There is a line drawn in any moment a choice is to be made. The line represents some standard a person sets for when one choice is considered appropriate. But on the other side of that line is always the question "what if". The problem is the line can be blurred or adjusted for each circumstance and person. So how do we know when to cross the line?
Three scenarios I've encountered this week that has brought me to ask the question "what if?"
1. Since I've known that I was coming to Canada I've been briefed on the differences between Americans and Canadians. There are clearly relational differences and on top of that there is strategy in opening communication about Jesus Christ. So I've been careful. The line drawn is when is the appropriate time to mention Jesus Christ... 1st encounter, after a relationship is built, when they start the conversation in a spiritual direction? I was at a small group where non-believers had come. We went to a park and had a picnic. The point was to fellowship, build relationships. I don't know anyone for more than 3 days so what is conversation supposed to be like? In North Carolina it would be a no brainer... I talk about what God is doing in my life so people can see how awesome he is. This night I talked about what God did in my life in NYC so that people could see how awesome he is, and immediately regretted it thinking I blew it! But did I? "What if" I kept my mouth shut?
2. I went to Tim Horton's with a friend yesterday. It's been nice to get to know Jenn and bounce ideas off of one another. While sitting there a situation began to develop. A man in his 30s was sitting to my right enjoying his... whatever. On the opposite side of him was a man approaching his 80s sipping on what I'm sure was a delicious cup of coffee. The older gentleman seemed to have a bit of a cough... in which 30 something old guy flipped out!!! He began to educate "old man cough" on the traveling speed of germs and the appropriate way to cough. This guy was a specialist in being a jerk and continued to throw profanity at old man cough and belittle everything about him. The line drawn indicated a choice to ask the guy to chill out or as I chose... to look away. The line was blurred by safety but "what if" I stood up for old man cough?
3. I've been reading in Daniel (in the Bible) and it isn't a great epiphany to realize that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a choice: to bow down to the king's idol or to stand up for their faith in God. The line for most people would be adjusted or blurred if they knew they would be thrown into a furnace where they'll burn alive. It was law! I most likely would feel comfortable going through the motions of bowing down to the idol so that in the privacy of my own home I could have faith in God. But could I stand before God knowing that fear drove my decision instead of faith? Does the line blur because of safety or doubt? What if these guys didn't take a stand? We wouldn't be reading how God protected them in the furnace.
Blurred lines represent the things that keep me in comfort. What if blurred lines were meant to be crossed?
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