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That conversation reminded me of a movie that I saw 10 or 15 years ago called Tender Mercies. In that movie, an alcoholic 40-year-old drifter is literally saved by the love of a good woman. After she helps him sober up and takes him to church, he overcomes his alcoholism and is baptized. Eventually he marries the woman who rescued him. A short time after this, his 20-year-old daughter has an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol and is killed. I don't understand it, the man says to his new wife. I drove drunk many more times than she did. Why wasn't I killed? With simple faith, his wife says that the answer is easy--it is because of "the Lord's tender mercies".
The phrase "tender mercy" is found in Zecharaiah's song in Luke 1:78. With his tongue loosened after the birth of his son John the Baptist, Zechariah proclaims that John will prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. He praises God that, because of His "tender mercy", God is sending Jesus to bring salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Like my friend, Zechariah marvelled at God's tender mercy, God's grace.
As we contemplate the coming of Jesus once again at this Christmas season, do we get caught up in all the other gifts we will receive, or are we overwhelmed by the tender mercy of a God who chose to save us when we didn't deserve it?
While the conference sessions were generally worthwhile, one of the highlights for me personally was the meal breaks. Meals were not served at the church, so we scattered to various nearby restaurants to eat and talk in small groups. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to get to know other MB leaders a little better and to enjoy fellowship while discussing everything from ministry to current events and our personal lives.
At one such meal, we discussed the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (home of the Toronto Blessing) and then moved into a discussion of the times that God has done the miraculous and intervened in unusual ways in our own lives. The fellowship was so good that we lingered a while, absorbed in our conversation, almost oblivious to what was going on around us. (In fact, we were a few minutes late getting back for the next session.)
It was a strange setting for such a discussion. At the suggestion of one member of the group who works with youth and was thus open to an adventure, we had wandered into a restaurant called Jack Astors. Geared to 20-year-olds, the food (spicy, unique and abundant) and the atmosphere were a bit overwhelming. As soon as we were seated at a table, two young men wearing T-shirts with somewhat raunchy slogans ran up to our table, wrote their names on the tablecloth and enthusiastically demanded what we wanted to drink.
As the meal went on, we occasionally had a few snippets of conversation with these young men. Upon learning that we were there for a convention, they asked what the convention was about. I waited expectantly for my companions, a pastor and two conference workers, to seize the opportunity and present the gospel to these men. I was eager to learn how spontaneous evangelism is really done. However, they seemed to be caught off guard as much as I was. We did manage to explain that we were there discussing the planting of new Christian churches in Canada. This led to some discussion. Being a writer, I had already scribbled "Jesus loves you" on the tablecloth (the "tablecloth" was actually a piece of brown wrapping paper, and the restaurant supplies crayons for doodling).
The incident prompted some further thinking. First, I realized that, while it may be a necessary first step, having a formal discussion about evangelism and church planting inside a church building does not necessarily or easily lead to the practice of evangelism out in the marketplace. Second, I realized that these young men, in a totally pagan environment, were far more open to talking about ideas and hearing the gospel than we were ready to share it. Third, I realized that I should not rely on others, professionals and mature Christians though they may be, to carry the witnessing load. As a Christian, as one who has personally experienced the "tender mercy" of God, the Great Commission has been given to me. It is my responsibility as much as it is anyone's. If I have been blessed, I have an unavoidable obligation to pass on the blessing. Fourth, when I heard us tell the waiters, "We are discussing planting new churches", I found myself thinking, "We need to plant a church for you, a church that you and your friends will want to come to." We didn't know exactly how to witness to these young men, but I know we need to learn.
It seemed an odd place for theological discussion and reflection, but then I remembered that God makes a habit of doing unusual things. I also remembered that Jesus did not just come for Anna and Simeon in the Temple but also for the rough shepherds on the hillside and for the pagan, star-worshipping magi. God came so that we might enjoy rich fellowship around the table, but He wants us to also include the waiters in our circle.
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