BRAD POWELL ONLINE

As with this whole trip, yesterday was a day of expansion. In this case, my thinking, understanding, and perceptions about certain expressions of faith were challenged…better put, it blew them out of the water.

You see, I’m not a religious guy. While my entire life is devoted to my relationship with God, His Church, and seeking to share His truth with this world, that so desperately needs Him, I’m turned off big time to religion. The reason is simple. I grew up with the pomp and circumstance of religion, and it was all show and no go for me. It was all robes and rituals and no reality or redemption. In fact, in the church my family attended when I was a younger kid, they claimed to be a church but they didn’t hold to or teach the Bible…God’s Word. So, I full out rejected religion…in any form.

Jump to today. I was thrown into a situation that “appeared” to be nothing but religious pomp and circumstance. Our team had a meeting with the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria. He’s the number one guy over some 15,000 churches and leaders. And, let me tell you. They were dressed to the religious nines. We were met by all kinds of plain white robed pastors serving at the Methodist headquarters. They led us to a red robed leader who looked much like a Roman Catholic Cardinal. He took us to a conference room and asked us to wait for the Prelate.

Then, he came in. He had an ornate robe that shouted high religion to me. And, of course, I was looking at him through my negative lens. If he was dressed like that, then he couldn’t be the real deal. But, I was wrong. He was the real deal and beyond. His heart beat for what my heart beats for…Christ, God’s Word, The Church, and impacting the world in the way God has called us. It blew my mind.

Besides this, he was humble, down to earth, encouraging, and enjoyable to spend time with. I’m better for having met him. Though we would have disagreements on some stuff, it wouldn’t be the central stuff. And, when it comes right down to it, only the central stuff matters. As Jesus said, “whoever is not against us is for us,” Mark 9:40.

So, here’s the deal. We need to be careful about judging the book by its cover. No matter what our experience with people who look a certain way, act a certain way, call themselves by certain names, etc., we need to know that not everyone who appears the same…is the same. If we do, we may miss the opportunity to connect with someone who loves God and His truth as much as we do.  We may fail the true test of Christ followers. John 13:35 – “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Today, we’re returning to Abuja for a very important meeting with all the key leaders who have been invited to help lead the effort of bringing missional change to the churches of Nigeria. Pray God gets a hold of the meeting and directs these leaders to embrace the right direction.