Needing Clarity

I have a pair of sunglasses that I love. They are so scratched that Kendall can’t understand how I can stand to wear them. They are so comfortable and I love them. But when I need to see something with great detail or to see clearly I have to take them off and view things with the naked eye.  As we were traveling home from visiting friends on Monday, it hit me. I love my scratched imperfect glasses. They don’t bother me and I work around the imperfections. I then began to reflect upon a situation that happened here the previous Saturday that broke my heart. Here is the story of what happened.

The Church Council has a monthly meeting. This month’s meeting was hosted by the Baptist church. I was shocked to see that there were women from a religion that we consider to be a cult in attendance. The moment that I entered the church, my spirit was uneasy. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen or how long I could sit there. After an hour and a half, the women from this religion stood up and began to sing a song. (In their religion, they do not sing and when they do it is prayers to their god.) I sat still and my heart burned within my chest I knew that it was wrong. Then women from the Baptist church got up and began singing with them. I stood up and left the church without saying goodbye to anyone. I asked one of the women, “why are they singing with them?” She answered, “oh when they are finished they will explain what they were saying.” I  held my tongue and left the meeting.  As I walked the dusty road to meet Kendall, I thought that I was going to be sick at what I had seen and heard. The next day when the women were confronted about the fact that they do not need to attend those meetings anymore their response was, “we are going to go because we get money when we go.” They received $12. They want money and see nothing wrong with “praying” with this false religion. I was stunned, sick, and today my heart is still reeling.

"As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith."  1 Timothy 1:3

“Lord, how do you want us to respond to this? Please guide us.” This has been my prayer since Saturday. The human side of me says, “Forget about it, we have taught for years and they don’t listen and they don’t want to change and they just love money so much.” The other side of me and wise people in my life has said, “You have to teach them. They don’t know or understand and you need to teach them why it is wrong.” When people are pressed, you can really see their true colors and where they will stand, in this situation, it is true.  Just like my scratched sunglasses, these women know enough to see but there are scratches in their vision or their doctrine but unlike me, they have a hard time removing the glasses to see the detail and to see what truth is and what lies are.  Pray for us as we begin to teach these women doctrine and the beliefs of other religions. We want them to see clearly and know what they believe and why. Doctrine is crucial in growth, understanding, and apologetics.