How far is too far?

I recently had a conversation with a good friend the other day over lunch. We were discussing a topic that I am led to believe is not discussed to often – at least within the church walls.

How far is too far?

Let me guess. Your thinking along the lines of 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base and home! But actually, we were not at all discussing such a thing. Instead we were thinking along the lines of relevant teaching – in the church.

We hear several teachings on grace, forgiveness, tithing, maybe even whether it is better to be cremated or buried or teachings on Moses and King David – what you’d hear in your childhood Sunday school class. But what about those teachings that get down and dirty, a bit uncomfortable – out of the box? It’s those issues like sex, adultery, alcohol use, divorce, and homosexuality – issues that would be considered quite controversial within the church today.

Now, I am certainly not setting out to downplay the relevance of teachings on important aspects of life including those such as tithing and grace, but are there not far more issues that are perhaps more relevant to today? Issues that if we discussed them – even when it seems awkward, too close to that line, baring it all – we wouldn’t have to teach so much about finding deliverance, or the need for grace in the midst of some of life’s most toughest circumstances because we would have already avoided getting caught up in such issues?

Have I confused you yet?

I know that more than ever in this generation, people are faced with these issues – resulting in lots of questions and experimenting. “Is it okay to do this with my girlfriend – we’re not actually having sex?” Or “I enjoy a drink a few times a week and I don’t get drunk, am I living in sin?” “Would God still accept me if I find myself addicted to this or that…?”

When the church approaches people with such issues and questions, I often see the opposite of love and acceptance. Instead, some tend to reject or condemn the individual – putting people in their place and remind them of how sinful their behavior is, expecting them to change their ways. But what if we approach them differently? What if we meet them where they are at, while not condoning their behavior, we simply accept them as a person and love them through their issue?

Instead of just saying, “You can’t get drunk or cheat on your wife because it is a sin,” we come down to their level for just a moment, and love them, for them. We cannot expect anyone to trust us or respect what we have to say if we haven’t accepted them for who they are, meeting them where they are at and simply just love them. Through this, a foundation of trust and respect is built, and we can then speak encouragement and biblical truth into their lives – allowing God to do the rest. Because it is only He who can free someone of such issues, right?

Do you dare to “cross that line”- that line that puts God in a box, that only seeks the norm, the comfortable, the sugar coated truths – to talk about those uncomfortable, down and dirty, baring it all, controversial issues and accept those individuals with their questions, their shortcomings, their insufficiencies? Do you dare to believe that God works “outside of the box too?”

Cause you know, if we meet them where they are, then perhaps they may believe that God will too meet them where they are at……even if your singing praises sipping on wine…..don’t doubt that He wouldn’t meet you there too!

It may take us “crossing the line” so that others do not “cross that other line.”