The Seat of The Mockers... Be Holy

I think we get confused sometimes... I know I do. All the time we are hearing that we should do this and that for Christ, I find myself telling my teens all the time that they should do this and that but I know they walk out sometimes wanting to know how. Well today I hope to answer the how by telling to the how not to. Make sense?

We have been talking about sharing our faith with others a lot in the youth group and it usually manifests its self with an invitation to church. The result of that is we have seen an influx in attendance lately, which is great, keep it up guys. I need to re-emphasize the point of inviting people to church. Jesus... thats it, people knowing Jesus. Inviting people to church will provide them with an oppurtunity to meet or see Jesus (hopefully) but somtimes that doesn't stick. You know what will make it stick, them seeing Jesus lived out in you. Guys I can create the greatest "experiecnce" in world on Wednesday nights and people will be no closer to God if the don't see Him lived out in the lives of His followers.

Here's the thing... You cannot not trade your integrity or convictions for an oppurtunity to reach people. The fact is that we have to make sure our game is tight before we try to coach others. Our relationhip with God HAS to be priority NO. 1. Yes we must put ourselves last and serve others but not at the cost of our faith. I have heard people say things like if I go to a bar and have a drink every Friday night I can build a relationship with them and lead them to Christ. How can they see Christ through your beer bottle? I have heard people say thtat if they get a tatoo it will help them reach a group of people, a sub-culture that they never could've before. Don't use Jesus as and excuse to do what you want to. Thats all it boils down to, you want to do what you want to do and you feel like if you put some spiritual spin on it you can get the green light from God. The truth is people want to see something different, they don't want to see more people conforming.

Jesus was different, He met people where they were but He didn't compromise who He was. He went down to the well and met the Samaritan Woman but He didn't engage in adultry with her so He could better understand who she was and have an oppurtunity reach her. He treated her differently than she expected... He showed her love. Same thing with the woman who had been caught in adultry... he called out the Pharasiees and told her to go and sin no more. I don't know who reads this but I know that if there is some "liberal" young buck ministry major out there that has it figured out and is ready to get "tat-ed up" and have a few with his boys is saying that Jesus spent time with sinners, tax collecters, theives and such. But He never engaged their sin. He engaged their soul, lead them to a place of commitment which lead to a place of change... yes, God expects us to change.

Keep these verses in mind.

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

1 Peter 1:13-16

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

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