It’s good to be back!

Posted by Mike O on: 04.05.2007 /

I’ve been quite consumed with life lately, and have barely spent any time here in the last month or so. When I asked Helen if it was OK if I let things slip a bit, she asked if I wanted to continue. She thought my reply might make a good topic starter, so here it is (unedited). I didn’t intend for it to be published here, so I’m “showing my cards” a bit, but I’ve tried to be open about my intentions here from the start, so hopefully nothing I said to Helen will come as a surprise.

Thank you for letting me be a part of this! Mike

Mike, thanks for letting us know. Yes, it’s absolutely ok.

Are you still ok with posting once a week on ebay atheist – are you still able to fit that in?

Helen

I really want to because I don’t want to lose the relationship I have there. So yes, ebay atheist is one of my top priorities. There may be times when it slips a bit, but I definitely believe this is something I need to be a part of.

It’s been amazing to me the insight I’ve gained by being here. My ability to relate to the world around me has improved greatly because I have a place to just be myself and see how what I say is heard by those who don’t hold my beliefs. that’s been invaluable.

Off-the-map is what keeps me from getting completely consumed by church work that will only be seen by Christians. I need to be in the world (sorry for the Christianese). My calling is to those who are far from God, at least for now. Somebody has to be willing to spend time with people and build relationships with them, regardless of whether they ever follow Christ or not.

And I like it here.

I was teaching a class the other night about evangelism, using material from Goiing Public with your Faith by Bill Peel and Walt Larimore. (Jim, I’d be curious to know your thoughts on it) It is very much in line with OTM thinking, although designed for the Christian audience. But in it they make a couple of important statements I think are vitally important in Christian/non-Christian relations -

1) The bible never tells us to go witnessing. It tells us to be witnesses.
2) Many people will never trust Christ until they can first trust Christians. And they don’t trust Christians.
3) The Bible says to be ready to give an answer WHEN ASKED. Going door-to-door and bible banging people doesn’t fit that mandate. Building relationships with people so they can see God working in your life, so they can (hopefully) someday ASK about what Jesus has done for me is how people come to trust Christians. And nopefully Christ.
4) Studies have been done (I don’t know how) that indicate that when people decide to follow Christ, it is the result of between 9 and 25 different significant relationships. We are not called to be all 25, and we are not called to be #25. It feels really good to be the last link in that chain and be the one who is actually the one there when someone decides to follow Christ. But the 25th link is no more important than the first. The most important thing is, whatever link you are in someones move towards following Christ, DON’T BE THE MISSING LINK. I believe I am called to be one of the early links for people. Like atheists. I believe I belong here.

Sorry for blathering on … I just wanted you to see my heart.

God bless,

Mike

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