I love scripture. As I read it, reflect on it, journal about it, memorize it, listen to messages regarding it, converse with others about it and whatever other way you can think about, I find that it speaks to me. At times the insight is in small increments, and at other times it seems to rise off the page and move me to make incredible life decisions – to either stop doing something or to start doing something.

I try to use scripture to inform as many aspects of my life as possible, to guide and direct how I think about issues and to help me to respond.

All that being said, I have become more and more aware of the importance of not coming to solid convictions on a topic or issue until I have seen the face of the topic. More importantly, I have learned that my response to various issues must not only have sound thinking, they must also have a sound heart response that connects to reality. As a good friend so aptly states, “You can’t do theology without a face.”

Let me explain. I have listened to and read about many “theologically informed” insights on topics such as marriage and divorce, homosexuality, abortion, euthanasia, pre-marital sex, etc. Many of the insights that I have absorbed have appeared to be well researched and are quite articulate. At times however they have had a sense of judgmentalism and an air of simplicity and superiority – “this is what the bible says so let’s just move forward and tell people what to think and do.” Now hear me on this – I don’t necessarily disagree with the conclusions that they come to biblically speaking, yet the way that they appear to want us to approach these issues lacks grace and real life understanding – it lacks a face.

It’s easy to have biblical opinions about homosexuality – it is quite different when a close friend comes out and shares with you that she is “wired” this way. It is easy to have a theological stance on abortion – it is quite different when someone you know shares about their own abortion and the pain surrounding it.

I have found myself entering into these topical conversations with a much more grace-based mindset than I have ever done before. I share my perspective from scripture and then allow them to respond. I ask them to reveal their own journey. At times I have had to let them know, after hearing them out, that I will need to disagree with what they are thinking and/or doing but that I will still love them and care for them. These can be tough conversations, and yet approached from a foundation of grace allows me to stay involved in their lives. I prefer that.

This is not easy stuff. Having an “academic” faith of ideas is easy. You might have lively discussions with others about how you interpret scripture versus their stance, but that’s all it is – a lively discussion that takes place in the air, never having to land. Having a lively conversation while looking into the eyes of someone you love and care for and are friends with is quite another issue.

Have your deep convictions of faith, but make sure you make these with a face on – you’ll be glad that you did.

For the kingdom.

Have you ever had a big AHA moment? You know, those moments when you finally got it, when a thing that you had perhaps been pondering for a while finally clicked. It was like all the scattered pieces of the puzzle dropped into place in a moment and the entire picture was clear.

I love those moments. Over the past number of years I have read a number of books that were in themselves AHA books. I had been thinking about a number of aspects around a certain topic, perhaps for months, maybe years, and I read a book that in an amazing way brings together all of those thoughts into one coherent document and I find myself almost completing each sentence for the author and know what the next chapter is going to be. I can’t put the book down because it aligns everything in such an amazing way that it lifts my heart to new places and allows me to talk about what I have been thinking about in new and articulate ways.

It’s also a lot of fun to see this take place with the guys that I am meeting with. To be a front line witness as this unfolds in a life. Two examples come to mind immediately.

The first happened a few years ago. I had been connecting with a couple of guys each week and it all appeared to be going well. Conversations were good, praying was intense and passionate, changes were being made to our lives, our marriages and our parenting. And then, half way through one of our times together the one guy stopped the conversation. He said, “I never thought it could be this good.”

Now you have to realize that I thought he was doing well to that point. I knew that he had grown up in the church and had been in all kinds of leadership roles, but I also knew that no one had ever come alongside him in such an intentional way as we were connecting. But what was he getting at?

He explained simply that he had always enjoyed connecting with a church community, and that he had never questioned his faith. He had always been faithful in his relationship with God as well. Everything was strong and good as far as his faith in Jesus was concerned. And yet something happened in our group. Things came together. What he thought was “good enough” as far as faith was concerned, became something “amazing.” Scripture came alive in ways he wasn’t expecting. Praying was deep and rich. Our relationships were open and honest, and they were very safe, no matter what topic we took on.

He had a big AHA moment of what a rich faith centred relationship could look like, and he loved it. It was fun to be with him in the room that day.

The second happened just recently. We have been working through our discipleship curriculum and I was personally loving the insight that was coming out of our conversations. These two guys were really engaged. A few weeks ago we were looking at the topic of worship, and what it meant that God was worthy of our worship. The conversation was once again vibrant. And then the one guy said something that I’ll never forget. He said the following: “Half way through my study at home I was hit with the enormity of who God was and my position before him, and all I could do was kneel down in the room and start to pray. I had no other response but to kneel.” There was a huge smile on his face and a glow about him. He had had an AHA moment of who God was. He came face to face with the God of the universe who loved him deeply and he simply fell to his knees. I think I was smiling as much as he was as he told of that experience. I got to be a small part of his deepening understanding of who God is – he’ll never forget that moment, and neither will I.

What a privilege we have in leading others on their journey of faith. There won’t be big AHA moments everytime you meet, but there will be some. And when they are there, sit back and take it all in. Thank God that you got to witness this great thing in someone’s life.

For the kingdom.