Monday, July 7, 2008

Goodbye Mrs. Johnson

 
Folks there's an old saying around these parts:  "If you want to know how a Christian should be living, go in any honky-tonk and ask someone there."  Pure and simple, if you grew up around Christianity, church, religion at all you probably have a pretty clear idea of what is expected by and large from someone professing the faith.  And the other point is that most sinners know they are a sinnin'.  There's an old country song that goes about like this:  "Goodbye, Mrs. Johnson.  You self-righteous biddy.  I don't need your loud mouth and I don't need your pity. So can go back to whatever you hypocrites do and when I speak to Heaven be nice and I'll put in a good word for you."
 
Now have I got everyone good and stirred up?  Let's simmer down and I'll tell you what I'm up to.  A dear friend of mine sent me a note today.  Talking about the vast differences she sees in Christians and how so many times they seem not to do the things Christ did, and to do the things he didn't.
 
And that got me a thinkin' about my own walk with the Lord.  And the many changes and, I hope, growth over the years.  And I want to share a little of what I discovered as I pondered, here, with you all today.  Reason being two-fold:  to explain some of the discrepancies between us Christians to non-Christians and to give brothers and sisters in Christ a little eye opener as to what stage they may or may not be in.  I'm not gonna sort out who's who.  I'll leave that up to the Holy Spirit as He is significantly capable.
 
More often than not when someone accepts the Lord Jesus as their Savior they are floating on a supernatural high for some time afterward.  This can make new converts extremely willing to share their experience with anyone and everyone.  They are thrilled and, by golly, you should be too!  They'll hound you to go to church with them.  You'll find there is not a topic under Heaven they can't tie into needing to be saved.  Now all of this may make them very annoying.  But it's only right and natural as they have just found their One True Love.  It's an exciting time! Try to be patient and just let what you don't want to hear go in one ear and out the other. 
 
After one has been a Christian for a time, some sooner than others, the Holy Spirit will begin His reconstructive work in their lives.  (Although a few fall away before ever getting here or once it starts.)  See Jesus loves us all as we are but He does love us too much to leave us that sorry old way.  This time can be very painful, because the crux of it is to get the person to see sin as God sees it.  OUCH.  Not pleasant.  God Almighty can't even look upon it.  It's vile and revolting.  But necessary to see it.  Why?  So that we can recognize it in our lives, confess it and allow him to take that filth away and replace it with some good pretty stuff.  The problem area is that while we are becoming more sensitive to sin of our own, we are also becoming much more sensitive to all sin.  And like a child who has just learned a thing is bad to do, we go around trying to correct or stop everyone we see doing it.  So that person who always just took you as you were may suddenly seem down right fed up with you.  And no one wants to be around anyone who finds them disgusting.  So the best you can do is try to avoid these sin policemen and be on your best behavior when you do by chance encounter them.  God have mercy on the man trapped with his wife at this time.  (Pete said AMEN)
 
Oh, but after God is through sweeping up the dirty old house of a soul He's now indwelling, He begins to teach the disciple all about love.  Real love.  God's love.  If you are a Christian please don't miss this step!  You'll begin to see those around you as He sees them.  He has John Conlee's rose colored glasses in one hand and mercy in the other.  He looks at folks with love.  He understands why and how they went astray.  What's wrong grieves Him as he only wants the best of them, expects the best of them.  Motivated by love and mercy He wants to lift them up and fix all that is wrong.  He wants to show them kindness and compassion.  At this stage the Christian may be strangely quiet.  As they know God cares more for everyone they know more than they ever could.  As they realize that it is God's Holy Spirit who reaches men and women, not our contrivances. You may not be talked to nearly as much about spiritual matters, but you can bet you are being talked about a lot!  In prayer.  In intercession.  That aggravating Christian is on their knees in front of their Heavenly Father crying and praying for your soul.  Loving you more than you may ever know.  This is the time of sowing.  Every Christian is missing the most beautiful burden they will ever bear if they do not get here.  So, enjoy the peace and allow them to reconnect to you.  You'll be glad you did.
 
On down the road a Christian comes to realize they are mostly tending their own garden.  Busy working on and refining themselves.  They are kind without thinking.  They are giving without reason.  They occasionally have to put their foot down and say not in front of me or we don't do that here.  But over all they are welcoming.  Inviting.  Pleasant to be around.  They are trustworthy.  They hesitate to say anything harsh, but when they do they try to temper it in love.  They are doing the things God has been refining in them without effort, without pondering.  Above all they are acutely aware of how far they have come and that it is only by the grace of God that they have.  This makes them very humble about it all, not proud.  These are those people who have the "glow".  The very glory of Christ seems to rest upon them.  If you have some in your life treasure them!  Oh, that I would be there.  Oh, that I will get there by His grace!  Have no fear of these Christians.  They are leaving it all up to His Holy Spirit.  Trusting God to do all He can to call you to Him while there is still time.  And lovingyou deeply in the meantime. 
 
Remember, Jesus spent His time here among the sinners.  That's part of what led to him being cruxified.  The "Mrs. Johnson's" of his day didn't like the company he kept.  And the only harsh words he ever spoke or hollering he ever did was at those "snakes and vipers", the chief priests, sadducees and pharisees who should have known better. 
 
Please take note that some of this is tongue in cheek.  And whether you be calling yourself Christian or not, I hope you see the love I have for each of you.  I know this is not the entry I promised you next, but Someone had a change of plans. 
 
Love,
Barbara
 
Seattle, Washington.........1,904 miles from Caneyhead.....SALUTE!!!
 
 
Hello, Mrs. Johnson by Tom T. Hall

21 comments:

  1. Ohhhhhhhh so true!!!   If only some one would of put it that plainly for me before.. that there is like stages on your walk and that it doesnt or wont come all at once lol.  I think I have gone threw all of them that u listed and hoping I can  be better about being more about loving and praying for others.

    Much Love,
    Mary

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  2. SALUTE!! Roy and Buck would be proud. Especially after reading the entire entry. Job well done Barbara.

    Mik

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  3. Great post, Barbara!  I love it!
    Traci

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  4. my gosh, Barbara, this summed it up so well!! I never heard it explained like this before and it makes perfect sense; I know as a new believer, some of us can be downright obnoxious, its neat that we do tame ourselves down and learn to walk in love

    thanks for posting this

    betty

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  5. Well written, Barbara... I saw myself at each of those stages you described... and you categorized (humorously and with affection) those stages of spiritual Christian development accurately. I hadn't thought about it specifically in that way, knowing only that we aren't all at the same place in our walk with Christ. I smiled as I read this... great entry, lovingly written! bea

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  6.   VERY GOOD BARBARA,
           WHEN OBSERVING PEOPLE DOING THINGS NOT TO BE PROUD OF, AND CHRISTIAN PEOPLE DOING THOSE THINGS, I AM HESITANT ABOUT BEING CRITICAL, REMEMBERING SHAMEFUL THINGS  WHICH I MYSELF HAVE DONE, RECEIVED FORGIVENESS AFTER PRAYING FOR FORGIVENESS.
        SINCERE PRAYER FOR THE OTHER PERSON MAY HELP AS MUCH AS BEING CRITICAL ESPECIALLY IF THE OTHER PERSON KNOWS OF OUR PAST MIS-DEEDS, ESPECIALLY IF BOTH WERE IN ON IT.
       AS A TEENAGER WORKING IN THE HARVEST FIELDS ALONGSIDE  ADULT MEN, HEARING STORIES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN KEPT IN, THEN AT THE NEXT CHURCH MEETING  SEE THEM IN THE 'AMEN' ROW.
       CHILDREN HAVE BIG EARS, GROW UP REMEMBERING THESE STORIES. THESE HARVEST FIELDS WERE 70 YEARS AGO, LONG BEFORE TV AND COMPUTERS THAT SEEMS TO HAVE HATCHED  WIDESPREAD SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOR AND BROUGHT POLLUTION TO SO MANY, DISEASES AND BROKEN FAMILIES.
       HOPEFULLY THIS COMING NOVEMBER TRERE WILL BE MANY SINCERE CHRISTIANS ELECTED TO OFFICE AND HAVE INFLUENCE TO GET AMERICA BACK TO THE CHRISTIAN HIGHWAY.      SAM

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  7. Hi Barbara....oh this was just a great reading...and lesson!!!!  thanks for taking the time to refresh us all....in our Christian walk....and like the saying "you can gather more flies with honey than vinegar".... this works in our walk also.... love conquers all....we can all have our "opinions".... doesn't mean we have to share them with everyone LOLOL....again thanks...and God Bless....hugs from Ora in KY

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  8. Barbara....this is so true, I see myself in a few....my walk is not yet complete & I am still growing with His help.

    Blessings to you.

    Michele

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  9. Beautiful entry, Barbara, very well said.

    Blessings!~

    Susan

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  10. You painted the progression so very well.  I enjoyed this entry very much!
    Lori

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  11. Excellent entry Barbara!!  Tongue and cheek and all- it was very well put.  I recently read an article on the difference between hypocricy and judging, and itis similar to what you have here- only I like yours as it talks to everyone.  The difference between Christians and non Christians is quite a lot in some ways, but in most, all we have between us is the saving blood of Christ.  If it weren't for Him, we'd be lost sinners.  As it stands, we are found sinners.  God bless you Barbara- I'm learning about God's way of love compared to mine, so I guess I'm still in progress too and will be the rest of my days.  Have a wonderful week!  Love Carolyn

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  12. great entry!

    Kathy

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  13. Thanks for stopping by my journal and leaving nice
    comments.  I'm not at all religious, but I liked this
    entry.

    Russ

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  14. In the Year of St Paul no-one can argue with the idea that our life is one long journey in and out of sin and grace. If there was ever a person more aware of sin! Fortunately he also knows that God has more than enough grace to give. And, hopefully, we eventually end up a bit more in grace than out.
    God Bless+

    Mairie
    http://journals.aol.co.uk/mairiegelling/word-in-the-hand/

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  15. dear Barbara
    hugs! a very interesting entry! thanks!
    Barbara
    thanks for your comment in my blog! huggggggggggggs
    natalie

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  16. I really like how you sorted this, Barbara.  I'm always amazed how people calling themselves "born again Christians" or true believers are intensely aware of the method you use in loving the God you choose.  Why must we worship alike?  And since we can't, we certainly won't be experiencing God the same ways I'd say.  The different steps you experienced, sharing your beliefs, I thought was well-put as you never once "insisted" or condemmed.  In a time when so many are afraid or even ashamed to state the name of their faith or God, I applaud your courage in sharing the immediacy of your own.  Bless you!  xoxo CATHY

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  17. Good post, i enjoyed it.  
    Jenny <><

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  18. When Jesus taught... He spoke in stories (parables) so the people could understand.  Excellent read. God Bless, Janie

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  19. love to you Barbara! great writing
    natalie

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  20. y'know what? I just finished reading this and all I could think to myself was: "she's preaching the Good News!!!" I can't think of a greater way to put it than that !!

    Mik

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So glad you stopped by! Come 'round any time. ~ Barbara

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