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"Letters, Questions and Frustrations: God’s Church" It all started when I wrote about a diet book by Oprah Winfrey. Letters came from all over. Some expressing anger that I would criticize a wonderful personality who has helped so many. Others criticized me for not holding her more accountable for her lifestyle. Actually, I made no comments about Oprah, herself. I just liked her book. Another group of letters came in response to my column on homosexuality. Some asked questions: I have a close friend who's gay. He grew up in the church and has professed to being a Christian since he was very young. Can he be? I've heard people say that you can't be gay and be a Christian. I know he's living in sin, but aren't we all to some extent? When he told his parents he was gay, he said that as far back as his memory went, back to first grade or even kindergarten, he had always had the feeling that he was "different" from other boys. He is a wonderful, kind, loving, gentle, person. I know that doesn't excuse his lifestyle. Can he be gay and be a Christian? How could he have this inclination at such a young age? As I said before, the Bible is crystal-clear. Homosexuality is a sin. It is also true that you could be born with a tendency to become homosexual. So, if God made some of us with homosexual desires: Is it okay to act upon them? It sounds valid. Again, No, it’s not! We all have inherited deficiencies labeled sin. I call it simply being human. Since we all have character flaws, our task is not to give in to our desires but rather defeat them by relying exclusively upon God. Our challenge is to work through the power of the Holy Spirit to defeat the sin, while offering a forgiving hand to all just as God willingly forgave us. I would answer the letter above by remembering Jesus words to the woman accused of adultery. Rather than condemn her, Christ said: "Go and sin no more." (John 8:11) Protecting her from the stones of the accusers and offering a gesture of compassion and love. Can we do no less? I received other letters on this subject: "Yet Mr. Davies is hardly alone in failing to use his pulpit to speak the truth. I have never noticed that any of Amelia's abundant clergy has ever published a sound Biblical stand on the issue. The truth angers lots of people. Are these men afraid to take the heat? Are they too busy with their own churches to be lights in the community? Or possibly many of our preachers have taken strong Biblical stands and I've just missed it." Perhaps you have missed it. One pastor in Amelia has taken a lot of heat for his stand against abortion. Another serves on the school board and has played a crucial role in easing racial tensions in the area. One retired pastor has helped Promise Keepers bring the word of Christ to men in our community. Another minister spends several hours each week in a local nursing home simply because he cares. Another serves on the local literacy board. As a writer, I have stuck my neck out and taken a Biblical stand on virtually every controversial issue we face as Christians. I would answer this letter with Jesus words to the crowd accusing the woman of adultery: "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!" (John 8:7) Never once did anyone think that Jesus was condoning adultery. Instead, Jesus changed our mission from judgment to compassion. God will do the judging. Our task is to teach God’s word, extend God’s love and offer God’s grace. In other words, God is firmly in control, not us. It’s interesting that both letters share a deep frustration with the church. One writer is concerned because someone she cares for is going down the wrong path and asks for help. The other writer sees a world growing dark and is appalled that God’s church seems unwilling or unable to boldly provide the light of God’s truth. In many ways these letters express a frustration we all feel. Can today’s church offer loving opportunities to change directions to those on the wrong path and still boldly shine the light of God’s truth exposing the darkness of sin? You better believe we can. Jesus had just begun his ministry and chosen twelve disciples. Church leaders and even family were beginning to take a critical look at what Christ was saying and doing: "He’s out of his mind," they said. (Mark 3:21) How did Jesus respond to the criticism? He began to teach by telling a simple story that would forever define our mission as individuals and as the church. "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed." (From Mark 4) Wait a minute, Larry. Is that it? Plant seeds? What about helping someone change directions? What about boldly shining the light of God’s truth? No wonder they said Jesus was out of his mind. Consider this example: "Larry… are you nuts," she asked? "You want me to leave a busy law practice and two young children to attend a single adult spiritual retreat? I’m sorry, but there is just no way!" "Just pray about it…" I said not really believing it. "If you are supposed to go, God will find a way!" "As the farmer scattered it across his field…
Occasionally, scattering seeds yields immediate results but not often, so discouraged and frustrated we stop sowing and give up. "It’s no use! I was never meant to be a farmer anyway!" The woman I wanted to attend the single adult spiritual retreat could not go. Discouraged and frustrated, I was ready to give up. It was then that another farmer stepped in and planted a few seeds of her own. "I’ll take care of the kids and some of us will pay your expenses, if you will go." What was there to say? She went. At the retreat, she discovered the power of God’s grace and the seeds planted in her began to produce a mighty crop. This busy single parent returned, inspired to start her own ministry to single adults. Within six months she gathered a mailing list of 250 churches and individuals and began offering the love to others, she was so graciously given. "Still other seed fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted."
Could it really be that simple? Yes it can. Sowing seeds of faith… challenges me as a pastor, a writer and a Christian to do my best using the tools God provides, namely prayer, Bible study and my sincere willingness to be a witness. But the final crop totally belongs to God! Then Jesus said, "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"
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