Quick and Clean Ain't Always The Way
Our church sits in close proximity to our county’s jail. On occasion we’ll have gentlemen who’ve just been released come to us for help with requests ranging from simply wanting to make a phone call to needing a ride to a bus station.
I met one such young man, Larry, yesterday. He needed a ride to a neighboring town. On the way to my truck he asked me if I was a Christian. I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to introduce myself as one of the pastors and thanked him for asking me (not that I would have minded his question had he known I was a pastor – no one should presume). I returned the favor by asking him the same question and expected the same reply I had given. I was quite shocked when he said no. He said he knew about God but needed to get to know Jesus.
I took my cues and thought “this will be an easy one.” I should know by now the human heart is not typically as easily manipulated as a microwaveable dinner.
We have been so affected by the microwave. It has become a symbol for the immediate. Because the microwave is possible we shouldn’t have to wait. Because the microwave exists everything should be instantaneous. Because what used to take popcorn kernels, a fire, a metal contraption that burned your hand and a half hour can now be accomplished in 2.5 minutes with a microwave, we are conditioned to think the rest of creation should be the same way. Quick and clean.
Unfortunately, while God can and does act quickly with the hearts of some, it seems to be the norm that he doesn’t. It’s only unfortunate insofar as we seem to doubt God when we don’t see results. We get easily dejected when we get seemingly rejected.
While it may not be the main point of 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, we learn a valuable lesson as it pertains to the way God works in relation to the human heart that is being evangelized. What does Paul say – he does a little work, Apollos comes along and he does a little work and bam!, God bursts in and grows the faith.
There we were driving down the road, me speaking Truth to Larry, explaining this Jesus he “needed to get to know”, coming up with clever contextualization to fit his need and all he wanted to do was use my phone. He’d end a call and I’d gently plead a little more. But he wasn’t interested. I was deflated and thought, “If I couldn’t convince Larry, how in the world am I going to win over someone who doesn’t know they need to know Jesus.”
Silly me for being disappointed after Larry got out of the truck. Yes, we should be bold in proclaiming and yes, we should expect God to work. But, this deal is all God’s, not mine. He runs this show, I’m only a clown who’s playing a small part.
We’re not called to convert, God does that. We’re called to proclaim. God might allow you a microwave experience but don’t be disappointed if you get stuck with a crock pot. God gives the growth.
