Unpredictability

Preparing for my next sermon, I came across this Charles Spurgeon quote: “It is often the most unlikely persons who are saved. Those who seem to you not likely to be influenced by Divine Truth are the very people who yield to it! Many whom you have set down as quite incorrigible have been renewed by Sovereign Grace. Why it is so, is not for us to know; we can only say, Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight.”

That evening, Tom and I went out for a pint and a discussion over John 13. We went to a restaurant that has a deck with seating overlooking the river in New Ross. Since it was a pleasant evening, we sat outside. We weren't far into our discussion when a group of four men, probably in their early thirties, came out to smoke. We later found out they had all grown up together in New Ross, and this made sense considering their different appearances. Two of them were clean-cut and dressed nice, one was (for lack of a better term) blue-collar, and the other one had long black hair, dressed in black, multiple piercings and tattoos. All four of them were friendly at first and engaged us in casual conversation. When they asked what we were reading and we said he Bible, their reactions were very different. One of the more clean-cut guys immediately walked off, seemingly angry. The blue collar guy actually took Tom's Bible and began reading aloud from a random page. He then proceeded to make jokes, not at our expense, but likely because he felt uncomfortable with the subject matter. The other clean-cut guy wanted to tell us his views: that he was agnostic, that he believed in God but not organized religion (this is probably the most common religious view of my generation in Ireland), that he knew a guy sexually abused by a priest, that he didn't understand why God would let bad things happen to good people. When I would try and talk with him about any of this, he would just cut me off; he wanted to talk, but didn't want to listen. The gothic guy stayed and talked with us after everyone else left. I have to admit he was scary-looking and it took something beyond myself to even have the courage to say to him we were reading the Bible. He openly shared his views that we're all composed of eternal energy, but he also listened to what we were saying. He actually knew parts of the Bible very well. He told us he'd done terrible things in his life and he didn't see how God could ever forgive him. He listened as Tom and I shared the beautiful part of the gospel with him (as he didn't have to be told he was a sinner, he'd already acknowledged that much). The three that stayed all heard the gospel in different ways and varying degrees, and I thank God for that opportunity. The gothic one, Shane, gladly took information about Grace Church and also took my number (though I haven't heard from him yet). It is certainly true that a book should not be judged by its cover, and that it is often the most "unlikely" people that will have their hearts softened by the gospel.

As we've reflected and prayed over last weekend's barbeque, I've been thinking that God did not give us what we expected, but gave us exactly as he ordained. He brought those children and teenagers there for a reason. They thought it was to eat free food, but God has a reason. On Saturday, I went to the neighborhood near the center where Grace Church meets. I heard my name being shouted almost immediately after exiting the car. There were four brothers, the 8-year-old twins, a 13-year old and a 17-year-old, all ones I knew from the BBQ, trying to figure out how to get their ball of a roof. With my help, we got it done. Then they got me a hurl and taught me how to play hurling (watch this video, it's pretty cool), a game almost every boy in Ireland plays. We are now considering how to reach out to the children and teenager in the neighborhood, possibly looking at organizing some active and messy games with a Bible teaching. Regarding this situation, reaching youth his parents would most likely not allow them to come to our Sunday service, I would welcome any suggestions/feedback. We may work our way up to a VBS-like week, which would include a parents' night (though that would likely be after I've left Ireland, there's a group of five young men coming in August). God doesn't work as we expect Him to work; we can put Him in a box. Said differently, "the wind blows where it wills, and no one knows where it comes from or where it goes" (John 3:8). But we know that His plan is always ultimately for our good and for His glory.