I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another;
Galatians 1:6-7
There are times when we cross paths with people who are in genuine need of a miracle in their lives. As options and hope evaporate, we sit and listen to their circumstances, grasping for words of comfort and encouragement. Regardless of whether their circumstances are brought on by poor choices or not, we want to help.
Over the years I have worked with many people who’s lives are what I would describe as a train-wreck, or as a former coworkers would typically say, “they’re a hot mess!”. There have been more than a few times when I have silently said these very words as appointments have ended…”Lord, if you don’t show up here, this person is toast!”
…which brings me to an appointment I had the other day…
FROM THE BASKETBALL COURT TO THE COURTROOM
Ten years ago this young man was on the basketball court and I was his coach…at a Christian school. Today, he was sitting in my office…and I am his probation officer. I took his case from a co-worker who was at a point where she was out of options for trying to help him. She’d tried so many creative ways of working with him before filing revocations on two separate occasions, and each time the Court placed the young man back on probation.
I offered to take his case; partly because I understand fatigue in working with people over long periods of time unsuccessfully; and partly because this was one of my players…he needs a win here in a big way!
I’ve got no options for this young man that haven’t already been offered. I’ve got no style, no skill set, nothing to offer him that my very capable coworker had not already offered. All I can do is address the spiritual side of addiction. I’m no expert in the matter…but I can listen and I can speak…as long as I keep my mouth shut and listen…I can do that.
SO ABOUT TODAY…
I’ve met with him several times since the case transfer, but today he came in after testing positive once again for meth and heroin. He was accountable…and had the required tears to manipulate…but today I believe those tears were genuine. I believe his heart is broken and he’s desperate and lost for how to solve his problems. I’m also willing to bet he’s not being 100% honest because those patterns of deception are deeply ingrained well before they hit our office. It’s nothing personal, he’s really just lying to himself…I just happen to be in the room with him.
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP
This young man has been through plenty of treatment and even graduated from a Drug Court program on a previous case. He’s been given all the “tools” to become and remain sober…you can hear the treatment-talk oozing out of his mouth every time he speaks. He knows the jargon and he knows how to take accountability for his relapse. It simply appears he’s never had a heart-change. His head is swelled with treatment-knowledge, but his heart remains unchanged.
He’s searching, especially when he comes in to the office and he knows he’s violated his probation. I get it…part of it’s a show because he’s played that card before and gotten hugs instead of a foot up the ass. Manipulation can be deeply ingrained in a lot of us when accountability is at our doorstep. But here’s the thing… I don’t believe at our core, any of us wants to be in bondage to any addiction
It’s at this point in the conversation that we have to “go there”. I hesitate because…well, I just do. But honestly, there’s no where else to go when people are bouncing along after hitting bottom.
I HESITATE TO PLAY MY CARD’S
I like to keep my work life and my professional life separated, so to write about these experiences in my office draws attention to how I operate…and I’m pretty interested in just being left alone.
So why am I putting myself out there by writing this? Good question! My initial response is that I have no clue why I’m doing this…and yet, a message has been building in my heart, and I’m feeling compelled to validate some very dear people in my life…people who are searching and yet would see no reason to take their search in the direction of the Church, and this is exactly where the conversation with my client…my player, had to go from our first appointment at a coffee shop to today.
THE FORK IN THE ROAD
I refer to John 10:10 as a fork in the road of life. We stand at this fork on our journey and we look in one direction where Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” Take a good look down that path. It looks appealing at the beginning, but we’re warned what lies further down that path. But there’s another option, and here it is: “I [Jesus] came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Okay…so let’s see here… “steal, kill, and destroy” kind-of-things are that way…and “abundant life” awaits us that way… What sounds better?
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS JUST SHOWED UP
Actually, I lied. Captain Obvious did not show up because the problem is, it’s just not as obvious as it sounds. Remember the young man in my office today? I mentioned earlier that I coached him in a Christian school for a reason. He was raised by well-meaning Christian parents, went to a non-denominational church, and ran from the church as soon as he was 18 like so many other teenagers. See, it was never his religion to begin with…it was his parents religion. He never bought in to what he heard and saw because what he heard and saw was no different than any other powerless religion. His head was filled with teachings…but never an authentic life-changing experience that would lead him to believe this God of the bible is truly different from every other god he’d heard about.
So to say the answer at the fork-in-the-road should be obvious is very incorrect, because if you assume you know what is down one path and you have no desire for it, you may be willing to take your chances going the other direction in hopes that you can avoid the whole “steal, kill, and destroy” scenarios.
TIRED OF THE COUNTERFEIT
I am a part of the Church…so I take responsibility for where I am. However, I am accountable for the decisions I make at this point. Because I frequently find myself in situations like the one today with my client…my player, and because people I love are hurting and still have no interest in the Church, I am coming to a place where I must question what I read in the Gospels and ask…why am I not seeing it in these churches that profess God is moving in powerful ways?
With no aide from social media, word of Jesus spread throughout the region and people were coming from all over bringing their sick, diseased, and hurting. They didn’t arrive in their Mercedes and BMW’s…their fancy air-conditioned trucks and Harley motorcycles…they came on foot. Word spread everywhere…and these hungry people witnessed the power of God setting them free and healing many.
Today…we have a great sounding worship band play songs while the tech people work the sound system and lighting people work their magic to create the right mood…we bring the music down low and a word of encouragement is spoken. No one is placed in the uncomfortable position of making a decision that may cost them…even though throughout the history of Christianity, it cost people something…and for some, it cost everything. We ask people to close their eyes and we say, all it takes is raising your hand and praying a prayer…that’s all it cost. Really? Is this the same Gospel we read of in the bible?
After a great worship concert, people get the goose-bump sensation and say the Spirit was “thick” here in church. To this I have to ask…is word spreading like wildfire throughout the region? Are people hearing amazing and astonishing stories of a Gospel that has an authority they have not seen before in their lifetime…are people coming from all over the region to see and hear what’s taking place?
Personally, I can’t remain in a place that boasts of great things and yet scarcely resembles the Church we read about in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts of the Bible? I can’t continue to sit in my office and listen to guys talk to me with teary-eyes and shame-filled hearts about their failures and the traps they have been unsuccessful in freeing themselves from. There have to be real answers to address real problems.
Throwing Stones at Myself
I’m on this journey of confrontation with my own character. My work with people has always allowed me to see patterns in behavior and fortunately, I see the patterns of flawed thinking and character in my own life. Something is being required of me here. I’m being confronted with destructive thinking patterns and lazy tendencies to take the easy road of comfort and convenience. The Gospel of the Bible is anything but comfort and convenience. There is great comfort within the message…it’s called a “peace that passes all understanding”; but it comes with a cost; it comes with a commitment to follow. To this point, I am now battling…and I’m in need of a win in a big way like my player mentioned above.
A Relevant Gospel
So as I write this, I emphasize I’m just a guy who reads stories from a Book that never seems to become outdated. I then look around at what I see…and something isn’t right here. I believe the Book! I believe the Gospel I read in the Bible is absolutely relevant today. I’m not sure what we’ve become accustomed to calling “church” though…is it really the same thing. or have we missed the mark? If we have missed the mark, how will we account for those who saw what we offered and said, “No thanks…tried that before, not interested.”?
We’re consumed with building plans and clever programs that attract the people…the early Church seemed consumed with prayer and discipleship. I don’t know…call me misguided here…but I feel like I’m on the trail of something.
Read the stories of Jesus’ ministry in the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. You’ll often see the stories point out that the people were “amazed” and “astonished“. A statement within one of the stories describes that the people said, “What is this new teaching…and with authority?” Today, I can only wonder, are we in a similar time? Will we be amazed and astonished when the real deal shows up? Oh, and when the real deal does show up, will it be inside one of those million dollar buildings…or will it be out on the streets on the other side of town from where we normally like to be?
I’m sorry if my questions cause offense…but my heart is in the right place here. I just want the Gospel that I read about in the Bible…