There are many experiences that still have an impact on my life today. Several happened during my formative years in college. I discussed earlier how I came to Christ while in college. It wasn't that I didn't know God or Christ before then, but I had just a superficial understanding of what that relationship looked like. I went to church, I believed the Bible - but there was something lacking in my heart. Things that kept me from fully accepting in my heart.
So, I was starting to take my first real steps in my walk with the Lord. It's an equally exciting and daunting time. You see things differently - you see what is done right and how things are done wrongly. If you are lucky, you are surrounded by people who are encouraging, comforting, and help as you begin to grow.
Growing always reminds me of spring. Especially springtime at Ohio State.
Springtime at Ohio State was always a wonderful time. The sun and warmth, flowers blooming, Brother Jed and Sister Cindy screeching at the students, and the near end of the school year. Brother Jed and Sister Cindy? The Oval Preachers? Maybe some of you have heard of them. You knew it was Spring on campus when you were in class, window open, and you could hear the screech of Sister Cindy raise the hair on the back of your neck. You wondered "Who's torturing a cat this time of day?" But, I joke just a little.
Brother Jed and Sister Cindy would preach on the Oval on the Ohio State campus. Their preaching would mostly consist of calling the students "fornicators" and that we would all "burn in the lake of fire". There would be a long hold on the word "fire" - the written word does this no justice. I immediately knew this wasn't what true preaching and theology looked like. Oh, they were also perfect - they were saved by Jesus, and now were perfect and sinned no more. Their kids were also perfect because they were perfect. This led to one of my friends asking them "Are you saying your kids don't need Jesus then?" He was rewarded with an insult.
I knew this wasn't true teaching but I wasn't brave enough to take them on. It probably wouldn't have been a productive interaction anyways. It was disheartening because they were essentially a sideshow, to be mocked and ridiculed. It also lumped the rest of us Christians as being just like them. Why would people want to listen to me when they saw this example of "Christianity" each day on campus? If I didn't know other Christians, I might have stayed away from Christians based on these examples. I did not know it then, but I would soon have a run-in with one of Brother Jed's followers very soon.
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship used to run book tables on campus so that students would be aware of us and we could maybe be a positive impact on our campus. On this particular day, our table was situated next to a table being run by followers of Islam. Let me just say we were having a blast. They were very nice guys, we joked, and we talked like normal college students - which we were. It was pretty refreshing because I had my preconceived notions about Muslims. They are pretty easy to keep until you meet one face to face and get to know them and realize they are human beings just like you.
That is when one of Jed's followers approached our table. (How did I know? He mentioned it.) He immediately started spouting about how he knew the right way and others didn't. When he mentioned "others", he would look at the other table. Which I thought was pretty rude, and tried to get him to leave. He then went into a hateful diatribe about the homosexual lifestyle. There were points I agreed with, but definitely not the tone of the message. He continued going on and on about this which struck me as odd.
That's when I realized that it is always important to know your environment and what is around you.
As the man finally left, two young women approached our table and why this man had been going off. They had been sitting behind our tables together hanging out. They wanted to know if we agreed with the man about if homosexuality was a sin.
Do you ever have one of those moments where you know saying or doing the right thing is going to get you into trouble? Or what you believe in will lead to a huge argument? Yeah, me too. To start with, I am called to love all people. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. I can't judge, that's not what I am called to. Love the sinner, hate the sin. No one sin is worse than any other. Here was a situation that I was put to the test. I could have lied, sparing the tense situation and possibly things getting ugly. I chose to speak the truth from my heart with a nervous sounding "Yes". Then, I got yelled at for ten minutes at least. I didn't die, I was not harmed - but boy was I scared.
But, that is what I believe. I wont take that statement back. That being said, it doesn't mean I tear people apart, or judge, or discriminate, or go out of my way in hate towards others. I start doing that, I am no longer a Christian. I will continue to speak truth, but it is tempered in love. I try to talk to people as Jesus would - doesn't mean I agree all the time or with sin, but we are called to love.
This is a humorous episode on how to handle things in possibly the wrong way. The preachers' message was not tempered with the love, grace, and mercy of God. It was all judgment and wrath - no good news. Who wants to be beaten over the head with that constantly. I am just as much in need of God today as I was the day before I gave my life to Jesus. I am no better or worse than anyone else. I realized though that I could stand up in my faith and not die. But, I did find that standing up for my beliefs would lead to some resistance and resentment. I think it's a lesson I have forgotten over the years. Not to be afraid when God calls you.
P.S. I really hope that Brother Jed and Sister Cindy really met the Lord and realized how loving, comforting, caring, and merciful He really is and now convey that message to the world.
So, I was starting to take my first real steps in my walk with the Lord. It's an equally exciting and daunting time. You see things differently - you see what is done right and how things are done wrongly. If you are lucky, you are surrounded by people who are encouraging, comforting, and help as you begin to grow.
Growing always reminds me of spring. Especially springtime at Ohio State.
Springtime at Ohio State was always a wonderful time. The sun and warmth, flowers blooming, Brother Jed and Sister Cindy screeching at the students, and the near end of the school year. Brother Jed and Sister Cindy? The Oval Preachers? Maybe some of you have heard of them. You knew it was Spring on campus when you were in class, window open, and you could hear the screech of Sister Cindy raise the hair on the back of your neck. You wondered "Who's torturing a cat this time of day?" But, I joke just a little.
Brother Jed and Sister Cindy would preach on the Oval on the Ohio State campus. Their preaching would mostly consist of calling the students "fornicators" and that we would all "burn in the lake of fire". There would be a long hold on the word "fire" - the written word does this no justice. I immediately knew this wasn't what true preaching and theology looked like. Oh, they were also perfect - they were saved by Jesus, and now were perfect and sinned no more. Their kids were also perfect because they were perfect. This led to one of my friends asking them "Are you saying your kids don't need Jesus then?" He was rewarded with an insult.
I knew this wasn't true teaching but I wasn't brave enough to take them on. It probably wouldn't have been a productive interaction anyways. It was disheartening because they were essentially a sideshow, to be mocked and ridiculed. It also lumped the rest of us Christians as being just like them. Why would people want to listen to me when they saw this example of "Christianity" each day on campus? If I didn't know other Christians, I might have stayed away from Christians based on these examples. I did not know it then, but I would soon have a run-in with one of Brother Jed's followers very soon.
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship used to run book tables on campus so that students would be aware of us and we could maybe be a positive impact on our campus. On this particular day, our table was situated next to a table being run by followers of Islam. Let me just say we were having a blast. They were very nice guys, we joked, and we talked like normal college students - which we were. It was pretty refreshing because I had my preconceived notions about Muslims. They are pretty easy to keep until you meet one face to face and get to know them and realize they are human beings just like you.
That is when one of Jed's followers approached our table. (How did I know? He mentioned it.) He immediately started spouting about how he knew the right way and others didn't. When he mentioned "others", he would look at the other table. Which I thought was pretty rude, and tried to get him to leave. He then went into a hateful diatribe about the homosexual lifestyle. There were points I agreed with, but definitely not the tone of the message. He continued going on and on about this which struck me as odd.
That's when I realized that it is always important to know your environment and what is around you.
As the man finally left, two young women approached our table and why this man had been going off. They had been sitting behind our tables together hanging out. They wanted to know if we agreed with the man about if homosexuality was a sin.
Do you ever have one of those moments where you know saying or doing the right thing is going to get you into trouble? Or what you believe in will lead to a huge argument? Yeah, me too. To start with, I am called to love all people. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. I can't judge, that's not what I am called to. Love the sinner, hate the sin. No one sin is worse than any other. Here was a situation that I was put to the test. I could have lied, sparing the tense situation and possibly things getting ugly. I chose to speak the truth from my heart with a nervous sounding "Yes". Then, I got yelled at for ten minutes at least. I didn't die, I was not harmed - but boy was I scared.
But, that is what I believe. I wont take that statement back. That being said, it doesn't mean I tear people apart, or judge, or discriminate, or go out of my way in hate towards others. I start doing that, I am no longer a Christian. I will continue to speak truth, but it is tempered in love. I try to talk to people as Jesus would - doesn't mean I agree all the time or with sin, but we are called to love.
This is a humorous episode on how to handle things in possibly the wrong way. The preachers' message was not tempered with the love, grace, and mercy of God. It was all judgment and wrath - no good news. Who wants to be beaten over the head with that constantly. I am just as much in need of God today as I was the day before I gave my life to Jesus. I am no better or worse than anyone else. I realized though that I could stand up in my faith and not die. But, I did find that standing up for my beliefs would lead to some resistance and resentment. I think it's a lesson I have forgotten over the years. Not to be afraid when God calls you.
P.S. I really hope that Brother Jed and Sister Cindy really met the Lord and realized how loving, comforting, caring, and merciful He really is and now convey that message to the world.
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