mini-vangie: Everyday Life

It occurred to me today; it wasn’t a huge insight, but still… The exciting interactions I have with people are because I make it a point to interact with people. And with the opportunity to share about Christ each time, it makes for a dynamic mix. Today was Farmer’s Market day. I talked to two Christians, one in fellowship the other somewhat hurt by what his church in Arizona did to him. I encouraged and prayed for him.
The next guy was also a Gospel singer. I asked him to sing me a song. He did. It was a beautiful rendition of “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” He said he’d be coming to my church on the weekend.
The next guy, Dave, was a “cultural Jew” as he put it. He never lied, stole or lusted. He was busy trying to gather signatures against global warming for Greenpeace. I had to give him the “30 Second Judgment and Hell” sermon, since he wouldn’t acknowledge his own sinfulness. We shook hands.
Lastly, a guy named Aurelius, said he was a born-again Christian too. I was taken by surprise by the Hustler hat he was wearing, though. “If you are a Christian, why are you wearing that hat?” I asked. “Huh? What do you mean?” Well, you represent Christ and you are wearing a hat that doesn’t. I’m a Pastor, but if I wore a hat that had a naked girl on it, what would you think?” “I would think that you aren’t the real deal,” he answered. “Exactly. So you want me to throw it away for you?” “No. It matches my outfit.” “C’mon,” I encouraged lightly, “Let me throw it away.” “Well… it’s my friends’ hat.” He understood the point.
-SS

Comments (0)

  1. Jessica

    Reply

    i liked what you said to the hustler guy. I don’t think i would have said that though, for fear of being jugemental. I’m sure i sometimes wear skirts that are too short, and i would be sad and upset if someone said i was doing a poor job of repensenting Christ because of my dress. Does that make sense?

  2. Pastor Doug Levy

    Reply

    Jessica,

    Why would you be upset if someone questioned your dress (or in this case lack of)?

    Any time anyone makes a comment concerning our behavior or character, even if initially we think it to be untrue, we should be willing to ask God, “Lord is this true?”…

    We must be willing to look at EVERY area of our lives (not just that which we would obviously consider spiritual) and ask “Am I being a good witness for the Lord in this area of my life?” (finances, manners, work or school performance, dress, etc.)

    I would even encourage you to ask some tough questions to yourself…

    Why do I wear mini-skirts (or short skirts)?

    I am a Youth pastor, so please indulge me… I see what is considered fashionable today among the Youth and most of it, as far as girls are concerned, are about getting attention

    For example: sweatpants and shorts that have words written across the seat of the pants (the rear)… which encourage guys (boys) to look at a girls rear end… could anything good come of this?

    tight clothing that accentuates (draws attention to) the curves in a girls body (either her chest or her buttocks)… all it does is become a magnet to a boys eyes…

    short skirts or even lowrider jeans and pants that show skin, which again raises the hormone levels in young men..

    Would any young woman want guys to stare at her thinking things they shouldn’t be thinking?

    Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter 3 that “Flesh produces flesh” and “Spirit produces Spirit”…

    In other words, flesh can ONLY produce flesh, it will never produce that which pleases God…

    If this equation is true, then the following equation is also true:

    Flesh attracts flesh!

    If you are using your flesh (both literally and spiritually) to attract someone (or to make someone notice you), then you will only attract their flesh (their carnal nature)…

    I’m not sure how old you are Jessica and if this may be a bit deep for you to understand…

    But I hope you will consider that Paul said, “If eating red meat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat red meat again…”

    Wearing clothing that many in the world would consider sexy or hot, may actually cause people of the opposite sex (boys) to stumble (make them think thoughts that they shouldn’t be thinking)…

    As far as being judgmental is concerned: If someone is professing to follow Jesus, then the word tells us that “they should walk as Jesus walked” and that we are too “judge” those inside the body (church), just not those outside…

    The word of God already judges those in the world, which is why we can preach using the law to reveal sin…

    A lot to take in I know…. sorry if it seems like I was rambling…

  3. Reply

    Another good answer, Doug. By writing about my exploits I run the risk of sounding harsh and judgmental (And hey! sometimes I am) But I do try to be gentle and respectful, letting my conversations be full of grace, seasoned w/salt. With every conversation I see an opportunity to shed some light. Paul said to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil…so I do! On this particular Thursday, I prayed and encouraged some believers, exhorted another, and witnessed to a Jew about the consequences of his unbelief—and handed out a whole bunch of tracts to boot. I’d rather err on being too bold than being too boring!

  4. Jessica

    Reply

    Wow Doug! Thanks for taking the time to write me. Although i must confess i didn’t really like reading your response, because it convicted me. 🙂 You brought up some points i never thought about (flesh attracts flesh) and stuff i didn’t even know (it’s ok to judge our brothers and sisters). So thank you for lending me your knowledge.
    I am a baby Chrisitan, and, having just got out of the secular world, i am use to attracting men by my looks. And if I’m honest, my ego looooves the stares and attention.
    I’m not saying i dress like a whore, i’m just saying sometimes when its really hot out, i’ll wear a short skirt or a little tank top. And the only reason it would upset me if someone were to call me on it, is because that person doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know that i normally dress down in boots and jeans, and he doens’t know my heart and my love and commitment toward Christ. He sees me one day, in one situation, and assumes i’m being a bad “example.” Does that make sense?
    Steve, i was NOT saying you were being judgemental! And i didn’t know we were allowed to call our brothers and sisters out like that. Cool.

  5. Doug

    Reply

    Jessica, I’m glad you were able to get through my lengthy response without grinding your teeth too much!

    We all make major adjustments coming from the world and into the kingdom. Mine was learning to look at women in a God honoring way and treating them as sisters, not consumer items.

    It is true that we shouldn’t attempt to “judge” someone’s motive (only God knows anyone’s heart truly)…

    We just have to always think with the other person’s best interest in mind…

    I know also that this whole thing unfairly ‘targets’ women in a sense…

    But that is because women and men are created differently…

    My wife and I teach our youth every year in the month of August a 4-part series called:

    Sex, dating and marriage

    We teach on God’s plan for true intimacy and Satan’s plan for false intimacy…

    One of the things that we teach is the difference between how males and females are sexually stimulated (by God’s design)

    You need to know that Guys are stimulated by sight and by touch…

    This means that just looking at a girl who is dressed “sexy” (because they have been trained by the world also) can cause them to start to fantasize

    Also just the slightest touch by a female in a intimate setting can stimulate a guy sexually…

    That is the way God designed us (we all have a naturally occuring sex drive… which God designed for marriage)

    People shouldn’t be so quick to jump to conclusions based on the way that you are dressed, but at the same time you (we) should do everything we can to keep our brothers from stumbling…

    I’m sure there are more conservative clothes that don’t make you uncomforable (heat)… shorts that aren’t TOO short (or too tight)… tops that don’t hug your body and draw attention to that area…

    We can dress COOL (temp) and still be cool (fashionable) without it being a stumbling block to someone.

    It’s part of dying to ourselves… Jesus said to put the interest of others first (Philippians 2)

    Sorry, I know it is not funny or fun… but it does make us more like Jesus, which is God’s plan (Romans 8:29)

  6. Jessica

    Reply

    🙂 I’m not sorry to leave my old ways behind, ya know? The more i run in the oppisite direction, the happier i am and the more i praise my God. I have picked up some CD’s by Pastor Steve so i can learn more about how God wants me to interact with the other gender on this planet. 🙂 And boy is it different then the way i learned it!
    God is soooo amazing, He is all i crave right now. I love Him.
    Thanks again Doug. Take care!! I wish you all the blessings as a youth Pastor. Must be fun…..

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