River Fellowship

On Thursday and Sunday nights I have the privilege to hang out with folks at the River Fellowship. Which is basically a church for the river community. Most of the folks that come do not feel comfortable coming into a typical church setting for varying reasons. Thursday night is more of our outreach night and Sunday is more of our small group/core group time.

Tonight was interesting. We had two guys that have come a couple of times. Well, one that's actually come several times and the other guy has been hanging out with the folks that lead the fellowship but has actually only come to study the Word with us a couple of times. Anyways, that's not the point. Tonight was interesting because they do not have the ability to give churchy/sunday school answers because they do not know those. We got in a long discussion over the basic theology that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. I think in a typical church that is pretty settle amongst the congregation. But it was not settle with these guys.

One truly believed that if you're pretty good person than surely you'll get into Heaven. The other guy believed that no matter what you believe, as long as you believe in something we're all going to the same place. The wicked people won't be there, just those that believed in a god. That gentlemen even speaks of scriptures he has that he's going to bring next week to back up his theory. He even said he feels that God wants him to speak out about these truths. That guy is an older gentlemen probably in his 50's and the other guy is late 20's.

They've been around this bible belt area of Tennessee for many years. Yet, somehow with churches around every corner... They have missed the Truth. It was heart breaking and encouraging in the same breath. It breaks my heart that they have lived and are living in deception. But it's encouraging that the Lord has placed them among our fellowship to water and possibly harvest their souls for His Kingdom!

I guess one major thing is that we should never assume. Never assume that someone knows the Lord just because you think they have had opportunity to hear of Him. Never assume someone knows the Lord because they come to your church. Realize that people are watching you. These two guys think it's neat how our fellowship does just that. We fellowship with each other often and joyfully. They're being attracted to the Lord because of our love for each other. Know as we're getting to know them we're having opportunities to reveal more of the Truth to them. They might run off. Or they might stay as the Truth is presented to them. That's the Lord's job not ours.

It was refreshing tonight to see the unchurched side of two guys. They really are good guys with good hearts. But Jesus didn't die so that by our goodness we would get to spend eternity in Heaven with Him. God sent His son Jesus to suffer the death He did so that by His grace we would be saved through His blood.