Urban Reformation

I may not get all the names right, I don’t have my notebook at hand, at the moment when I’m writing this blog. We went out last evening. Bobby and I spent some time on the Avenue.

We had some interesting discussion about using our survey’s to even open up conversation with people on the street. How methodologies, and that impersonal entrance seems so insincere, yet it was and has been a way into the lives and conversations with many. I am and always have been skeptical of methodologies in order to speak to someone about Christ. Even more so in my own neighborhood. At the same time “relationship” evangelism seeming to be more natural, tends to keep people from actually having to get to a place from sharing the gospel with any sense of urgency. Since relationships take time, we always seem to agree with our fleshly desires that now is not the time, we need to build yet “more” of a relationship with people before we can see where they are at spiritually.

Last night we stuck to the surveys and we asked our questions, this is a summary of my recollection of the responses.

We first came upon a group of people, I would say there were at least five or six people in the group, and when asked if they would consider taking a spiritual survey, I had one guy who was speaking with me, and then out of no where, take off in midway through the sentence because what looked like his dealer arrived and he had to run. All of a sudden there were several around Bobby, and most of them when we started talking about Jesus began one by one to get up and leave. They all scattered to different parts of the street and I was amazed as I stood back and Bobby spoke for a minute at how the Gospel and the name of Jesus Christ completely separates people just by the use of His name. Except for this one guy who actually asked Bobby if he could take the survey. This guys name was Wilson. Wilson seemed very sober. Said that he’s been provided a home, and a place to stay yet every dollar he gets he still spending it on alcohol or some form of crack. He was raised in Church and Bobby shared with him about Jesus we could tell he knew much about Jesus. He had been raised in church like so many and yet this substance, this idol of the world had such a grip around his life. He was a smart man, soft spoken but you could sense the warmth of a grandpa coming from him. He was sincere, in his struggles, and we talked about the torment of sin in the life of a true believer. Wilson spoke of how he felt is conscience beating him up. So much so because he kept saying I know all this is wrong, I just know it. We told him that God’s sheep know his voice, and if he was one of God’s children, he’d know it by knowing what we’re saying is true. He seemed to break down into tears for a moment. Just then a guy arrived that Wilson was going to let stay the night in his home. He wiped his tears, we gave him some information and we prayed with him before he left. The first encounter was probably the most sincere encounter of the evening.

We spoke to another man who had, recently had a stroke, I have his name written down but I could barely make it out. And yet another man from Cuba in Spanish. My Spanish is rusty at best, and my “Spiritual Spanish” is poor but I found out that he’s from Cuba, he has no family in Kansas City, everyone’s in Minnesota and he’s staunchly catholic but has some trouble drinking too much other than that he’s fine. We didn’t get very far before he had to go so I gave him a card with my number and hope perhaps after I have read through some more of my Spanish bible that he might call.

We then went down to the Apple market and turned around, and ran into the man in the above picture. This man was similar to Wilson’s and even had a similar name, Willy. This guy had been raised in the church and was doing some stuff he ought not do but still found himself in pretty bad shape. It was interesting to watch the old sin nature take off as we spoke with someone who knows some about the bible, and he began to speak about Romans 7 and use that as his justification for continuing in sin. So I reminded him of Romans 6 the chapter right before Romans 7 and asked him if we are to continue in sin that grace may abound? The we spoke of Matthew 7 and the fruit and thorn tree. He assured me of his Christianity though his life looked rough, he seemingly felt there wasn’t much a reason for us being there for him, we assured him that God is sovereign and he didn’t bring us by to speak with him specifically without there being a reason. We prayed with him and then we we continued walking up the street.

We came to a young lady named Tierra. She answered all the survey questions correctly yet from some of the things she said we got the sense that she thought well of herself. We confronted her with sin, she brushed over the sinful things with such small consideration and seemed to believe that her story was inspiration for others. She had gone to a church were physical abuse took place, but rather than being bitter she overcame. And although she is still “kickin` it” or “partying” she’s a good person and she tells her story in hopes to help others. I took this as she overcame a hard situation on her own and there was definitely not a need as she saw it for a savior, she in fact was her own inspiration for others vs. Jesus Christ. We gave her some literature and prayed with her, as we continued our journey.

We also this evening came upon Ivan. You can read about Ivan (here / http://urbanreformation.com/heroin-in-a-wheel-chair-pray-for-ivan.htm)

I hadn’t seen Ivan since last summer.  Somehow he made it through another year alive.  Ivan had hocked his new wheel chair and had stolen a grocery cart again to get around on.  He had two bottles of alcohol in his basket.  This encounter was unique.  There were cops around us and taking a guy in for drugs right in front of us, we were next to a licquor store outside.  I asked him if he had been doing crack or heroin lately.  He said no he’s fixing to get high later.  He was bragging about how many ladies he’s got.   Then I said to him I’ve talked to him about the love of Jesus, the Mercy of God, I said but I’m going to tell you about the wrath of God Ivan.  I told him I’m only telling him this because I care.  I said to him though, God will send you to hell……..

He broke down crying for a moment, saying that I’m hurting his feelings, he kept crying for a moment and repeating that over and over again, then it was like something came out of him he began talking how I thought I was big, and how he could have me taken out in a minute just by yelling for his boys.  He began taunting me as if I want to fight, he called me a big Black Hill-Billy, not sure where the adjetive came from other than I was wearing a black shirt.  We mournfully walked away as he began to yell.

So I’m not sure which “method” is a good one or the best etc etc etc, I’m not sure how to do it just right, I do know that if we believe men and women are going to hell, then there is little reason we have for not saying to them repent, and believe in Jesus, be reconciled to God by His finished work.

• We know that Jesus warned people about the everlasting condemnation of the wicked – Luke 13:3

• Jesus gave us the imperative to make disciples and teach them to observe all that He commanded…  – Matt 28:20

• We know that Hell is the destiny of all who die outside of saving faith in Christ.  -  John 3:18

• And we know the wrath of God is waiting to be poured out in the final judgment is an essential component of the gospel Acts 17:30-31, John 3:16-18

Pray for these people, one of the things about blogging is it becomes a story rather than real people, we must not allow the media of the world to remove us from the true heart work of sharing Christ, making disciples, and teaching them  all that Jesus has commanded.

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