The Journey of an Atheist 2 (of 3)
Upon exchanging e-mail addresses we began to chat via e-mail, phone and when I would see him at church. His girlfriend had been attending for about eight months and within her first few weeks she committed her life to Christ, attended her first LifeGroup (Small Group), attended membership class, began serving in several ministry areas and got baptized; needless to say the girl was on fire for Jesus.
For his privacy, and the fact that his e-mail address is so amusing, we will call him Pimsh_ _ for the sake of these posts. Pimpsh_ _ would come to church every once in awhile and I remember him showing up at our membership class. I noticed him sitting on the edge of the stage waiting as everyone was leaving.
He finally approached me and said; “I don’t even know why I am here, I don’t believe, I have been inviting people to church for the last couple of weeks… it’s just weird man. I mean you are cool Scott you don’t judge me and people around this place don’t look at me crazy.” He went on to say “I have been to a number of churches in my life and have known a bunch of Christians and they always seem to be a bunch of hypocrites. They would look at me crazy because of how I looked, my tattoos…; I don’t know something is different about you and this church.” I chuckled, thanked him for inviting his friends and reminded him that he could give me a call anytime.
From this point we would continue to have sporadic conversations and I would receive updates from his girlfriend regarding his life and his journey. Each time that I would talk to him or his girlfriend it was clear that God was working on his heart.
Fast forward several months of ups and downs and an Atheist filled with many questions. Pimpsh_ _ still does not believe but is asking some pointed questions, longing, searching to fill that void. Around this same time Pimpsh_ _ and his girlfriend enrolled in our Prep For Marriage Class.
As my wife and I were finishing up the second day of the class Pimpsh_ _ and his girlfriend stayed behind and we began talking. This was the moment that I had been waiting for… his heart was primed and ready, he was saying things like “I can believe the sky is blue because I can see it, I believe that there is carpet in this room because I can see it.” I’m thinking to myself, this is my opportunity, as we go back and forth about faith, what it is, grace, life, who God is, who Jesus is, the worldly things we put our trust in, asking “What If”….
This conversation was really good and he began to share more of his life story and shared things about his life that he said that he hadn’t shared with many people. He reminded me that because he didn’t believe, didn’t mean that he was “hatin’ on God or the church,” as a matter of fact he said “You are doing something right, I’m here and I’m sharing things that I don’t share.”
We talked for about an hour and as we continued talking, I became confident that I could lead him to Christ at this moment… Soooo I waited, knowing some of his story and knowing that Craig’s message the next day was about being held hostage to “Bitterness.” Pimsh_ _ had promised me he was coming to church the next day.
Sorry for the long post, I am trying to fit it into three parts. More Tommorrow!
Do you find it difficult to be patient or second guessing your decisions? Would your church look at people crazy because of their tatoos or their clothes?
11 Responses to “The Journey of an Atheist 2 (of 3)”
You and I are kind of blogging on the same thing this week.
P.S. – Today begins to fulfill the promise of last Friday, so check it out.
At my old church yes. Not now. In fact at staff meeting last week we were affectionately counting up how many people we have seen with tattoos.
When I began attending Lifecentre, from the moment I walked through the doors, everyone seemed to have a glow about them. They all looked beautiful. I felt discarded and used up – me and my five tattoos. I felt worse about those darn tattoos than any of the looks a few people gave me. I’m still a little in bondage over them. But there is still the odd person whose eyes pop when they see my exposed ankles during the summer months. I TRY very hard to turn things around to a positive outlook: God is giving them an opportunity to learn not to be judgmental when they stare so I have to help out by exposing what makes me attract their attention. Would I judge someone for being different – no. I go out of my way to make them feel like they are as beautiful and glowing as everyone else who’s there. There’s my secret … don’t tell anyone.
I am sure Jesus would have had an inked up biker in his posse if there were any back then
“Would your church look at people crazy because of their tatoos or their clothes?”
LOL… At our church you can spot the newbies from a mile away. They are the ones without tatoos or wearing a suit.
I can’t wait to hear the rest! We have all kinds of tatooed and pierced people in our church. We also have a lot of the straight laced one too. It is fun to watch them all work side by side. Unconditional love is amazing.
Cracks me up when I see someone at church in a suit! I think the same thing, either it’s their first time, or their just out of towners visiting. I look forward to reading more about this guy.
after all LC has put this family through; i pray that God will bless this man and keep him from harm.
Go to LC now so no! But the last church I went to would have everyone talking about it before he walked down the hall. He would have been the TALK of the town! so to speak!He is too radical for this crowd.SO SAD!
Actually I find myself second guessing my decisions a lot lately. It’s very annoying. (grin)
I am extremely impatient! LOL so I am constantly trying to get make myself not so anxious for things to come. But when its something good like this, I cant help it! I would have drove myself crazy if I were you