she had been invited to
church so many times she was through with it. Her experience with Christians
had been being invited to church, which some count as evangelism. Yet we find
Jesus out on roads, going to the people, as he instructs us to do. So when the
Lord gave me that answer for her that evening, he knew what she needed to hear,
I can say I didn’t. But love allowed me to show her a side of Jesus religion
hadn’t shown her, and I not only showed her love, but compassion and respect.
Aren’t goodness and kindness fruit of the spirit?
We are free to exercise our rights, but sometimes better off when we do not
exercise them for the sake of love. We are given the responsibility to love
others, to share the gospel, and to be Christ’s ambassadors on earth. To be a
witness of his love, not go out witnessing to win an argument. For without
love, we are just noisy, bells and whistles, a loud exhaust with no power to
back it up. Words without meaning, and knowledge without love. Been there,
done that....on both sides. So we don’t have to claim our rights based on
knowledge, but on love. Which covers a multitude of sins. Which we all need to
be covered, and only can be by Jesus. You may be doctrinally correct, but
spiritually bankrupt. Without love, your message has no power. So while I do
not advocate drinking, drugs, sex outside of marriage, or any other sins, I fall
back on the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, who set me free. For perfect
love demands a choice, love never forces itself on anyone. A message we all
need to hear. And from a postcard an old girlfriend once send me, “quit
bragging about what a great lover you are and show me.” There just might be a
sermon in there somewhere....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com