...grace and truth...a life of conviction...

I letter written to the elders at my church earlier this week...



Would you please pray for me? I have been burdened since last night and our conversation at House of Prayer about the turn in our culture when, Walt, you read about the needs of the pregnancy care clinic. We were talking about the need for Christians, especially young Christians, to have firm convictions and boldness with love to be able to communicate in this culture in which our voices are becoming more insignificant and more controversial. We were also talking about the apparent change in young believers--that they have begun to compromise their beliefs in order to better communicate or to possibly still have a significant voice in our culture. I have seen this so much, especially recently with the the election and the conversations I had with friends. I am burdened by the opinions and views of even some of my closest friends. Not only with regards to these more political issues, but also with issues of simply integrity. I have seen more and more that my friends are willing to compromise their integrity under pressure or even just for fun. Signing their name to something has become meaningless and breaking contracts has become somewhat of a joke. I have been more burdened lately as more of these types of situations have come up. What does our word mean anymore?

Also, Erik, my soul echoed what you said when you were talking about the world being a completely different place with the passing of the next few decades, and that believers are going to face more persecution for their convictions as our culture completely loses objectivity. I already see my Christian friends losing objectivity for the sake of offering "grace" in situations, and I'm recognizing more and more that this cheap grace that we offer others (myself included) is not grace for others but, rather, it is comfort for ourselves. We don't want to face persecution, so we pour out the gospel of tolerance instead of the Gospel of grace and TRUTH. Kenny, the illustrations you used in your sermon last week--taking the stories from the gospels and putting them into a familiar context of advice columns--helped me to see so much more clearly the counsel that Jesus gave and the ways that it was full of both grace and truth. Jesus said what nobody wanted to hear because it cut straight to their sinful intentions. I needed to hear that because I too often give the easy, advice column answers, and I hate that I don't use the discernment that the Spirit has provided to bring about opportunities for sanctification in the lives of those who are asking for my help!

Please pray for me as I process through these things. Pray that the Spirit would clearly direct me in the intentional steps that need to be taken. Please pray that I would have wisdom to know how to communicate with my peers in a way that does not sacrifice truth for the sake of grace. Jesus dwelt among us manifesting the fullness of both grace and truth, and this is how I am to live as well. Pray that the Spirit would convict and redirect me when I am sacrificing one for the other, and pray that I would be open to such direction in the moments when it is happening--even if I need to take drastic measures to stop what I am doing. Also pray that I would be an example of walking in the light and of living with integrity because of a healthy fear of God and a view of both His justice and His mercy. Pray that I myself would live well so that others would not have anything against me when I approach them. Pray that I would know when and how to speak about my concerns. Pray that I would be a leader in pursuing a life of conviction and of deep love and devotion to the Lord. I do not want to shrink back, and I don't want other young believers around me to shrink back either, so pray that God would strengthen us and would give us boldness and joy as we pursue Him. And pray that God would give me people with which to pursue this life.

I appreciate your prayers, and I know that the Lord is at work. I desire only to take hold of that which He has already laid on my heart. Thank you so much for the integral part you play in my own sanctification and my growing love for Jesus. God has deeply blessed me with His body at our church.

Marla