The Dissenter

All my life I have been a rigid rule follower afraid of authorities with the fear offending or inconveniencing people. This worked well for much of my Christian life. I went to Christian school for my elementary years. When I was in public High School I surrounded myself by a wonderfully active and large youth group. I was a good kid, living up to the standards of my mainly Christian world. Going to Bible College and then entering ministry in a large church I was patted on the back for being a ‘good’. Then, God called me elsewhere. God had called me to plant a church, in Northern New Jersey where I was no longer sheltered by a Christian sub-culture. Confronted by this new found world, I realized that I was no longer running with the majority, but now I was the minority, I was the radical that is offensive to the public. My thoughts of Jesus as Savior were highly insulting to some. My passion to see this message delivered to others was viewed as intrusive. So what to do? There I was the rigid rule follower afraid of offending, being rejected or being told I was wrong. This quandary beckoned the question, who is my God? My Lord? My Master? Is it society, or is it the One who I have pledged allegiance to all these years. It feels like ‘growing in concrete’ when the pressures of society, inner struggles and even other churches seek to restrict. We must dig down deep under the surface of the concrete and find soil which is conducive with supporting spiritual life. I have no fear sharing about a new diet that brings greater health to my family or a financial opportunity. Likewise, I cannot be ashamed that the One who changed my life came to earth so that man and God could be reconciled. I have been forgiven, set free and brought to a place of abundant life so it would be inconsiderate for me to keep such good news to myself.