so, unfortunately, my parents live in Springfield, MO for the time being, while my dad finishes up his master's degree, (no offense to all who live there and love it. i just would rather be on the beach and consider every other place more than 45 minutes from the beach and/or cascading mountains to be second rate...to put it nicely) and were not able to make the 7 and a half hour trek up to the nasty nati (Cincinnati) where i currently reside. therefore, i decided to fly out to Springfield with high hopes of enjoying a quiet, relaxing four days of Turkey fest 2008.
Anyhoo, i landed not but an hour ago, and like any respectable air traveler, decided to relieve my bladder (hope i'm not being too frank) at the nearby bathroom before hopping into my mother's Maroon Mazda 3. as i walk into the restroom, i notice several napkins strategically placed throughout the men's room with the words "Jesus is coming soon!! Are you ready for His coming?" scribbled with unfashionable handwriting. first of all, these kind of shenanigans somewhat anger me for the simple fact that it gives followers of Jesus a bad wrap. therefore, i immediately threw away the first napkin i saw. THEN, i see another at the stall i conveniently occupy. in a moment of glee, i hope that i am the only one who saw these "homemade tracts" and therefore can and will dispose of them with little to no damage done. however, as i am about to throw the second napkin away, i am hit with a thought that i can only perceive to be the God i serve: "Sean, [often, God is very personal when He speaks to me] i can use this." now, just because i perceive it to be God does not mean that it was, and yet i felt the need to leave this particular napkin alone.
Do i love tracts of all kinds now? by all means, no. my feelings for these types of behavior's from my fellow lovers of Jesus have not changed, but i also know that God is my Lord and i must do what He asks, no matter what my feelings are on the manner.
so, i wonder: do things like a tract in the bathroom help or hurt the kingdom of God? Christians already have a bad wrap; do these "shenanigans" feed it? Or maybe God uses just about anything to accomplish his will, and the napkin in the men's room is just not that detrimental to His, and our, cause?
thoughts, comments, or concerns anyone?
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11 years ago
1 comment:
I am not a fan of tracts or the "repent" signs or the tactless scribbling on napkins, but I know that God can use anything. Paul said he didn't care who preached the gospel, just that it was preached. (Lillian's translation)
I reluctantly leave those things where they are, unless they are offensive (i.e. racist or condemning). If they declare the love of God or His soon return, I leave them be.
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