Feature Article

I had a dream last night that Leslie and I were in a Life Group at church and a gay couple joined that group.  The two men were friends of mine from 20 years ago and had since adopted children.  They obviously knew me and joined the group anyway.  During the group one of the members awkwardly blurted out, "Alan, tell the group about your ministry."  I knew what the man was trying to do.  He wasn't being a jerk, but reacting in a way that most of us who could be labeled as evangelicals often act.  We see a sinner and right away we jump into "convert" mode.  Who cares about getting to know them or simply relating over common interests? Our default is to share our biblical conviction and immediately try to win them over. (Stepping on any toes besides my own yet?) Somehow we allow our performance-oriented Christianity to even impact the way we interact with unbelievers.  We approach them as projects to be managed and conquered instead of people to be engaged.  It seems we are uncomfortable with what appears to be messy and challenging and we want to put it in some religious order as soon as possible.  We can be so quick to have people modify their behavior before we have even introduced them to the beauty and power of the Gospel found in Jesus.