Something interesting happened while I was out today. I was on my local college campus, headed to one of the libraries. As I walking, I saw a two guys with signs standing on a homemade platform talking to a small crowd about GOD. Actually, talking isn’t the word I would use. They were screaming and hollering about the wrath of GOD, and how it is better to be GOD-fearing than to spend eternity in Hell.
For the record, I have never liked that style of ministering. For that matter, I have never liked nor understood the phrase “GOD-fearing”. Why in the world would you want to fear GOD? Why would you fear the best possible thing that can come into your life? Why fear GOD, when you could love him instead? Some say that the two can go together, but I personally don’t think so. I don’t see how you fear and love someone or something at the same time.
Anyway, after these two men were done, they had a heated discussion with a few of the people from the crowd. I decided to walk closer to hear what they were saying. The two men continued with what they were saying, while other argued with them(either based on their ideas or their delivery). The conversation got more and more heated, and at one point I thought it might become violent. At that point, a young man(I found out later that he was 16) stepped in the middle and calmed everyone down. Everyone ended up going their own seperate ways.
I was amazed by that young man for two reasons: First, I was surprised that a person that young had the courage to step into a heated discussion between adults that he didn’t know, especially considering the subject matter. And secondly, I was truly amazed at how this young person was able to calm everyone down so quickly. I decided this was a person that I wanted to talk to.
I approached the young man, and we talked for a little while. I found out his age(along with a few other personal facts about him), and I learned that he is a christian. I asked him what he thought of the demonstration the two men had done, and he told me that he supported it fully. At that point I decided to share my own beliefs, how I thought those men where sending the wrong message about GOD, and how I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to fear GOD. He told me that he personally agreed with my viewpoint, but that he supported what the men were doing. He told me that while he agreed with me about loving GOD rather than fearing him, some people needed to have the fear put into them before they could reach the point to love GOD.
At that point, I was floored, because I had never thought of it that way. It seemed like such an obvious thing after he said it, but it just wasn’t something that I had ever noticed before. God’s message really can come in many forms.
I exchanged numbers with the young man, and I invited him to one of our group meetings. I hope to learn more from him, and I hope I can help him grow as well.
It seems that most of the time, the only news we hear about our young men and women is bad. It gives me great hope for the future to know that there are young men out there like this young man to spread the word of GOD as my generation gets older.
I totally understand needing to have the fear of God put into you before you can realize and accept His grace, mercy, love, and ultimately His forgiveness. Have you heard from the young man lately?