Re: Why God Needs BLs: The fringe
Submitted by Brian on October 18 1999 at 01:54:59
In reply to Why God Needs BLs: The fringe Submitted by Ben on October 17 1999 at 18:42:53
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Hey Ben, I can't believe that I just read that. It is so true. I have spent so much time moving around out on the fringe of society. Like others, I have dreamed of living a mainstream life, but every time I have moved toward that goal, something has come about that draws me back out to the edge. To tell you the truth, I am finally starting to see that goal of being "mainstream" never happening in my life. Coming to terms with this is lifting a great deal of guilt and shame off my chest. To read what you just wrote really confirms in me that God is moving me in the direction that I am now choosing. As I observe the society around me, I can't help but to see the need for men like us. I have always lived in such a way that I could literally drop whatever I am doing and go to help or aid a friend. As I am now beginning to get more involved with some teenage boys through a ministry that I am taking part in, I am seeing that what I have to offer they cannot find in their own families. In fact they have been voluntarily given up by their families so that they can become better members of society. I fit into this by being a mentor who is there to model Jesus to them. That was my idea when they asked me to volunteer for this ministy - to be a true Christian with these boys. It is my goal to just love them. Reading your post makes me wish that all of society could read this forum, but unfortunately closed minds think small thoughts and see even smaller value in truth. Preconceived notions and a few bad apples have dictated to us this life on the fringe. But, the truth of the matter is that we do live our lives on the edge; always ready to step into a bad situation; always ready give up our heart for a boy in need; always willing to set our lives aside until we can help some boy pick up his own. I really do believe that there is a place for us in God's Kingdom. In Jesus' farewell discourse in John's Gospel, Jesus says, 13:34-35: 34I give you a new commandment: love one another; you must love one another just as I have loved you. 35It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognise you as my disciples. We dedicate our lives to loving the boys who happen to cross our paths. In this love we try to convey our love for Jesus and Jesus' love for us to these boys. For just as Jesus loves us we are to love one another in real life. It seems to me that we are made in such a way that, as boylovers, we are attracted to a part of humanity that generally receives misguided instruction and example on what it means to be a man. If these boys are to grow up not knowing what it is to love, then how are they to model that to their own children, or to other boys - if that is how God calls them. I truly think that a child who is not loved is an adult who does not know how to love. When a person does not love, violence ensues. Yes, as boylovers we tend to pour ourselves out to the boys we love, while at the same time, we beat ourselves up because we are seen as perverted outcasts - worse then leapers of old - the untouchables (it can't be cured so lock 'em up). We need to distance ourselves from the bad apples among us. By coming to CBF we do that in our own little way. We see a value, or at least want to see a value, in who we are as God's creation. By the simple fact that we are seeking to know Jesus better, and his wish for us to live productive lives that revolve around love, we are doing his will. By our seeking him in our lives means that we have not completely turned our back on him. We love him, and we seek his will for our lives. We have a gift for loving. As such, do we simply throw our lives to the wind; simply go where "we" will, or do we seek to use our gifts to help Jesus build his Kingdom here on earth? God has left this up to each of us to answer for ourselves - free will, but he gave us some directions on how to do it. First he sent His Son to live his life as an example to us, and then He used the hatred of those who lived in darknes s to free us from our own hatred and darkness. In His Son's death we have learned what true love is - death to self. From this sacrifice and gift we are forgiven of our sins and taught how to live our lives in love. The disciples of Jesus carried on this message and from it we now have a wonderful book that is the perfect instruction manual on how to live our lives in love. If we but follow the examples and read the instructions we would better understand that (1) we are not Jesus (only he is) and (2)we do not need to beat ourselves up for being who we are. God created us and declared us "good" (Gen. 1:31). For the times we fall short of that goodness He sent his only Son for redemption. Because society is afraid of some among us, does this make us all bad? Becasue we have been relegated to the outside fringes of society, does this make us useless? NO, NO and I say again NO. God has given us a special gift to use in accordance with the example of Jesus. If we live our lives according to "The Way" of Jesus we can make a difference in some boys life. If we only get the chance to do this to one boy it would all have been worthwhile. To follow God's call out of this world and into the world of love is to make a difference. From each of our small differences we can make a larger difference, and from that larger difference we can make an even larger difference. From this is God's Kingdom built here on earth. So, Ben, I thank you from my heart for sparking me to reflect on your awesome insight. It has certainly been worth staying up until 2am on a Sunday night (Monday morning). A brother and fellow wayfarer in Christ, Brian |