Hi.

So here's part 2 of my "Lessons that God is teaching Mike Fine" series. I had really been wrestling with something for several weeks, and it came to a head over a couple of days around the time that I was headed to Longview to visit some college buddies. I was struggling with trying to define a line. I was trying to figure out how much of a situation you allow yourself in on the pretext of ministering. I need to be aware of my testimony, but I also need to be able to reach people where they are. I spent a lot of time talking to a couple friends  about that, and then I found a passage in a book I've been reading recently that hit the nail on the head. Here's an excerpt:

    "The church always stands in a dual relationship to human affairs. Jesus summarized the role best when he spoke of his disciples -- 'not of the world' but 'sent into the world.' This suggests that in God's plan the church feels the rhythm of detachment and involvement: detachment because the gospel and eternal life are not from men but from God; yet involvement because God sends the church into the world to shine as light and to lead men into the truth.
    Thus, the church moves through history to a special beat: separation from the world yet penetration of the world. This means struggle, because Christians often differ with each other over the boundaries of withdrawal and engagement. Witness to some is compromise to others."

Granted, this isn't exactly a grand revelation  that makes everything easier for me to decide, but at least now I understand why I was having issues and why I couldn't seem to get a consistent answer from people. Better to be aware of a struggle than ignorant. I've decided that I'm not a fan of "ignorance is bliss." Besides, the road less travelled isn't supposed to be easy. Now that I think of it, a little struggle's an indicator I'm at least headed the right direction, eh?