Faith in all the right places

I stumbled upon an article that caught my attention when I saw the title: "How Is It Possible to Believe in God?" Feeling a sense of deep frustration that is more so a companion these days than a Josh McDowellish ready-made answer in 3 easy steps on the tip of my tongue, I thought to myself, "That's a question all of us have had to ask at one point in our existence." Either when we first thought of what God actually is as a kid, or when thinking about the mysteries of life and of the availability of intimacy with God.

Then I quickly pointed out to myself how it was more than likely what I took it for at face value: This is probably another athiest delivering the ultimate ultimatum yet again in an article addessed to no one, everyone, and of course God in an angry fury that would in the end conclude that they are just fine and life couldn't be better without a God to pester them with guilt and identify them with people who reek of hypocrisy and elitism. And then I clicked on the link.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4656595

Even though it is an article on NPR, a pretty liberal news service, the author, Bill Buckley is not. He was the long-tenured senior editor of the National Review, a conservative magazine, and has great insight. Not that I'm totally a conservative but, hey, truth is truth. So the piece was totally a breath of fresh air.

But anyway, the article just got me thinking about my job environment. I work oftentimes these days at a federal building in herndon, virginia, where the coffee is bad, and the thirst for ambition is worse. No one looks you in the eye, unless it is to find weakness and exploit it for their own gain. I haven't met a believer there yet. Now I know there are jesus followers who work in the government, but man, I haven't seen one with my own two eyes. Well, I guess my mom works for the government. (but thats different, right?)

My goals at work used to be smiling at people and being friendly, but I found that simply was less of who God wants me to be. I need to be truth. Not like standing in a crowded room shouting "Know Jesus, No Hell!" Its more like being able to insert the dialogue of truth into your conversations that reflect what is true about God, and therefore true in your life. I like to maybe get real specific and call it graceful conversations. Not because you talk eloquently, but because you can't help but lead people to discussions of how grace has affected your life in some way.

Also, in Spirit. John 4:23-24 talks about our worship, and our worship is every moment that our will is accepting His grace and subordinating our will for His.

23  "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit    and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
24  "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

In situations where i find myself in "godless" country, which is more of an aura or feeling than reality, I have to be lead by something other than myself for words, action, for prompting and for conviction. Thats leaning on the Holy Spirit inside of you.

Peace out

Comments

[chris]

Josh, these are great thoughts. In fact, in one of our house churches last night a lady brought up a similar struggle, and I was able to direct her toward your post. Thanks for being open and sharing your heart.