One of my favorite Christians from the past is Erasmus. He looks like he was able to have a relatively solitary, comfortable life, living and working in an ivory tower, free from too much involvement with people. He could plant a few seeds for the Reformation, but be detached from any actual conflicts. Just read, write, publish, relax, work, go home. How nice.

But for me at least, the Lord has never allowed that. I’ve tried it, and eventually there’s always these weird people around me. And I’m sure to many of them I’m the weird and difficult one. But I suppose that’s where the real experience of Christ is manifested – finding grace to love the unlovable.

I now attend a “house church” (as I’ve seen it referred to in other places on the site). It is far from perfect and I’m sure I make it even less so. The leadership, however, is focused on Christ and the Word of God. But sometimes the weirdness factor is just too much for me, and I come away thinking, “I just cannot deal with some of these strange people anymore”, but invariably end up being convicted of my commitment issues and my desire to just be left alone (literally).

So I keep driving, by God’s grace alone.

(If I am wrong, I hope that Chris corrects me). He is probably talking about “Wretched Urgency” mode of witnessing.

Not a sharing my life’s pilgrimage with you, nor answering questions about your faith’s beliefs, etc.

I’m curious about the evangelicals that you describe. What forms of meddling do you mean? I certainly have known meddling Christians (and have probably been one at times, sadly), but are you saying that Christians shouldn’t do evangelism? Ultimately, we can’t save anyone; only God can. We can be instruments in that process though, by sharing the Gospel and through other acts of love and kindness. I just want to be clear on what you mean by “meddling.”

I’m really moved by this post of IM’s and several of the comments. Joe, your comment very eloquently stated things I feel but don’t have the right words for and sum up why I’ve recently become a Christian: because I have come to a point in my life where I cannot deny that He is who He says he is. Thanks for stating it that way!

At one point, my struggles and doubts seemed to be on the verge of leading me to apostasy. By God’s grace though, I was brought to two questions: 1. Do I truly believe that I am a hopeless, helpless sinner, in and of myself? 2. If so, who or what provides the answer to that terminal problem?

The answer was/is Jesus Christ. Sinfully, I was tempted to leave Him, but I knew there was no true hope and life elsewhere. I knew this reality, not because of my intelligence or insight, but because of God, who opened my eyes to see it.

Honestly, I struggled with the temptation to apostasize *much* more when I believed in the “gentleman” God who “won’t interfere with our free will.” Now, I know that it is God who saved me and who keeps me. This understanding stirs me to greater love for, trust in, and awe of, God, and it also gives me a greater sense of peace in my struggles that *He* will bring me through those struggles. He is completely worthy of my trust (even as my trust is still weak at times). He won’t necessarily give me the life that I want *in my flesh* (or the life that some Christians tell me He will), but He *will* do what I truly need Him to do, for my highest good.