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Girl Meets God
by Melissa Mathews
“We put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 9:12
I was visiting with a new believer in Jesus this morning. She’s a precious girl who has already read the whole New Testament, and follows Jesus at a great sacrifice because she was raised in a different religion. She was a bit confused about all the different kinds of churches in the Christian faith. I gave her a 30-second-turned-30-minute church history lesson, and then she told me a sad story.
She has a friend, a rather good friend, who understands the Christian faith, but doesn’t necessarily subscribe to it. This person, a “he” named “Pat” for our purposes, says the church is full of hypocrites. It’s a story I hate to hear.
And then I had this thought: maybe it was me who gave him this bad vibe for Christians?! Maybe he heard me speak harshly to my son because he was pushing the cart spasmodically in the store. “Hmm,” Pat thinks, “I can’t imagine Jesus being that irate over something so stupid.”
Or maybe it was you!? Maybe you work with him at the office. He knows you go to church almost every dog-gone day and quote verses like “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” but all you talk about is the new $700 purse you want with the matching billfold. “Hmm,” Pat thinks, “Would Jesus care this much about what's in the world?"
Or maybe it was your best friend who just loves the Lord, but hates everyone she is around and finds the art of criticism to be her biggest gift. And you listen, and nod your head, and agree with every word she says never remembering that everyone, even the ugly and undisciplined are made in the image of God.
Pat and the Apostle Paul have something to say to us would-be hypocrites: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:5-6).
If you see Pat today, remember to live a life that gives reason to believe, not disbelieve. He is watching you.
Scott and I have been married 22 years and currently live in Northern California where we are beginning year five as church planters. I also teach 12th grade English and love it.
I would love to hear from you. Email me anytime at melissa.g.mathews@gmail.com
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