Meeting part 1
I think something that is overlooked oftentimes is empathy. Putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Seeing things from their point of view. And this is important because we have to meet people where they're at. We can't expect people to know what we know, or understand what we understand. Because people haven't experienced what we've experienced. And, listen, while this human condition of ours is very individual... it is also very communal. If I can say it that way. We all go through the same stuff. Like I said, the human condition. But we go through the same things... differently. And if I've been through something, I CAN help you get through it, to a degree. I've heard preachers say it like this, "Its better to have a guide than a map." And the guide, of course, is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Truth that leads and guides us into all truth. The truth that God is love and He loves you. But let me try to make my point: Meeting peopel where THEY are at is the only way to make that initial connection. Get your foot in the door, so to speak. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:1, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." And while that might sound a little bit like a negative thing, "I couldn't even speak to your Spiritually," I see it as Paul using wisdom. Some of the best conversations I've ever had about God were conversations that didn't even use the word "God." Because we were simply talking about life. About love. God IS love. God IS life. So you don't have to be "religious" in order to be Godly. In fact, I think religion is the opposite of God. Doesn't it seem like the only people Jesus ever got mad at were religious folk? And, to be honest, I get mad about that stuff too. When people say things like, "Well, I need to pray about it," when what they're really doing is just hiding behind the idea of God, or prayer, in order to further their own agendas. God is love. The Spirit leads us to love. Its not complicated. You don't always have to pray about what to do. Just love people. Period. But religious folk always want to hold other people to their own standards. Or, worse yet, higher standards than they even hold themselves. Did you ever notice that people who attack and accuse others are usually guilty of the very things they are attacking and accusing others of doing? Because you can't give what you don't have. What's inside YOU is what comes out--or what you believe is inside you comes out. Liars don't believe people because they themselves are dishonest and they think everybody is like them. For example. So instead of forcing our standards on others... we need to meet people where they're at. And--this is going to be a big part of this Rant series--it's not just meeting people where they're at, but its meeting them WITH what they need. Being a gracious host, or gracious houseguest. Not coming to the party empty-handed. Seeing a need... and meeting that need. You don't have to force "Jesus" down people's throats. They'll choke on Him. But you can show people who Jesus is... by meeting them right where they're at and feeding them with love!