Speaking the truth is not always easy. There is this spectrum, one end grace and the other truth. Personally I am more of a grace giver, meaning that if someone was to do me wrong I would usually extend grace. It is hard for me sometimes to speak truth to that person. However, it is usually easier for me to accept truth, than it is for someone to give me grace. I have learned that you need to have balance and let the Holy Spirit guide you in which is best in that particular situation.
The past three days I have found myself in situations where speaking the truth was very challenging. It was challenging because it affected these students' lives and beliefs directly. Many believers realize that the gospel of Jesus can be highly offensive, and I think that it should be. It is powerful because it is the power of Christ. The gospel reveals sin and the serious problem that arises from man's sinful nature. We cannot have fellowship with God when we have sin. This is bad news. But this is when the gospel shows love and hope. Jesus died once and for all of our sins past, present, and future. Through the redemptive blood of Jesus, we can have fellowship with God. All those who accept Christ into their lives and yield their own will to Him, will have life in Christ for eternity.
We met this cute girl named Tety. I cannot explain to you how hard it was for us to tell her that believing in Jesus and becoming a Christian doesn't mean life would be a breeze and that she wouldn't face hard times. In fact, in Thailand where the Christian population in less than 1%, it may actually be "harder." Tety's family is Buddhist. And not just claiming to be Buddhist because they are Thai, but really practicing Buddhists that go to temple and are involved with the rituals. Tety said that her family would not approve of her if she claimed Jesus in her life. Tety's cousin went to American to study, and while she was there she had accepted Christ. Tety said that she saw her cousin's life change because she was now living for God. But her cousin was met with disapproval from the family. Tety was facing a serious stronghold. She expressed the desire to accept Christ, but was scared that her family would shun her. The hard truth was telling her that she was right and that her family might shun her. She would face persecution, she would have to take a stand to not go to the temple when the rest of her family went. Jesus says in John 15:18 "if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." And while it is so hard to be hated on, Jesus also says in Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you."
After speaking on the phone with one of our staff girls P'Muu, whose parents do not like the fact that their daughter is Christian, Tety prayed to accept Jesus! Today Tricia and La, one of our students, were able to meet with her today to talk more about what the Christian life is about. Tety even came to Friday Chapel tonight and was bold enough to go up to the front, get on the mic, and tell everyone there that she had just become a Christian four days ago. And, she told her parents! We are praising the Lord that her parents didn't get angry and totally cut her off. Tety says that she is now praying that her family will become followers of Jesus, and so is my team.
This is just one example of how God is moving in Thailand. There is so much spiritual darkness here especially with idol worshiping, spirit houses, and even with homosexuality. But despite all these strongholds, we know that the Lord will win the battle! This is Thailand...
