Pride, Humbleness, and Conviction

(This is a blog I wrote on Tuesday night, but am just now getting to post...I knew I had to chronicle my converstation, lest it be forgotten)

Tonight was one of the proudest and most humbling moments I have had since I have become a part of the FOS community. A group of amazing students and leaders gathered last weekend on a snow-blanketed mountain to experience four days of transformation. I had the pleasure of seeing seven incredible students from McCleary have their worlds rocked at camp...a series of events which led to one outstanding conversation with two girls after McFOS tonight. A testimony to the way God is working in and through their lives.

As I wrapped up the small group time with my girls, two others pulled me aside and asked if we could "talk". Without hesitation, I agreed, and we decided to find an empty classroom. As we sat down, one of the girls began unpacking the dilemma that pushed its way into their lives at school earlier that morning:

"At school today, my friends were asking what happened to me. They said that I went away to camp for the weekend, and now I am not the same. They said that I am now acting "super christian" and they don't understand why I don't act the way I used to and do the things they are doing."

The other chimed in, "Yeah, they asked me why she was acting all different. And they gave me really weird looks when they saw my bible. I took my bible to school today."

They continue, "Even though my friend was a (hands in the air, motioning quotation marks) "Christian" for 13 years, she started mocking me."

"And this other girl asked me 'Isn't the point of being a Christian that you can sin? I mean, isn't that what forgiveness is for?' I told her that even though God forgives us, we should still strive to be perfect."

They expressed their desire to please God, and their fear of saying the wrong thing. It was then that they asked the question I saw coming from the beginning of the conversation: What do we do when our friends don't understand? How do we, as humans, react when people make fun of our faith?

As I started to explain how amazing it was that God did such a huge and obvious work in their lives, and what a privilege it was to be identified with Christ, my mind was flooded with examples from the bible of suffering for the name of Christ. I grabbed my bible, and started with the ultimate example: Jesus. Matthew 27 talks about the soldiers mocking Jesus, and patronizing him in a cruel and humiliating way...an easy foreshadowing of what his followers would have to suffer in order to follow him.

Many of the apostles have written about how being like Jesus in his suffering was a blessing in disguise. After searching for a moment, I rediscovered 1 Peter 4:16: "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." After reading it in my head, I felt God leading me to read them the entire chapter. Verse after verse, phrase after phrase, the words seemed to join those spoken just moments before, as if they were two parts of the same song. Melody and harmony: "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do...they think it strange you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you..."

But the Lord does not make light of your problems only to leave you with no solution. Peter continues in verses 13-14: "But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

The most encouraging and convicting words came from my mouth as I explained these verses. To be able to share with them that the changes people saw in their lives were examples of God's glory...WOW. How great is the reward we have in heaven with Christ!?! The girls bringing this to me, declaring that they “don’t want to make a mistake or say the wrong thing” was a clear sign of the spiritual maturity developing in their lives. And while I was SO proud of them for holding their ground and speaking the truth in love, I couldn't help but feel a tug at my heart: is my life showing the same fruit and growth as these jr. high girls? Does the Spirit of glory rest on my life?

This experience begged me to ask myself the same question I am now posing to you: Is your life showing so much transformation that people recognize you are living a life set apart to God? And if so, how are you reacting to those who chose to question motives and hurl insults? As I listened to this redeemed life that in her own words is "just starting to get to know God," it dawned on me: she is farther along the road to sanctification than she even realizes. And in some ways, further along than this 22 year old girl whose faith is rarely bold enough to be recognized and challenged. Praise be to God for the work he is doing in the lives of our kids. Amen!