I’ve Been Lying To You

Well, not all of you, but those of you who see, hear or read me daily probably have a skewed sense of the truth.

The truth is this:  I have NEVER been one to put much weight in what other people think or to concern myself with the actions of other people.  This is especially true since becoming a follower of Christ.  I do my best to love others and honor Him in everything I do.  I fail a lot; I am, by no means, perfect.  Perfection isn’t a goal of mine.

I admit, I had a messed up sense of how things would be when I became a Christian.  It was natural, I think, for me to think things would be the complete opposite of how they were before.  I was a mess and everyone I hung around was just as messed up.  I thought I would get involved in a church and people would, all of the sudden, lose their flaws.  I know, I know…that simply couldn’t be further from the truth.

So, it took me a minute to figure all of these things out.  I get to Germany, get involved in a church, actually gain employment through that church and here we are.  I see things and I see people do things that make me scratch my head.  Things that make me think, “these people claim to be Christian?”  For the longest time, I thought that I felt God telling me to keep my mouth shut.  I thought He would say, “Toby you have to pick your battles.”  I thought He would say, “Toby, these people, just like you, are imperfect….do not judge them.”

I was ok with that until lately.  I stopped having that feeling.  I have waited and I have prayed, “God, I am sickened by what I see…Am I still to keep my mouth shut?”  Well, I’m pretty sure the anger I had in my heart has clouded my communication with God.  I have turned that anger into concern and it seems like the communication lines have opened again.  I feel like God is telling me, “Toby, I didn’t put you here to sit back and watch.”  I know right from wrong and the things I see are WRONG.  It’s not just instances of human imperfection, it’s consistent hatred I see, hidden behind a smile when people are looking.

In an attempt to be more like what I described yesterday, I will no longer keep my mouth shut.  I can’t and I shouldn’t.  I don’t have any goals other than to help the situation; to make people aware; maybe to open some eyes; to have a call for ACTION!  I am aware that those who may need to see it do not read this ole blog, but words travel and I have faith that we can make a difference, for the better, together.  You don’t have to be directly involved in my situation to be affected either.  I’m sure this isn’t the only church with issues.  To you I say, STOP WATCHING AND DO SOMETHING!

I will get more specific tomorrow….fitting for Friday Reflections, I think.

See ya tomorrow!