Sep 20 2007
playgrounds and old tires 3
My second reflection on the sermon this week is more generally on the topic of recycling. (To check out the sermon go here.)
As I have been watching Ben pick up items of trash and move them from the trash pile to the recycling bin, I have had a few thoughts rise to my mind. One is this, what about the person who doesn’t think they have any trash.
I knew a guy in college that stood out to me in this regard. He was easy going and fun. He was smart and kind. He was an excellent student and a friend to those who weren’t. He loved nature and would gladly give other tours of the wonders to be found in the expansive woods that adjoined our campus. He was humble and serving to others, and could make anyone laugh. He was actively and passionately concerned for justice in the world for all people. I could go on. He was however, not a Christian. At the time I always wondered how to approach him with the gospel. Today in light of this series, I have two thoughts.
- He will have to realize that what he has is trash. I do think that at some point in order to submit to Christ he will have to acknowledge that in comparison with the glory of knowing Christ all that he has apart from Christ is as filthy rags. The key here however is not that he isn’t a great guy. Rather it is the comparison.
- It is not my job to convince him that he is a sinner. I think that my time is much better spent embodying and proclaiming the glory of Christ. I may even proclaim sin, but I think that the Holy Spirit convicts of sin and I need not try to take up that job.
I am less pure hearted than this guy. I know that I have lots of stuff that I am unwilling to put into either bin. I won’t admit that it is trash, and so I can’t admit that it needs to be recycled. Later this week, I will share some thoughts from C.S. Lewis on this topic.
For now I offer this question, What are you doing with the things that are not obviously trash in your life? Are they too available for recycling? In light of addictions and broken marriages, recycling is obviously grace, but what about your skills and talents?
on the walk
-Ethan
Is there a Bible example of someone similar to your college acquaintance - a great person, but someone w/ trash who still needed recycling?
I always thought of him as a modern day Paul. He had every good attribute that his culture admired but he had not met Christ. I can imagine that he could write a modern Phil 3 if he ever came to Christ.