This excerpt is from the tenth chapter of Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
The Parting
I rushed to work and hurriedly parked my car. I knocked at my boss’ office door and said, “Good morning, sir.” Did you wish to see me?” My face reddened. Why did I ask that? I knew he wanted to see me, and he knew that I knew that he wanted to see me. The last thing he told me the day before was that he wanted to see me. “I’m sorry, sir. I knew you wanted to see me. I’m just a little flustered this morning.”
“Sit down,” he said while motioning toward a chair. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
As I nervously found my seat, I wondered, What could this be? Surely, I’m not in trouble. I’m the most trustworthy employee he’s got. All of my reports and assignments have been complete and on time. What else could it be? The reddening in my face began to be replaced by an ashen white, caused by the intense fear that gripped me. I’m being fired, I thought. What will I do? Where will I go? This is the only job I’ve ever had.
Interrupting my racing thoughts he said, “Bill, you may have heard that we’re starting a new office on the East Coast.”
With a stammering voice I answered, “Yes, sir, it’s been rumored about for some time now.”
“Well, Bill, you are my most trusted employee. I want you to go to the new site, get it set up, and running.”
I wasn’t in trouble. What a relief. Color began to come back into my face. My shaking hands began to stop quivering. I relaxed a little and repositioned myself in my seat.
“I don’t know how long it will take, Bill, but I would guess a couple of months—four at the most. What do you think?”
Four months? I thought. Good grief. I don’t like living out of a suitcase.
Lying, I said, “Sir, I am honored that you would consider me. I will do my best. The good of the company comes first.”
“Great, Bill. I knew you would be a team player. As a matter of fact, I’ve already arranged for your flight. You’re leaving at nine o’clock in the morning.”
What a price to be a team player, I thought. “Sir, that’s not much notice.”
“I know, Bill. I really am sorry, but this thing came together quicker than I anticipated. But, I know you will be able to pull it off.”
“Okay. I’ll be on the plane.”
“Thanks, Bill. I’m depending on you to make us shine. Good luck.”
I didn’t share his enthusiasm as I left the office, but I didn’t let him know about it. I went home and began packing my bags. Just before going to bed, I noticed the notes I had been making after each meeting with the stranger. At the last moment, I threw the notes in my suitcase. Four months is a long time. I figured that I might as well go over those notes and see if they can make any more sense to me.
On Friday morning, I got up a little earlier than usual. I figured I might as well have one last cup of coffee at my favorite coffee shop. I knew that by coming early, I would miss the stranger, but we weren’t exactly buddies anyway. He would just have to get over it. Besides that, we hadn’t even exchanged names.
After arriving at the coffee shop I ordered my coffee and sat down by the door. I wanted to take in all of the familiar sites of home before leaving. I had no more than taken my first sip of coffee than who walked in the door, but the stranger.
“Hello, friend. You’re here early today.”
I was surprised to see him at the coffee shop this early in the morning. “Yes I am,” I said.
Since he was there, I decided that I might as well explain what was going on and why I wouldn’t be back at the coffee shop for a while. “Sir, I’m afraid our conversations must come to an end.”
“Friend, have I offended you? If I have, I would like to make things right.”
“Oh no, you haven’t offended me. I honestly can’t say that I have been enthused about your proofs that God exists, but you may be delighted to know that I have taken notes on every one of them. Actually, sir, my boss surprised me yesterday with the news that I must leave town on business for an extended period of time.”
“Oh, was that the important meeting you had to get to?”
“Yes, sir, it was. I really don’t know when I will be back. Sir, I can’t say that you’ve convinced me to believe that God exists, but I plan to examine my notes a little closer while I am gone. Whenever I do make it back home, perhaps we could continue our conversations. Do you live nearby?”
“No, friend, I don’t actually live here. I’m just passing through.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I replied. “It looks like we may never meet again.”
“Don’t worry about it, my friend. I’ve enjoyed the conversations we’ve had together. I just hope you have enjoyed my company as much as I’ve enjoyed yours.”
I didn’t understand how he could consider me to be a good conversationalist. I mainly just listened to him and answered his questions. You meet all kinds of people during your life. This guy was one of those that causes you to scratch your head.
I couldn’t be as enthusiastic as he was, but I tried to be cordial. I wished him well and got up to leave the coffee shop.
He embarrassed me when he also got up and gave me a massive bear hug. “Take care,” he said. “You’ve been a joy to talk to.” I nervously glanced about the room to see what the other patrons thought about me getting a lingering hug from the stranger. I was relieved to see that they didn’t give us any glaring looks of surprise.
The above excerpt is from the copyrighted book Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
CWAS Excerpt Number Eleven
The Revelation
This excerpt is from the eleventh chapter of Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
I looked over my notes during the first few days at the new job site. I had a bad habit of being too detail oriented. Not only had I entered all of my notes on my laptop computer, but I had even titled my notes as if I was writing a book. Sitting there on my nightstand was a neatly stapled stack of notes entitled Conversations with a Stranger. Sometimes I had to shake my head at myself when wondering why I did the things I did.
His assumptions and conclusions regarding the existence of God did seem to make a lot of sense. And they could be quite convincing to someone who was not as analytical as I was. But he was not dealing with the average Joe. He was dealing with me. Still not convinced, I put the notes back in my suitcase.
Days came and went. Each time I left the motel room, I would notice a Bible on the lamp stand by the door. One evening, finding myself rather bored, I glanced over at the Bible. It caused me to think about my conversations with the stranger. He had said that his proofs were not actually his own proofs. Instead, they were the products of great men from the past. Not once had he mentioned a proof from the Bible. That struck me as odd. Normally, Christian fanatics point to the Bible to back up and prove virtually everything they are promoting. Was that stranger one of those Christian fanatics? If so, why didn’t he refer to the Bible? If not, why did he care about proving God’s existence? I was beginning to wonder about the stranger. He didn’t seem to fit either category.
I decided that since I was stuck in a motel room for no telling how long, I might as well read the Bible. It would be interesting to see what it had to say about God and His existence.
I tackled my Bible reading just like everything else I did. I read it from cover to cover; frontward and backward. I even went so far as to make my own flash cards. Starting with page number one, I began reading and taking notes. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. I ended up being gone from home a little more than four months. During that time I had amassed many notes taken from that motel Bible. Although the Bible was interesting indeed, I was not able to find any absolute proof of God’s existence in the Bible.
One night before going to bed, I labored over my notes one more time. I just couldn’t find anything to point to and definitively state that I had finally proven that God exists. I went to bed that night thinking about my quest. My mind drifted to all of the Bible characters who claimed to know God. It seemed as though they had a certain peace and stability about them. It seemed as though they had a purpose that defined their lives.
Before going to sleep, I murmured to myself, I don’t know if God exists but if he does, I sure would like to know him the way those people did. Finally, a fitful sleep overtook me. I tossed and turned for hours. Suddenly, I woke up and bolted to a sitting position. Had I heard a knock at the door? I raced to the window and looked outside. No, it wasn’t anyone at the door. I went back and sat down on the edge of the bed. My heart was pounding and my mind was racing. I had been awakened by my own thoughts. I can’t say how it happened, but a common theme from my Bible notes was playing itself out in my mind over and over again. I tried going back to bed, but I couldn’t clear my mind.
Finally, I got out of bed, turned on my light, and began typing furiously on my laptop computer. By morning I was exhausted, but satisfied. Out of the hundreds of pages in the Bible, the truth of God’s existence along with His plan for me was staring me in the face. How could I have missed it all those years?
A week later, I wrapped up business on the out-of-town project and arranged to go back home.
The above excerpt is from the copyrighted book Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
This excerpt is from the eleventh chapter of Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
I looked over my notes during the first few days at the new job site. I had a bad habit of being too detail oriented. Not only had I entered all of my notes on my laptop computer, but I had even titled my notes as if I was writing a book. Sitting there on my nightstand was a neatly stapled stack of notes entitled Conversations with a Stranger. Sometimes I had to shake my head at myself when wondering why I did the things I did.
His assumptions and conclusions regarding the existence of God did seem to make a lot of sense. And they could be quite convincing to someone who was not as analytical as I was. But he was not dealing with the average Joe. He was dealing with me. Still not convinced, I put the notes back in my suitcase.
Days came and went. Each time I left the motel room, I would notice a Bible on the lamp stand by the door. One evening, finding myself rather bored, I glanced over at the Bible. It caused me to think about my conversations with the stranger. He had said that his proofs were not actually his own proofs. Instead, they were the products of great men from the past. Not once had he mentioned a proof from the Bible. That struck me as odd. Normally, Christian fanatics point to the Bible to back up and prove virtually everything they are promoting. Was that stranger one of those Christian fanatics? If so, why didn’t he refer to the Bible? If not, why did he care about proving God’s existence? I was beginning to wonder about the stranger. He didn’t seem to fit either category.
I decided that since I was stuck in a motel room for no telling how long, I might as well read the Bible. It would be interesting to see what it had to say about God and His existence.
I tackled my Bible reading just like everything else I did. I read it from cover to cover; frontward and backward. I even went so far as to make my own flash cards. Starting with page number one, I began reading and taking notes. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. I ended up being gone from home a little more than four months. During that time I had amassed many notes taken from that motel Bible. Although the Bible was interesting indeed, I was not able to find any absolute proof of God’s existence in the Bible.
One night before going to bed, I labored over my notes one more time. I just couldn’t find anything to point to and definitively state that I had finally proven that God exists. I went to bed that night thinking about my quest. My mind drifted to all of the Bible characters who claimed to know God. It seemed as though they had a certain peace and stability about them. It seemed as though they had a purpose that defined their lives.
Before going to sleep, I murmured to myself, I don’t know if God exists but if he does, I sure would like to know him the way those people did. Finally, a fitful sleep overtook me. I tossed and turned for hours. Suddenly, I woke up and bolted to a sitting position. Had I heard a knock at the door? I raced to the window and looked outside. No, it wasn’t anyone at the door. I went back and sat down on the edge of the bed. My heart was pounding and my mind was racing. I had been awakened by my own thoughts. I can’t say how it happened, but a common theme from my Bible notes was playing itself out in my mind over and over again. I tried going back to bed, but I couldn’t clear my mind.
Finally, I got out of bed, turned on my light, and began typing furiously on my laptop computer. By morning I was exhausted, but satisfied. Out of the hundreds of pages in the Bible, the truth of God’s existence along with His plan for me was staring me in the face. How could I have missed it all those years?
A week later, I wrapped up business on the out-of-town project and arranged to go back home.
The above excerpt is from the copyrighted book Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
CWAS Excerpt Number Twelve
This excerpt is from the twelfth chapter of Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
The Light
On the first morning back home I returned to my favorite coffee shop. The person behind the counter did a double take and said, “Where have you been? I thought you had left us.”
“I just had to leave town for an extended business trip. I’m back now…for good, I hope.”
“I’m trying to remember; you’re a black coffee and bagel man, right?”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“Here you are. Have one on the house and welcome back.”
“Thanks,” I said as I headed off for my favorite table. Then I stopped in mid stride. I no longer desired to be in a dark corner of the coffee shop by myself. Spinning on my feet, I headed toward a table near a window.
This time, instead of just drinking my coffee and staring off into space, I found myself busily reading over my Bible notes. This was a refreshing change to my routine. In the past, I usually nursed my coffee while dreading the long day of work ahead of me. This time, I felt energized. I even caught myself locking eyes with other people and smiling at them.
While engrossed in my reading I heard a strangely familiar voice ordering coffee at the counter. Surely not, I thought. The stranger told me he was just passing through. What would he be doing here four months later?
I turned around, saw that he had already discovered me, and was making his way to my table. From thirty feet away he hollered out, “Good morning, friend. It certainly is nice to see you again. How was your trip? Did you have a good time?”
“The trip was good,” I said. “It can be a little rough living in a motel room, but I made it safe and sound. Sir, I thought you were just passing through. I’m surprised to see you here this morning.”
“Oh, you never know about me,” he chuckled. “I could turn up just about anywhere and at any time.”
We talked for half an hour about my job and various other subjects. Eventually he said, “Since we’ve crossed paths again, would you like to take up where we left off? I’ve found more proofs that God exists. The last time we talked, you still weren’t convinced that God actually exists.”
Not being one to mince words I answered, “No, sir, I don’t.”
There was a bit of surprise in his face. After a moment of silence he asked, “Have I offended you, friend?”
“No, sir, you haven’t. I’m sorry that I sounded so blunt. Please forgive me, sir, and let me explain.”
With a look of relief, he said, “Whew. Thank goodness. You had me worried for a minute. Please continue, friend.”
“Sir, if you remember, I made notes on all of your proofs. I took those notes with me on my trip with the intention of reading them a little closer. They made a certain amount of sense, but they just didn’t go far enough to convince me that there is, in fact, a God. I was able to find objections to just about all of your proofs.”
“Friend, they are not my proofs. If you remember, I told you that the proofs were from some great religious thinkers.”
“Again, I am sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to imply that they were your own proofs. Sometimes I am just a little too blunt. However, my point is that the proofs are not one hundred percent water tight.”
“Friend, I thought you might say that. I was expecting such a response from you. Even though it is possible to voice legitimate objections to each and every proof, you might consider that when taken as a group, the proofs can weigh mightily toward ultimately proving the existence of God.”
“Your point is well taken, sir, but when you add it all up, everything you’ve told me is merely an accumulation of theories developed by men.”
“I’ll give you that, my friend. They are theories indeed. But theories can be very convincing. A theory is based on certain assumptions that cannot be one hundred percent proven or validated. But in spite of that, we benefit from theories every day. We have real, material things in our lives as a result of the application of theories. Even though theories are not one hundred percent provable, they help us to have better lives. So friend, is it really such a leap for you to believe these theories on God’s existence?”
“Sir, you make a strong case for everything you say. But if you don’t mind, I would like to be the teacher today. I am not as eloquent as you, but if you would bear with me, I believe I have something of importance to relate to you.”
He looked at me with a little uncertainty in his face. Then after recovering he said, “Be my guest, friend. You certainly were attentive when I was the one doing the teaching. I’m anxious to hear what you have to say.”
I swallowed hard and began, “Sir, I studied and considered all of your proofs. After a few days though, I gave up on finding an absolute proof of God’s existence. Then one day I noticed a Bible in my room. I realized that you had exclusively promoted the thoughts and ideas of intelligent men, but not once had you referenced anything from the Bible, which is considered by many to be the Word of God. I decided to read the Bible and see if anything might stand out on its pages and convince me of the existence of God.”
He hesitated for a few seconds. Then with a weak voice he said, “Okay, friend, what was your conclusion?”
“I read the Bible from cover to cover, making notes as I went. One night, I woke up with a sudden realization…no I woke up with a sudden revelation of God’s existence.”
He sat up straight in his chair and said, “This I’ve got to hear. Please, friend, tell me what you discovered.”
I continued, “I’m warning you, sir, it’s not going to be the kind of proofs you may be expecting to hear from me. I doubt that you would even call them proofs at all. There were several passages of scripture that stuck with me. I’ll share a couple of them with you. There was one in which the disciple named Thomas said he would not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead unless he first saw Jesus with his own eyes. Eventually when Jesus appeared to him Thomas finally did believe, and he called Jesus his Lord and God. However, it doesn’t appear to me that that Jesus was pleased with Thomas’ doubt. Jesus more or less chided Thomas for requiring an absolute proof before he would believe. Jesus said that the ones who believe in Him without having to see Him are the ones who are truly blessed. This chastisement made me think of my own situation. I had wanted undeniable proof before I would believe that there is a God. But Jesus just wants me to simply believe in Him, and He wants me to simply accept Him in my heart.”
“Are you sure about that?” asked the stranger. “I have been giving you strong proofs, which you have not accepted. Then while you were gone, you decided to accept a concept that is nowhere near a proof?”
“Yes, sir, I am sure. Another scripture speaks about a time when Jesus’ disciples attempted to keep little children from pestering Him. Jesus rebuked the disciples and said that whoever doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, the same shall not be permitted to enter into His Kingdom. This passage caused me to recall that a child doesn’t normally question his father’s authority. The child trusts his father and he blindly accepts what his father says as truth. God’s Word tells us that He exists. We are expected to accept God’s existence by faith, not by proof. We are not a judge and jury who must be presented a proof of his existence. He tells us that He exists. That’s all we need to know. We are to trust what He tells us just as a child trusts his father.”
The stranger just sat there, staring at me. I didn’t know if he was mad or embarrassed or just speechless.
I was on a roll, so I continued saying, “Over and over again, the Bible instructs us on one primary theme—that we are to simply believe in Him. We don’t need proof; we don’t need intelligent men to show Him to us; we don’t need to see him face to face. Sir, we are to believe in Him and accept Him into our lives. Sir, while I was away, my life changed. I came to be a believer in God. I didn’t become a believer because of your proofs. Instead, I became a believer because I simply made up my mind to be a believer. Sir, I have accepted Christ into my life. I am a new person.”
Still, he sat in silence. I couldn’t read his face. For all I knew, he might have been getting ready to reach across the table and hit me.
I went on, “Sir, please understand that I am not trying to ridicule you. I think your heart may be in the right place, but I believe that you are putting too much emphasis on the knowledge and intelligence of men. Sir, I suspect that you are not much different than I was. It looks to me like you decided to believe that God exists, only because of proofs that men have developed. I suspect that you believe, only so long as you have been provided a definitive proof of God’s existence. I am reminded of passages in the Bible that tell us that the wisdom of this world is as foolishness with God. Not once did you speak to me of anything that is written in God’s Word. You only spoke from the vantage point of man’s wisdom. As intelligent as some men are, they cannot begin to comprehend the nature of God. Now, sir, there is nothing wrong with using man’s wisdom and knowledge—nothing whatsoever. Man’s wisdom and knowledge is good, up to the limits placed on him by God. But in the end, regardless of man’s knowledge, a person must make the decision to simply believe in God and accept Him by faith.”
The stranger may as well have been a statue. He sat rigidly in his chair. His eyes didn’t move. His face didn’t change. He never even touched his coffee.
Swallowing hard, I continued, “I can’t really put my finger on it, sir. But that’s the beauty of accepting Christ. He wants us to accept him by faith, not by fact. If he expected us to accept him only after absolute facts were presented to us, he would have made us like mindless little toy soldiers. He would have programmed us to believe that he is the master and maker of all that is and that we are to believe in him and accept him because he told us to, and we have no other choice in the matter.”
Silence was the only thing coming from the other side of the table.
I was in too deep to back out so I continued, “You, sir, have based your own belief that God exists on man’s wisdom and knowledge. I am not suggesting that the theories you presented to me are wrong. I am not suggesting that those great thinkers are wrong. As a matter of fact, I believe those men were great men of God. I am not suggesting that man’s knowledge and wisdom shouldn’t be taught. What I am suggesting is that belief in God should have its roots in the Word of God. Then and only then, man’s wisdom can be presented as a supplement to God’s Word. Then, after you have accepted Him, you should turn around and tell others about Him, using God’s Word as the basis, and man’s wisdom as a supplement.”
Breaking his silence, he said, “You’ve certainly developed quite an opinion.”
“Yes, sir, I have. I have determined that the central theme of God’s Word is that you are to make the decision within your heart to believe in God. After you accept Jesus into your heart by faith, you will receive salvation. He made you with a free will. He wants you to use your own free will to choose to believe in him. He wants you to accept him unconditionally. He doesn’t want you to attempt to prove that He exists by way of man’s wisdom and intelligence. No, sir, he wants you to accept him by faith.”
Appearing to be somewhat humbled he said, “Do you have any more to say, my friend?”
“Yes, sir, I do. Sir, you believe there is a God. I believe in God.”
“Well, friend, it sounds like we both believe the same thing.”
“Respectfully, sir, I don’t believe we do. Even the devils believe there is a God. Sir, you only believe with your mind that God exists. On the other hand, I believe in God. I believe with my heart. Sir, please don’t take offense at this, but I suspect that your belief is rejected by God, while my belief is accepted by God.”
“Friend, now you’re going out a limb. Do you have an explanation for that last statement?”
“I’ll try, sir. When a person merely believes something, they only passively believe. But, when a person believes in something, they actively believe.”
“Is there a difference, my friend?”
“Sir, when people believe in something, they become actively involved in their belief. They join forces with others of like belief. They promote their belief. They sell their belief. They defend their belief. They are activists. Suppose that we have an elected leader who is suspected of being involved in corruption. Anyone can believe that the corrupt leader should be removed from office. But activists take their belief to the next level. They organize, they march, they take their belief to the streets, and they make their voices heard. Things may get so far out of hand that the government is forced to bring in law enforcement personnel to maintain peace and civility. Due to belief with action behind it, the leader is likely to be removed from office. Passive believers don’t get anything done. Active believers advance their cause. Sir, you passively believe, but you’re not actually promoting the Kingdom of God. All you have done is tell me that God exists from an academic point of view. Back in Jesus’ day, most of the Pharisees, priests, and other Jewish religious rulers did not accept Jesus Christ. However, there were certain ones among them who actually did believe that He was the Son of God. However, they so enjoyed being praised by the people, that they would not openly admit that they believed in Christ. Sir, I believe they were passive believers, just as you are. Jesus tells us that there is no way to get into the Kingdom of God except through Him. Sir, God is love, first and foremost. We cannot see love and we cannot touch love. We can only feel love. God’s love is all around us and in us. We don’t need to see God to know He exists. We only need to experience his love for us. Then we will know He exists.”
“Friend, you are definitely frank and to the point.”
“Believe me, sir, I am telling you this with utmost humility. I would like to suggest that you do what I did. I realized that Jesus became the Sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. You, sir, need to believe in Him and accept Him into your own heart. When you do, you, too, will be a changed person. God will live within you. He will be a part of your very being.”
“You have certainly stated your case with conviction. Friend, I am impressed. You’ve become a different person since I last saw you.”
“Yes, sir, I have. Sir, may I ask one last thing?”
“I’m afraid to say yes after the beating I just received from you, but go ahead.”
“Sir, I have two requests to make. First, I would like to formally ask you to accept Jesus into your heart and become one of his followers. Secondly, I would like for you and I to become friends. Do you realize that we have never been formally introduced to each other? My name is Bill. May I ask yours?”
His face began glowing. I thought I had embarrassed him. Was it because I told him his teachings were wrong, or was it because he had never asked my name? But then, I realized that his face was not turning red. Instead, his face was turning white. I wondered if he was about to faint. No, he couldn’t be about to faint. If he were, he would be taking on a somewhat ashen appearance. Instead, he seemed to be glistening in the brightest and whitest hue I had ever seen. Whiter and brighter he became, so bright I had to start shielding my eyes. Not just his face, but his whole body, clothing and all were glowing. The whole room was bright. I could never have imagined a brighter or a whiter white. I was in such a shock I couldn’t find any words to say. I may as well have had cotton in my mouth. Then I began to notice scars about his forehead, and horrible gashes in his hands.
Eventually it came to me that sitting right in front of me was none other than Jesus Christ himself. After an eternity of moments I managed to find the strength to speak, “Jesus, is that you?”
“It is I, my friend. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
After another long and painful silence, I asked, “Lord, was it you who met with me all of those mornings right here in this coffee shop?”
“Yes, my friend. It was I.”
“And Lord, was it you who explained to me all of those proofs of God’s existence?”
“Yes, my friend. It was me.”
“I feel terrible, Lord. I just got through correcting you, and yet you sat there and listened to me. Lord, why didn’t you reveal yourself to me on the very first day? Why did we have to go through all of those conversations? Lord, I was never convinced by those proofs. I finally became convinced when I searched for you in the Word of God. What if I had never picked up a Bible and searched for more?”
“Friend, I only answer that which has been asked. On the very first day, you said that no person had ever given you an absolute proof of God’s existence. You said that you would believe only if someone could furnish you with undeniable facts.”
“Yes, Lord. So why didn’t you show yourself to me?”
“I answered the questions you asked. You wanted man’s ideas. I gave you man’s ideas. You were not really seeking me. You were merely looking for a scientific proof that I existed. Had you told me that you were seeking God and wanted to know God, I would have answered you differently. You now know me because you blindly accepted me, just as would a child.”
I was astonished at my foolishness. The Maker of all things had been sitting at my table day after day after day. But I was not able to know him as long I attempted to understand him using the knowledge and wisdom of mankind. It was only after I accepted him by faith that I actually came to know him.
As quickly as he had begun glowing, he started fading from my sight. With fear gripping me, I said, “Lord, where are you going? Are you leaving me, just at the very moment I found you?”
Still fading, he replied, “Friend, you didn’t find me today.”
Confused and trembling I said, “Lord, it was just a few minutes ago that you appeared to me.”
“Friend, I appeared to you a few minutes ago, but you found me back in that motel room. Now, I must go. There are others who are seeking me.”
“But, Lord, please don’t leave me now. I have so many questions. What about rules and regulations? How am I to know what I should and should not do? How do I know how to live my life?”
I was struggling to see him. I could just barely make out his image as he answered, “Now that you have accepted me in your life, I live within you. I am a part of your very being. So long as you love me and love your neighbor, you will have me with you as your guide. When you truly live for me, when you have me living within you, you will have no trouble knowing how to obey my laws. You will know within your heart if a thing is right or wrong; you will know instinctively what you must do. Tell me, friend, do you have to hold on to anything in order to keep yourself from floating out of your chair and up into the sky?”
“No, Lord, I stay on the ground because of the law of gravity.”
“That’s right, my friend. You are obeying the law of gravity right now, not because you are obeying written rules, but because you are an integral part of this earth’s system and its physical laws. If you were to ride in a rocket ship out into the vast reaches of space, you would no longer be bound by earth’s gravitational laws. You would be free of the law of gravity and you would float about in space. Likewise, as long as you are truly in the Kingdom of God, you will obey my laws. Do you remember the story of Peter walking on the water?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“As long as Peter kept his eyes on me, he had the power to walk on water just as I did. It was only when he took his eyes off of me and focused his eyes on all that was around him that he began to sink into the sea. Just as Peter had the power to walk on water, you have the power to obey my laws. All you have to do is keep your eyes and your heart focused on me. It is only when you take your eyes off of me that you will begin to disobey my laws. Keep your eyes and your devotion on me and you won’t have to wonder about whether or not you are doing the right thing.”
“But, Lord, I want you to be close to me.”
“Even though you won’t see me, I will be closer than a brother to you.”
Then he was gone. His chair was empty. The room lost its brightness. It must have been fifteen minutes before I managed to struggle out of my chair. I stumbled up to the store manager and asked, “What did you think about that?”
He answered, “What did I think about what?”
“The brightness in the room, the man at my table who just disappeared.”
“I saw nothing unusual. No one disappeared. What exactly are you talking about?”
“Are you telling me you saw nothing unusual just now?’
“No, sir, I did not. I’ve been here all morning and nothing out of the ordinary has happened.”
“What about the man I have been talking to for days on end? What did you think about him?”
“Sir, you have been a good customer. However, lately you have been acting a bit strange. You always come in alone and you leave alone, but lately you have acted as if you were with someone. The funny thing about it is that you have been gesturing and talking as if someone was at your table with you. It’s been rather amusing actually. The other customers didn’t seem to mind because you never got loud or out of line.”
I stood there for a moment with my mouth open. I could not believe what I just heard from the store manager. “You never saw me with another person?” I asked.
“Not one time,” answered the store manager. “You are the ultimate loner.”
I left the store and went on to work. For about a week, I went back to the coffee shop hoping to see Him again. Much to my disappointment, I never saw Him again.
For days on end, I replayed all of our encounters and conversations. I attempted to gain a better understanding of our conversations in the light of knowing that instead of speaking to a stranger all of those days, I was actually speaking to my Lord. I thought back to the many times I referred to him as a stranger, and I remembered that He always called me His friend. It was then that I realized that until I came to know him personally, He actually was a stranger to me. But through all of those days of conversation, He always called me his friend. Why was that, I wondered. Then I was reminded of the scriptures that tell us that the righteous ones are called the friend of God.Perhaps He had the foreknowledge that I was about to believe on Him and accept Him in my heart.
The above excerpt is from the copyrighted book Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
The Light
On the first morning back home I returned to my favorite coffee shop. The person behind the counter did a double take and said, “Where have you been? I thought you had left us.”
“I just had to leave town for an extended business trip. I’m back now…for good, I hope.”
“I’m trying to remember; you’re a black coffee and bagel man, right?”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“Here you are. Have one on the house and welcome back.”
“Thanks,” I said as I headed off for my favorite table. Then I stopped in mid stride. I no longer desired to be in a dark corner of the coffee shop by myself. Spinning on my feet, I headed toward a table near a window.
This time, instead of just drinking my coffee and staring off into space, I found myself busily reading over my Bible notes. This was a refreshing change to my routine. In the past, I usually nursed my coffee while dreading the long day of work ahead of me. This time, I felt energized. I even caught myself locking eyes with other people and smiling at them.
While engrossed in my reading I heard a strangely familiar voice ordering coffee at the counter. Surely not, I thought. The stranger told me he was just passing through. What would he be doing here four months later?
I turned around, saw that he had already discovered me, and was making his way to my table. From thirty feet away he hollered out, “Good morning, friend. It certainly is nice to see you again. How was your trip? Did you have a good time?”
“The trip was good,” I said. “It can be a little rough living in a motel room, but I made it safe and sound. Sir, I thought you were just passing through. I’m surprised to see you here this morning.”
“Oh, you never know about me,” he chuckled. “I could turn up just about anywhere and at any time.”
We talked for half an hour about my job and various other subjects. Eventually he said, “Since we’ve crossed paths again, would you like to take up where we left off? I’ve found more proofs that God exists. The last time we talked, you still weren’t convinced that God actually exists.”
Not being one to mince words I answered, “No, sir, I don’t.”
There was a bit of surprise in his face. After a moment of silence he asked, “Have I offended you, friend?”
“No, sir, you haven’t. I’m sorry that I sounded so blunt. Please forgive me, sir, and let me explain.”
With a look of relief, he said, “Whew. Thank goodness. You had me worried for a minute. Please continue, friend.”
“Sir, if you remember, I made notes on all of your proofs. I took those notes with me on my trip with the intention of reading them a little closer. They made a certain amount of sense, but they just didn’t go far enough to convince me that there is, in fact, a God. I was able to find objections to just about all of your proofs.”
“Friend, they are not my proofs. If you remember, I told you that the proofs were from some great religious thinkers.”
“Again, I am sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to imply that they were your own proofs. Sometimes I am just a little too blunt. However, my point is that the proofs are not one hundred percent water tight.”
“Friend, I thought you might say that. I was expecting such a response from you. Even though it is possible to voice legitimate objections to each and every proof, you might consider that when taken as a group, the proofs can weigh mightily toward ultimately proving the existence of God.”
“Your point is well taken, sir, but when you add it all up, everything you’ve told me is merely an accumulation of theories developed by men.”
“I’ll give you that, my friend. They are theories indeed. But theories can be very convincing. A theory is based on certain assumptions that cannot be one hundred percent proven or validated. But in spite of that, we benefit from theories every day. We have real, material things in our lives as a result of the application of theories. Even though theories are not one hundred percent provable, they help us to have better lives. So friend, is it really such a leap for you to believe these theories on God’s existence?”
“Sir, you make a strong case for everything you say. But if you don’t mind, I would like to be the teacher today. I am not as eloquent as you, but if you would bear with me, I believe I have something of importance to relate to you.”
He looked at me with a little uncertainty in his face. Then after recovering he said, “Be my guest, friend. You certainly were attentive when I was the one doing the teaching. I’m anxious to hear what you have to say.”
I swallowed hard and began, “Sir, I studied and considered all of your proofs. After a few days though, I gave up on finding an absolute proof of God’s existence. Then one day I noticed a Bible in my room. I realized that you had exclusively promoted the thoughts and ideas of intelligent men, but not once had you referenced anything from the Bible, which is considered by many to be the Word of God. I decided to read the Bible and see if anything might stand out on its pages and convince me of the existence of God.”
He hesitated for a few seconds. Then with a weak voice he said, “Okay, friend, what was your conclusion?”
“I read the Bible from cover to cover, making notes as I went. One night, I woke up with a sudden realization…no I woke up with a sudden revelation of God’s existence.”
He sat up straight in his chair and said, “This I’ve got to hear. Please, friend, tell me what you discovered.”
I continued, “I’m warning you, sir, it’s not going to be the kind of proofs you may be expecting to hear from me. I doubt that you would even call them proofs at all. There were several passages of scripture that stuck with me. I’ll share a couple of them with you. There was one in which the disciple named Thomas said he would not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead unless he first saw Jesus with his own eyes. Eventually when Jesus appeared to him Thomas finally did believe, and he called Jesus his Lord and God. However, it doesn’t appear to me that that Jesus was pleased with Thomas’ doubt. Jesus more or less chided Thomas for requiring an absolute proof before he would believe. Jesus said that the ones who believe in Him without having to see Him are the ones who are truly blessed. This chastisement made me think of my own situation. I had wanted undeniable proof before I would believe that there is a God. But Jesus just wants me to simply believe in Him, and He wants me to simply accept Him in my heart.”
“Are you sure about that?” asked the stranger. “I have been giving you strong proofs, which you have not accepted. Then while you were gone, you decided to accept a concept that is nowhere near a proof?”
“Yes, sir, I am sure. Another scripture speaks about a time when Jesus’ disciples attempted to keep little children from pestering Him. Jesus rebuked the disciples and said that whoever doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, the same shall not be permitted to enter into His Kingdom. This passage caused me to recall that a child doesn’t normally question his father’s authority. The child trusts his father and he blindly accepts what his father says as truth. God’s Word tells us that He exists. We are expected to accept God’s existence by faith, not by proof. We are not a judge and jury who must be presented a proof of his existence. He tells us that He exists. That’s all we need to know. We are to trust what He tells us just as a child trusts his father.”
The stranger just sat there, staring at me. I didn’t know if he was mad or embarrassed or just speechless.
I was on a roll, so I continued saying, “Over and over again, the Bible instructs us on one primary theme—that we are to simply believe in Him. We don’t need proof; we don’t need intelligent men to show Him to us; we don’t need to see him face to face. Sir, we are to believe in Him and accept Him into our lives. Sir, while I was away, my life changed. I came to be a believer in God. I didn’t become a believer because of your proofs. Instead, I became a believer because I simply made up my mind to be a believer. Sir, I have accepted Christ into my life. I am a new person.”
Still, he sat in silence. I couldn’t read his face. For all I knew, he might have been getting ready to reach across the table and hit me.
I went on, “Sir, please understand that I am not trying to ridicule you. I think your heart may be in the right place, but I believe that you are putting too much emphasis on the knowledge and intelligence of men. Sir, I suspect that you are not much different than I was. It looks to me like you decided to believe that God exists, only because of proofs that men have developed. I suspect that you believe, only so long as you have been provided a definitive proof of God’s existence. I am reminded of passages in the Bible that tell us that the wisdom of this world is as foolishness with God. Not once did you speak to me of anything that is written in God’s Word. You only spoke from the vantage point of man’s wisdom. As intelligent as some men are, they cannot begin to comprehend the nature of God. Now, sir, there is nothing wrong with using man’s wisdom and knowledge—nothing whatsoever. Man’s wisdom and knowledge is good, up to the limits placed on him by God. But in the end, regardless of man’s knowledge, a person must make the decision to simply believe in God and accept Him by faith.”
The stranger may as well have been a statue. He sat rigidly in his chair. His eyes didn’t move. His face didn’t change. He never even touched his coffee.
Swallowing hard, I continued, “I can’t really put my finger on it, sir. But that’s the beauty of accepting Christ. He wants us to accept him by faith, not by fact. If he expected us to accept him only after absolute facts were presented to us, he would have made us like mindless little toy soldiers. He would have programmed us to believe that he is the master and maker of all that is and that we are to believe in him and accept him because he told us to, and we have no other choice in the matter.”
Silence was the only thing coming from the other side of the table.
I was in too deep to back out so I continued, “You, sir, have based your own belief that God exists on man’s wisdom and knowledge. I am not suggesting that the theories you presented to me are wrong. I am not suggesting that those great thinkers are wrong. As a matter of fact, I believe those men were great men of God. I am not suggesting that man’s knowledge and wisdom shouldn’t be taught. What I am suggesting is that belief in God should have its roots in the Word of God. Then and only then, man’s wisdom can be presented as a supplement to God’s Word. Then, after you have accepted Him, you should turn around and tell others about Him, using God’s Word as the basis, and man’s wisdom as a supplement.”
Breaking his silence, he said, “You’ve certainly developed quite an opinion.”
“Yes, sir, I have. I have determined that the central theme of God’s Word is that you are to make the decision within your heart to believe in God. After you accept Jesus into your heart by faith, you will receive salvation. He made you with a free will. He wants you to use your own free will to choose to believe in him. He wants you to accept him unconditionally. He doesn’t want you to attempt to prove that He exists by way of man’s wisdom and intelligence. No, sir, he wants you to accept him by faith.”
Appearing to be somewhat humbled he said, “Do you have any more to say, my friend?”
“Yes, sir, I do. Sir, you believe there is a God. I believe in God.”
“Well, friend, it sounds like we both believe the same thing.”
“Respectfully, sir, I don’t believe we do. Even the devils believe there is a God. Sir, you only believe with your mind that God exists. On the other hand, I believe in God. I believe with my heart. Sir, please don’t take offense at this, but I suspect that your belief is rejected by God, while my belief is accepted by God.”
“Friend, now you’re going out a limb. Do you have an explanation for that last statement?”
“I’ll try, sir. When a person merely believes something, they only passively believe. But, when a person believes in something, they actively believe.”
“Is there a difference, my friend?”
“Sir, when people believe in something, they become actively involved in their belief. They join forces with others of like belief. They promote their belief. They sell their belief. They defend their belief. They are activists. Suppose that we have an elected leader who is suspected of being involved in corruption. Anyone can believe that the corrupt leader should be removed from office. But activists take their belief to the next level. They organize, they march, they take their belief to the streets, and they make their voices heard. Things may get so far out of hand that the government is forced to bring in law enforcement personnel to maintain peace and civility. Due to belief with action behind it, the leader is likely to be removed from office. Passive believers don’t get anything done. Active believers advance their cause. Sir, you passively believe, but you’re not actually promoting the Kingdom of God. All you have done is tell me that God exists from an academic point of view. Back in Jesus’ day, most of the Pharisees, priests, and other Jewish religious rulers did not accept Jesus Christ. However, there were certain ones among them who actually did believe that He was the Son of God. However, they so enjoyed being praised by the people, that they would not openly admit that they believed in Christ. Sir, I believe they were passive believers, just as you are. Jesus tells us that there is no way to get into the Kingdom of God except through Him. Sir, God is love, first and foremost. We cannot see love and we cannot touch love. We can only feel love. God’s love is all around us and in us. We don’t need to see God to know He exists. We only need to experience his love for us. Then we will know He exists.”
“Friend, you are definitely frank and to the point.”
“Believe me, sir, I am telling you this with utmost humility. I would like to suggest that you do what I did. I realized that Jesus became the Sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. You, sir, need to believe in Him and accept Him into your own heart. When you do, you, too, will be a changed person. God will live within you. He will be a part of your very being.”
“You have certainly stated your case with conviction. Friend, I am impressed. You’ve become a different person since I last saw you.”
“Yes, sir, I have. Sir, may I ask one last thing?”
“I’m afraid to say yes after the beating I just received from you, but go ahead.”
“Sir, I have two requests to make. First, I would like to formally ask you to accept Jesus into your heart and become one of his followers. Secondly, I would like for you and I to become friends. Do you realize that we have never been formally introduced to each other? My name is Bill. May I ask yours?”
His face began glowing. I thought I had embarrassed him. Was it because I told him his teachings were wrong, or was it because he had never asked my name? But then, I realized that his face was not turning red. Instead, his face was turning white. I wondered if he was about to faint. No, he couldn’t be about to faint. If he were, he would be taking on a somewhat ashen appearance. Instead, he seemed to be glistening in the brightest and whitest hue I had ever seen. Whiter and brighter he became, so bright I had to start shielding my eyes. Not just his face, but his whole body, clothing and all were glowing. The whole room was bright. I could never have imagined a brighter or a whiter white. I was in such a shock I couldn’t find any words to say. I may as well have had cotton in my mouth. Then I began to notice scars about his forehead, and horrible gashes in his hands.
Eventually it came to me that sitting right in front of me was none other than Jesus Christ himself. After an eternity of moments I managed to find the strength to speak, “Jesus, is that you?”
“It is I, my friend. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
After another long and painful silence, I asked, “Lord, was it you who met with me all of those mornings right here in this coffee shop?”
“Yes, my friend. It was I.”
“And Lord, was it you who explained to me all of those proofs of God’s existence?”
“Yes, my friend. It was me.”
“I feel terrible, Lord. I just got through correcting you, and yet you sat there and listened to me. Lord, why didn’t you reveal yourself to me on the very first day? Why did we have to go through all of those conversations? Lord, I was never convinced by those proofs. I finally became convinced when I searched for you in the Word of God. What if I had never picked up a Bible and searched for more?”
“Friend, I only answer that which has been asked. On the very first day, you said that no person had ever given you an absolute proof of God’s existence. You said that you would believe only if someone could furnish you with undeniable facts.”
“Yes, Lord. So why didn’t you show yourself to me?”
“I answered the questions you asked. You wanted man’s ideas. I gave you man’s ideas. You were not really seeking me. You were merely looking for a scientific proof that I existed. Had you told me that you were seeking God and wanted to know God, I would have answered you differently. You now know me because you blindly accepted me, just as would a child.”
I was astonished at my foolishness. The Maker of all things had been sitting at my table day after day after day. But I was not able to know him as long I attempted to understand him using the knowledge and wisdom of mankind. It was only after I accepted him by faith that I actually came to know him.
As quickly as he had begun glowing, he started fading from my sight. With fear gripping me, I said, “Lord, where are you going? Are you leaving me, just at the very moment I found you?”
Still fading, he replied, “Friend, you didn’t find me today.”
Confused and trembling I said, “Lord, it was just a few minutes ago that you appeared to me.”
“Friend, I appeared to you a few minutes ago, but you found me back in that motel room. Now, I must go. There are others who are seeking me.”
“But, Lord, please don’t leave me now. I have so many questions. What about rules and regulations? How am I to know what I should and should not do? How do I know how to live my life?”
I was struggling to see him. I could just barely make out his image as he answered, “Now that you have accepted me in your life, I live within you. I am a part of your very being. So long as you love me and love your neighbor, you will have me with you as your guide. When you truly live for me, when you have me living within you, you will have no trouble knowing how to obey my laws. You will know within your heart if a thing is right or wrong; you will know instinctively what you must do. Tell me, friend, do you have to hold on to anything in order to keep yourself from floating out of your chair and up into the sky?”
“No, Lord, I stay on the ground because of the law of gravity.”
“That’s right, my friend. You are obeying the law of gravity right now, not because you are obeying written rules, but because you are an integral part of this earth’s system and its physical laws. If you were to ride in a rocket ship out into the vast reaches of space, you would no longer be bound by earth’s gravitational laws. You would be free of the law of gravity and you would float about in space. Likewise, as long as you are truly in the Kingdom of God, you will obey my laws. Do you remember the story of Peter walking on the water?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“As long as Peter kept his eyes on me, he had the power to walk on water just as I did. It was only when he took his eyes off of me and focused his eyes on all that was around him that he began to sink into the sea. Just as Peter had the power to walk on water, you have the power to obey my laws. All you have to do is keep your eyes and your heart focused on me. It is only when you take your eyes off of me that you will begin to disobey my laws. Keep your eyes and your devotion on me and you won’t have to wonder about whether or not you are doing the right thing.”
“But, Lord, I want you to be close to me.”
“Even though you won’t see me, I will be closer than a brother to you.”
Then he was gone. His chair was empty. The room lost its brightness. It must have been fifteen minutes before I managed to struggle out of my chair. I stumbled up to the store manager and asked, “What did you think about that?”
He answered, “What did I think about what?”
“The brightness in the room, the man at my table who just disappeared.”
“I saw nothing unusual. No one disappeared. What exactly are you talking about?”
“Are you telling me you saw nothing unusual just now?’
“No, sir, I did not. I’ve been here all morning and nothing out of the ordinary has happened.”
“What about the man I have been talking to for days on end? What did you think about him?”
“Sir, you have been a good customer. However, lately you have been acting a bit strange. You always come in alone and you leave alone, but lately you have acted as if you were with someone. The funny thing about it is that you have been gesturing and talking as if someone was at your table with you. It’s been rather amusing actually. The other customers didn’t seem to mind because you never got loud or out of line.”
I stood there for a moment with my mouth open. I could not believe what I just heard from the store manager. “You never saw me with another person?” I asked.
“Not one time,” answered the store manager. “You are the ultimate loner.”
I left the store and went on to work. For about a week, I went back to the coffee shop hoping to see Him again. Much to my disappointment, I never saw Him again.
For days on end, I replayed all of our encounters and conversations. I attempted to gain a better understanding of our conversations in the light of knowing that instead of speaking to a stranger all of those days, I was actually speaking to my Lord. I thought back to the many times I referred to him as a stranger, and I remembered that He always called me His friend. It was then that I realized that until I came to know him personally, He actually was a stranger to me. But through all of those days of conversation, He always called me his friend. Why was that, I wondered. Then I was reminded of the scriptures that tell us that the righteous ones are called the friend of God.Perhaps He had the foreknowledge that I was about to believe on Him and accept Him in my heart.
The above excerpt is from the copyrighted book Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
Monday, July 4, 2011
CWAS Excerpt Number Thirteen
The Mission
This excerpt is from the thirteenth chapter of Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
A few weeks later I received notice that I was to be permanently transferred to the new office on the East Coast. The daily ritual of visiting my favorite coffee shop came to an end.
Occasionally I have an opportunity to return to my hometown on business. Before heading back East, I usually visit my old coffee shop one more time. I no longer expect to see Him at my table, but I enjoy sitting down and remembering the conversations I once had with the stranger, who became my Savior.
It’s not often that I tell people about the day I met my Lord face to face. I have learned that people tend to excuse themselves from my presence rather quickly when I say such things.
Now days, I am less driven by ritual. I visit various coffee shops. I make myself friendly with others. I now have a smile on my face, not unlike that of the stranger. Now, it is me who begins conversations with other people. I have learned from my own mistakes. Through conversations, I lead others to ask themselves if they know Jesus and if they have a personal relationship with Him. I encourage them to direct their thoughts and desires toward accepting Jesus into their lives. This has been a wonderful journey.
I keep my spiritual eyes focused on Jesus. As long as He is my passion, I can rest assured that I am actively involved in theKingdomofGod. I tell people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I tell them that He loved them before the foundation of the world and that He is the sacrificial lamb that saves the world from its sins.
Sometimes I think back to the Wager spoken of by the stranger and how every person will either choose to believe he exists or choose not to believe he exists. There is a great irony to that Wager. During life, every person can make a personal choice to believe or not to believe. But a day will come when, at the judgment, every person who made a decision not to believe, will confess with their mouths that He does in fact exist.
I am on a mission. My mission is to introduce everyone I meet to the Lord Jesus Christ. I ask them to choose to believe in Him and accept Him into their lives. Then they, too, will be assured of an eternal life with Jesus.
I have a mission. You have a mission. We are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we do, we will be obeying His call to be fishers of men. We will be helping those in need. We will be feeding the hungry. We will be ministering to the distressed. We will be visiting the sick. We will be visiting those in prison. We will be encouraging the down hearted. We will be sharing the Gospel.
I have learned that religion is not accomplished by the act of sitting in a church. We go to church for fellowship, teaching, and encouragement, but that is not our purpose. Pure religion is caring for others.
Will others physically see Jesus as I did? I can’t say for sure that I physically saw Jesus that day. Perhaps it was a dream. Perhaps it was a vision. It doesn’t matter whether or not I actually saw Jesus with my own eyes. What does matter is that I saw Him with my heart. I am walking with Jesus by faith, not by sight. No, the people we witness to may not physically see Jesus, but I can tell you with certainty that they will see Jesus through us. When we truly love our neighbor; when we feed, clothe, visit and care for our neighbor, we are doing those things directly for, and directly to our Lord. When we love our neighbor and share His Good News, they will see Jesus in us. When they look on us, they will be looking on Jesus.
The above excerpt is from the copyrighted book Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
This excerpt is from the thirteenth chapter of Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
A few weeks later I received notice that I was to be permanently transferred to the new office on the East Coast. The daily ritual of visiting my favorite coffee shop came to an end.
Occasionally I have an opportunity to return to my hometown on business. Before heading back East, I usually visit my old coffee shop one more time. I no longer expect to see Him at my table, but I enjoy sitting down and remembering the conversations I once had with the stranger, who became my Savior.
It’s not often that I tell people about the day I met my Lord face to face. I have learned that people tend to excuse themselves from my presence rather quickly when I say such things.
Now days, I am less driven by ritual. I visit various coffee shops. I make myself friendly with others. I now have a smile on my face, not unlike that of the stranger. Now, it is me who begins conversations with other people. I have learned from my own mistakes. Through conversations, I lead others to ask themselves if they know Jesus and if they have a personal relationship with Him. I encourage them to direct their thoughts and desires toward accepting Jesus into their lives. This has been a wonderful journey.
I keep my spiritual eyes focused on Jesus. As long as He is my passion, I can rest assured that I am actively involved in theKingdomofGod. I tell people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I tell them that He loved them before the foundation of the world and that He is the sacrificial lamb that saves the world from its sins.
Sometimes I think back to the Wager spoken of by the stranger and how every person will either choose to believe he exists or choose not to believe he exists. There is a great irony to that Wager. During life, every person can make a personal choice to believe or not to believe. But a day will come when, at the judgment, every person who made a decision not to believe, will confess with their mouths that He does in fact exist.
I am on a mission. My mission is to introduce everyone I meet to the Lord Jesus Christ. I ask them to choose to believe in Him and accept Him into their lives. Then they, too, will be assured of an eternal life with Jesus.
I have a mission. You have a mission. We are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we do, we will be obeying His call to be fishers of men. We will be helping those in need. We will be feeding the hungry. We will be ministering to the distressed. We will be visiting the sick. We will be visiting those in prison. We will be encouraging the down hearted. We will be sharing the Gospel.
I have learned that religion is not accomplished by the act of sitting in a church. We go to church for fellowship, teaching, and encouragement, but that is not our purpose. Pure religion is caring for others.
Will others physically see Jesus as I did? I can’t say for sure that I physically saw Jesus that day. Perhaps it was a dream. Perhaps it was a vision. It doesn’t matter whether or not I actually saw Jesus with my own eyes. What does matter is that I saw Him with my heart. I am walking with Jesus by faith, not by sight. No, the people we witness to may not physically see Jesus, but I can tell you with certainty that they will see Jesus through us. When we truly love our neighbor; when we feed, clothe, visit and care for our neighbor, we are doing those things directly for, and directly to our Lord. When we love our neighbor and share His Good News, they will see Jesus in us. When they look on us, they will be looking on Jesus.
The above excerpt is from the copyrighted book Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
Friday, May 13, 2011
Politically Correct Ten Commandments
What would it have been like if Moses was a card-carrying member of the ACLU? Try to imagine what the Ten Commandments may have looked like if they were written from a politically correct viewpoint. Perhaps the document would have looked like this:
Ten Suggestions
1.There are people who believe in the existence of a higher being, and they refer to this alleged higher being as “God.” For those who subscribe to this unlikely and unproven theory, they would be well advised not to believe in even more higher beings. It is difficult enough to believe in one higher being, much less two or more higher beings.
2.For those who insist on believing that there is a higher being, they would be foolish to create graven images of that higher being. Obviously, if the higher being is invisible, it’s only logical that an image of that higher being would have little or no chance of having a true resemblance of that higher being.
3.If anyone continues to insist on believing in a higher being, it stands to reason that he or she should think twice before speaking in vain about that higher being. Such an activity could end up being harmful to that person. After all, by definition, a higher being would most likely have a certain degree of control and power over human beings. The last thing a person would want would be for a higher being to be upset with him or her.
4.Other than days set aside for recreation and relaxation, no particular day should be different from any other day. No one should be coerced into believing that one day should be set aside in order to revere and meditate on some higher being that probably doesn’t exist anyway.
5.Honoring one’s mother and father is nothing more than a distant memory of days gone by. In this generation of enlightenment, all of our citizens should understand that mothers and fathers have little more than a biological connection to their children. Every person should understand that he or she is an independent being and should be able to do whatever he or she pleases.
6.It isn’t the best idea for someone to terminate the life of another. There is one exception to this rule, however. In the case of unborn and unwanted children, a woman should have the right to end that child’s life however and whenever she chooses. A woman is completely and unequivocally in charge of her own body, regardless of the alleged life that may be dwelling in her womb.
7.All people have the right and the privilege of engaging in intimate relations with any other consenting person, whether those partners are of the same gender or of the opposite gender. This right is valid even among those who have entered into a so-called “marriage” contract.
8.Taking that which belongs to another person may not be the wisest of decisions. Such activities are likely to create strife and misunderstandings with others. However, if you can deal with that sort of strife, then who am I to suggest that you not do it?
9.Bearing false witness against another person is totally up to the each individual. Freedom of speech is your right and privilege.
10.While it isn’t a good idea to steal another person’s belongings, it is perfectly normal behavior for one to covet that which belongs to his or her neighbor. How can a person get ahead in life if at first they don’t harbor a bit of healthy jealousy over that which someone else has?
Ten Suggestions
1.There are people who believe in the existence of a higher being, and they refer to this alleged higher being as “God.” For those who subscribe to this unlikely and unproven theory, they would be well advised not to believe in even more higher beings. It is difficult enough to believe in one higher being, much less two or more higher beings.
2.For those who insist on believing that there is a higher being, they would be foolish to create graven images of that higher being. Obviously, if the higher being is invisible, it’s only logical that an image of that higher being would have little or no chance of having a true resemblance of that higher being.
3.If anyone continues to insist on believing in a higher being, it stands to reason that he or she should think twice before speaking in vain about that higher being. Such an activity could end up being harmful to that person. After all, by definition, a higher being would most likely have a certain degree of control and power over human beings. The last thing a person would want would be for a higher being to be upset with him or her.
4.Other than days set aside for recreation and relaxation, no particular day should be different from any other day. No one should be coerced into believing that one day should be set aside in order to revere and meditate on some higher being that probably doesn’t exist anyway.
5.Honoring one’s mother and father is nothing more than a distant memory of days gone by. In this generation of enlightenment, all of our citizens should understand that mothers and fathers have little more than a biological connection to their children. Every person should understand that he or she is an independent being and should be able to do whatever he or she pleases.
6.It isn’t the best idea for someone to terminate the life of another. There is one exception to this rule, however. In the case of unborn and unwanted children, a woman should have the right to end that child’s life however and whenever she chooses. A woman is completely and unequivocally in charge of her own body, regardless of the alleged life that may be dwelling in her womb.
7.All people have the right and the privilege of engaging in intimate relations with any other consenting person, whether those partners are of the same gender or of the opposite gender. This right is valid even among those who have entered into a so-called “marriage” contract.
8.Taking that which belongs to another person may not be the wisest of decisions. Such activities are likely to create strife and misunderstandings with others. However, if you can deal with that sort of strife, then who am I to suggest that you not do it?
9.Bearing false witness against another person is totally up to the each individual. Freedom of speech is your right and privilege.
10.While it isn’t a good idea to steal another person’s belongings, it is perfectly normal behavior for one to covet that which belongs to his or her neighbor. How can a person get ahead in life if at first they don’t harbor a bit of healthy jealousy over that which someone else has?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Those offensive Easter Eggs
A Seattle school made headlines when administrators insisted that Easter Eggs be referred to as “Spring Spheres.” The City of Seattle is going to new lengths in order not to offend its citizens. The city’s parks department has removed “Easter” from “Easter Eggs.” Now, the kids simply go on “Egg Hunts.” In order to comply with Separation of Church and State, the city felt it necessary to remove the offensive term, “Easter” from this long-held tradition.
If a person wants to have an egg hunt at home, it’s okay to call it an Easter Egg hunt, but if it’s sponsored by the community, it must simply be an “Egg Hunt.” With a community comprised of people who are Jewish, Christian, Atheist, Agnostic, and more, then it must be politically correct to remove the Christian term, “Easter” from the language associated with this tradition. Doing so ensures that the community is inclusive and caring.
If a person wants to have an egg hunt at home, it’s okay to call it an Easter Egg hunt, but if it’s sponsored by the community, it must simply be an “Egg Hunt.” With a community comprised of people who are Jewish, Christian, Atheist, Agnostic, and more, then it must be politically correct to remove the Christian term, “Easter” from the language associated with this tradition. Doing so ensures that the community is inclusive and caring.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Christianity and Government Involvement
Should Christians be involved in Government?
Should American Christians be involved in political issues and elections? Should Christians vote for their leaders? If they do vote, do they vote in every election that comes around, or do they just vote in the “major elections?” Do they take the time to acquire a sample ballot prior to the election so they can make an informed decision on what they are voting for? Do they make any effort do in-depth research on the candidates, the issues and the questions? Should Christians write to their Senators and Congressmen?
If you ever decide to poll your Christian friends with these questions, you may want to prepare yourself for a shock. A fair number of Christians will tell you that they vote in Presidential elections, but you aren’t likely to find many who vote in every election that comes around. Even more disturbing is the degree of background information that most Christians actually utilize in order to make informed decisions about what they are voting on. Outside of headlines and bullet points acquired in the evening news, most voters have little to no information about the candidates or the issues. Why are many Christians simply not interested in our political process?
Voting is merely the starting point in citizen involvement. Our responsibility isn’t over after the election. Our President, our Governors, our Senators and our Representatives still need to hear from us on a regular basis. Our elected leaders need to know and understand the heart of the electorate. It’s very easy to communicate with our representatives these days. Nevertheless, very few Christians have ever written to their elected leaders.
“We have no business interfering with God’s plan,” say many Christians. “God is in charge of all the rulers and kingdoms of the world. There is nothing we can do about it.” One of the scriptures these Christians are likely to quote is: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:1
“As a matter of fact,” they may continue, “We are instructed that instead of being involved in the governmental process, we should just pray for our rulers.” I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
I Timothy 2:1-3
Many Christians defend their silence on political issues by saying, “God did not call the church to influence the culture by promoting legislation. What happens in this world is God’s will. We are to stay out of it. We should only pray that God’s will be done.” They continue to say, “The Bible does not specifically instruct us to be involved in government, therefore, we should not voice our opinions to our representatives. Instead of trying to manipulate the direction of government, we should just pray for our leaders.”
And finally, many Christians say that the Great Commission instructs us that our duty is to win souls, not influence government. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19.
Are these responses right? Are we to stay out of our country’s political business? Should we forego the opportunity to inform our leaders of our opinions about the direction our country is heading?
Old Testament Examples of Government Involvement
Maybe this would be a good time to spend a little time looking at other scriptures in the Bible. Are there any instances in scripture where God’s followers participated in government?
Joseph was involved in government. Not only was he involved, he actually participated as a government ruler. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:39-44
Another example of government involvement is found with Mordecai. And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
Esther 8:15
For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Esther 10:3
This is interesting. If God’s followers are not to be involved in government, why were Joseph and Mordecai involved in government?
“Well, those examples are found in the Old Testament,” some Christians may say. “What about the New Testament? The New Testament sets the stage for Christian activities.” Okay, let’s consider someone in the New Testament. John the Baptist wasn’t afraid to offer his opinion to King Herod. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
Mark 6:18
“That isn’t a very good example,” some may say. “For one thing, it is only one example out of the whole New Testament. For another thing, John the Baptist lived prior to the Church age. Since the Bible is silent about Christian involvement in government, we should stay out of such affairs.” That may be a fair statement, so let’s explore it a little further.
Models of Government in Jesus’ time
What sort of governmental bodies existed in Bible times? Almost without exception, all governments were of an authoritarian sort. Generally, every country in the known world was ruled by a king, a monarch, a dictator or a pharaoh. In these kinds of governments, one or a handful of people were forcefully in charge of their subjects. If someone were to approach the king and tell him that he was running the country wrong, that person would likely be executed on the spot. In Jesus’ day and in the days of the Apostles, the world’s countries were still controlled by men who ruled by force.
As a consequence, the Bible was silent when it came to instructions regarding Christian involvement in government. “That’s not fair,” some may say. “If God wanted us to be involved in the direction of our country, the Bible would have found some way to give us the proper instructions for such involvement. Besides that, all governments are put in place by God and ordained by God. We have no business interfering in God’s plan.”
Examples of commands in N.T. that we do not follow
Well, let’s look a little closer. With that kind of logic, every modern-day Christian woman should be silent in the Church.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
I Corinthians 14:34-35.
In spite of this scripture, modern Christian women are far from silent in the Church. This seems to be a direct command, yet it is not obeyed in modern churches. Why? Perhaps it is because the position of women in Bible times was far different than the position of women in modern times. Times have changed and circumstances are different.
Then, there is the issue with slavery. Slavery was commonplace in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. There was nothing wrong with a Christian being a slave owner. Actually, it was quite normal. Consequently, there were rules that a Christian slave owner was obliged to adhere to. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Colossians 4:1
We Twenty-First Century Christians would never think of owning a slave just because the Apostle Paul thought it was just fine to own one.
U. S. government is a Republic that is based on Democracy not Dictatorship
The Bible says that governments were put in place by God. It stands to reason therefore, that the United States government was put in place by God. The Bible also says that we are to obey the government. According to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, our government is, “…of the people, by the people, and for the people.” The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution says, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The “of the people and by the people” in Lincoln’s Address, and the “We the people” in the U.S. Constitution implies that all of the country’s citizens are by default, involved in the direction our country takes. As citizens of this great nation, we are obliged to have a voice in our government’s affairs. This nation that was “…ordained of God” (Romans 13:1) was established to be ruled by the will of its citizens…not by the will of its leaders.
How often have we heard ministers remind us that we should thank God every day that we live in a free country where we can say what we want, do what we want, read what we want and go where we want to go without fear of punishment from the government? How often have Christians expressed thankfulness that we can freely read our Bibles while at the same time, citizens of other countries are at risk of being jailed if they are caught with a Bible in their possession?
These freedoms did not come about by accident. Christian men formed this nation of freedoms. Ever since this nation was formed, voters have been electing people to office who have continued to keep our freedoms in place. In addition to voting people in office, a certain number of concerned citizens have reminded our leaders of the people’s will. This is done by communicating with the leaders, either personally, by phone, or by mail.
Should Modern-Day Christians be involved in politics?
Many Christians are quick to point out that our mission is to simply “let our light shine” before all of the unbelievers in the world, yet far too many Christians are not only apathetic when it comes to politics, they actually refuse to let their light shine when it comes to making their voices heard regarding the direction that our country is heading.
There are two forces at work in this world, one evil and one righteous. Jesus said, He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathered not with me scattereth abroad. Matthew 12:30. By voting and communicating with our leaders, our nation goes in the direction its citizens instruct it to go. If Christians don’t vote, and if Christians don’t communicate with our leaders, this nation will go the way of other nations of the world, which is away from God and God’s principles.
Our country was established on Judeo-Christian principles. However, that moral consensus has given way to many morally corrupt and hedonistic principles. This happened only with the tacit approval of the Christian majority. How did the Christian majority approve such a change? They approved this change by their apathy. Instead of voicing their opposition to such changes, only a vast silence has been heard. The silence of many Christians has also been evident at the polls. Sadly, less than half of self-described Christians voted in federal elections in the last fifty years. Too many voices within the Christian community are encouraging fellow Christians to keep silent, especially when it comes to civic and cultural concerns.
The preservation of our freedom and morality depends on our citizens placing principled men in office. If we fail in this obligation, our government will soon be corrupted, and laws will be made that are not for the public good. Corrupt or incompetent men will end up being appointed to be judges, and the rights of our citizens will be violated or outright disregarded.
Americans are blessed with the freedom to organize, campaign, vote and write to their Senators and Congressmen. If they allow apathy to cause them to ignore that freedom, they may find themselves someday being held accountable for that apathy.
It seems to reason that if Christians neglect their civil duty, they should not expect deliverance from the national consequences to follow. On the other hand, when Christians do the opposite and diligently fulfill not just their duty toward God, but also their civic duty to their government, they set the stage for His blessings on their land. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice” Proverbs 29:2 and Righteousness exalts a nation. Proverbs 14:34.
Some Christians say that rather than voting and being otherwise involved in government, we should obey I Timothy 2:1, 2 which says that we should just pray for rulers. Continuing, they say that by being involved in the government, we might be working against God's power to choose rulers according to His will.
Think on this for a moment. God instructs us in Matthew 6:11 to pray for our daily bread. Does this mean we should just sit back and let God do it all, or should we try to find a job and let God use us as the means to answer the prayer? Should we avoid looking for a job because we might take a job other than the one God in His providence wanted us to take?
In III John 2, we are instructed to pray for good health. Some people mistakenly believe that going to a doctor shows a lack of faith in God's power to answer prayer. Yet Christians know that the doctor may be the very means God uses to answer the prayer!
By default, all Americans are participants in political involvement. By participating, we have the opportunity of voting for our elected officials and for ensuring that we have proper and decent laws and traditions. If we truly believe our government was divinely ordained and instituted by God, this freedom and opportunity should not only be enjoyed, it should be exercised.
Christians who vote but are at the same time against writing to their Congressmen and Senators could be confused. These Christians mistakenly say that voting is one thing, but writing to their leaders is meddling in God’s plan. What then, is voting? Casting a vote can also be defined as meddling in God’s plan. The very act of voting is the same as voicing one’s opinions.
Christians should not be passive spectators in society's culture. While our primary task may the Great Commission, we are to engage our culture at all levels, advancing moral principles and seeking to restrain evil.
Should American Christians be involved in political issues and elections? Should Christians vote for their leaders? If they do vote, do they vote in every election that comes around, or do they just vote in the “major elections?” Do they take the time to acquire a sample ballot prior to the election so they can make an informed decision on what they are voting for? Do they make any effort do in-depth research on the candidates, the issues and the questions? Should Christians write to their Senators and Congressmen?
If you ever decide to poll your Christian friends with these questions, you may want to prepare yourself for a shock. A fair number of Christians will tell you that they vote in Presidential elections, but you aren’t likely to find many who vote in every election that comes around. Even more disturbing is the degree of background information that most Christians actually utilize in order to make informed decisions about what they are voting on. Outside of headlines and bullet points acquired in the evening news, most voters have little to no information about the candidates or the issues. Why are many Christians simply not interested in our political process?
Voting is merely the starting point in citizen involvement. Our responsibility isn’t over after the election. Our President, our Governors, our Senators and our Representatives still need to hear from us on a regular basis. Our elected leaders need to know and understand the heart of the electorate. It’s very easy to communicate with our representatives these days. Nevertheless, very few Christians have ever written to their elected leaders.
“We have no business interfering with God’s plan,” say many Christians. “God is in charge of all the rulers and kingdoms of the world. There is nothing we can do about it.” One of the scriptures these Christians are likely to quote is: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:1
“As a matter of fact,” they may continue, “We are instructed that instead of being involved in the governmental process, we should just pray for our rulers.” I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
I Timothy 2:1-3
Many Christians defend their silence on political issues by saying, “God did not call the church to influence the culture by promoting legislation. What happens in this world is God’s will. We are to stay out of it. We should only pray that God’s will be done.” They continue to say, “The Bible does not specifically instruct us to be involved in government, therefore, we should not voice our opinions to our representatives. Instead of trying to manipulate the direction of government, we should just pray for our leaders.”
And finally, many Christians say that the Great Commission instructs us that our duty is to win souls, not influence government. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19.
Are these responses right? Are we to stay out of our country’s political business? Should we forego the opportunity to inform our leaders of our opinions about the direction our country is heading?
Old Testament Examples of Government Involvement
Maybe this would be a good time to spend a little time looking at other scriptures in the Bible. Are there any instances in scripture where God’s followers participated in government?
Joseph was involved in government. Not only was he involved, he actually participated as a government ruler. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:39-44
Another example of government involvement is found with Mordecai. And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
Esther 8:15
For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Esther 10:3
This is interesting. If God’s followers are not to be involved in government, why were Joseph and Mordecai involved in government?
“Well, those examples are found in the Old Testament,” some Christians may say. “What about the New Testament? The New Testament sets the stage for Christian activities.” Okay, let’s consider someone in the New Testament. John the Baptist wasn’t afraid to offer his opinion to King Herod. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
Mark 6:18
“That isn’t a very good example,” some may say. “For one thing, it is only one example out of the whole New Testament. For another thing, John the Baptist lived prior to the Church age. Since the Bible is silent about Christian involvement in government, we should stay out of such affairs.” That may be a fair statement, so let’s explore it a little further.
Models of Government in Jesus’ time
What sort of governmental bodies existed in Bible times? Almost without exception, all governments were of an authoritarian sort. Generally, every country in the known world was ruled by a king, a monarch, a dictator or a pharaoh. In these kinds of governments, one or a handful of people were forcefully in charge of their subjects. If someone were to approach the king and tell him that he was running the country wrong, that person would likely be executed on the spot. In Jesus’ day and in the days of the Apostles, the world’s countries were still controlled by men who ruled by force.
As a consequence, the Bible was silent when it came to instructions regarding Christian involvement in government. “That’s not fair,” some may say. “If God wanted us to be involved in the direction of our country, the Bible would have found some way to give us the proper instructions for such involvement. Besides that, all governments are put in place by God and ordained by God. We have no business interfering in God’s plan.”
Examples of commands in N.T. that we do not follow
Well, let’s look a little closer. With that kind of logic, every modern-day Christian woman should be silent in the Church.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
I Corinthians 14:34-35.
In spite of this scripture, modern Christian women are far from silent in the Church. This seems to be a direct command, yet it is not obeyed in modern churches. Why? Perhaps it is because the position of women in Bible times was far different than the position of women in modern times. Times have changed and circumstances are different.
Then, there is the issue with slavery. Slavery was commonplace in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. There was nothing wrong with a Christian being a slave owner. Actually, it was quite normal. Consequently, there were rules that a Christian slave owner was obliged to adhere to. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Colossians 4:1
We Twenty-First Century Christians would never think of owning a slave just because the Apostle Paul thought it was just fine to own one.
U. S. government is a Republic that is based on Democracy not Dictatorship
The Bible says that governments were put in place by God. It stands to reason therefore, that the United States government was put in place by God. The Bible also says that we are to obey the government. According to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, our government is, “…of the people, by the people, and for the people.” The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution says, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The “of the people and by the people” in Lincoln’s Address, and the “We the people” in the U.S. Constitution implies that all of the country’s citizens are by default, involved in the direction our country takes. As citizens of this great nation, we are obliged to have a voice in our government’s affairs. This nation that was “…ordained of God” (Romans 13:1) was established to be ruled by the will of its citizens…not by the will of its leaders.
How often have we heard ministers remind us that we should thank God every day that we live in a free country where we can say what we want, do what we want, read what we want and go where we want to go without fear of punishment from the government? How often have Christians expressed thankfulness that we can freely read our Bibles while at the same time, citizens of other countries are at risk of being jailed if they are caught with a Bible in their possession?
These freedoms did not come about by accident. Christian men formed this nation of freedoms. Ever since this nation was formed, voters have been electing people to office who have continued to keep our freedoms in place. In addition to voting people in office, a certain number of concerned citizens have reminded our leaders of the people’s will. This is done by communicating with the leaders, either personally, by phone, or by mail.
Should Modern-Day Christians be involved in politics?
Many Christians are quick to point out that our mission is to simply “let our light shine” before all of the unbelievers in the world, yet far too many Christians are not only apathetic when it comes to politics, they actually refuse to let their light shine when it comes to making their voices heard regarding the direction that our country is heading.
There are two forces at work in this world, one evil and one righteous. Jesus said, He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathered not with me scattereth abroad. Matthew 12:30. By voting and communicating with our leaders, our nation goes in the direction its citizens instruct it to go. If Christians don’t vote, and if Christians don’t communicate with our leaders, this nation will go the way of other nations of the world, which is away from God and God’s principles.
Our country was established on Judeo-Christian principles. However, that moral consensus has given way to many morally corrupt and hedonistic principles. This happened only with the tacit approval of the Christian majority. How did the Christian majority approve such a change? They approved this change by their apathy. Instead of voicing their opposition to such changes, only a vast silence has been heard. The silence of many Christians has also been evident at the polls. Sadly, less than half of self-described Christians voted in federal elections in the last fifty years. Too many voices within the Christian community are encouraging fellow Christians to keep silent, especially when it comes to civic and cultural concerns.
The preservation of our freedom and morality depends on our citizens placing principled men in office. If we fail in this obligation, our government will soon be corrupted, and laws will be made that are not for the public good. Corrupt or incompetent men will end up being appointed to be judges, and the rights of our citizens will be violated or outright disregarded.
Americans are blessed with the freedom to organize, campaign, vote and write to their Senators and Congressmen. If they allow apathy to cause them to ignore that freedom, they may find themselves someday being held accountable for that apathy.
It seems to reason that if Christians neglect their civil duty, they should not expect deliverance from the national consequences to follow. On the other hand, when Christians do the opposite and diligently fulfill not just their duty toward God, but also their civic duty to their government, they set the stage for His blessings on their land. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice” Proverbs 29:2 and Righteousness exalts a nation. Proverbs 14:34.
Some Christians say that rather than voting and being otherwise involved in government, we should obey I Timothy 2:1, 2 which says that we should just pray for rulers. Continuing, they say that by being involved in the government, we might be working against God's power to choose rulers according to His will.
Think on this for a moment. God instructs us in Matthew 6:11 to pray for our daily bread. Does this mean we should just sit back and let God do it all, or should we try to find a job and let God use us as the means to answer the prayer? Should we avoid looking for a job because we might take a job other than the one God in His providence wanted us to take?
In III John 2, we are instructed to pray for good health. Some people mistakenly believe that going to a doctor shows a lack of faith in God's power to answer prayer. Yet Christians know that the doctor may be the very means God uses to answer the prayer!
By default, all Americans are participants in political involvement. By participating, we have the opportunity of voting for our elected officials and for ensuring that we have proper and decent laws and traditions. If we truly believe our government was divinely ordained and instituted by God, this freedom and opportunity should not only be enjoyed, it should be exercised.
Christians who vote but are at the same time against writing to their Congressmen and Senators could be confused. These Christians mistakenly say that voting is one thing, but writing to their leaders is meddling in God’s plan. What then, is voting? Casting a vote can also be defined as meddling in God’s plan. The very act of voting is the same as voicing one’s opinions.
Christians should not be passive spectators in society's culture. While our primary task may the Great Commission, we are to engage our culture at all levels, advancing moral principles and seeking to restrain evil.
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