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tough morning.

March 01, 2005

I spoke at a rough school this morning. it's one here in Houston that students who are kicked out of other schools are sent to. Sort of like an extended detention - one step before jail. Let me paint a picture for you...

As I arrive, students are arriving. Each student (including those all the way down to 1st grade) are required to take off their shoes, untuck all pockets, take off any jackets and outer shirts, and open their mouths. They are searched, patted down, and then sent through the metal detectors. Each day, every day. In between classes, there is no talking or communicating allowed in the halls. No nonverbal communication. If a student touches another student (handshake, high five, hug, etc.) or speaks, they are suspended. So it's a rough place.

At one point in my program, we're playing a game that uses a few volunteers. During the game, I'll take one of the students and say, "Let's pretend, just for the sake of this game for the next two minutes, that you decide to wait until you're married to have sex..." Usually students are good sports and play along. Not today. The young man I said that too proceded to yell (so the whole assembly could hear), "Aww, f*** no! That's bulls***!" That was my morning. That's about how it went.

I don't say all that to whine, but because it serves as a wakeup call to me. A reminder of our sinful world. Of our sinful city. Not once has anyone every sworn at me while I was preaching at church, but as I go and speak in public high schools, it's becoming pretty common. It's so easy to slide into a nice comfortable enviornment where I do nothing but meet with and disciple Christian people. Now, is there sin in their lives. Absolutely. But they are usually either a) being sanctified and moving away from old habits or b) better at hiding them.

Today I got a reminder that not everyone hides their sin. Not everyone recognizes their sin. But to find a balance where we stop hiding our sin but recognize it and repent of it - that would be biblical. I was talking with a friend this past week who was frustrated that everyone always seems to "have it all together." We come on Sunday mornings to worship, and it seems that everyone is happy and that everyone is perfect. Key word: seems.

What would it look like if we stopped pretending, and took a lesson in honesty from the students I met this morning? Not that we would flaunt our sin as many of them did, but that we would be honest enought to "confess our sin to one another that we might be healed". That we would be vulnerable enought to admit that we don't have it all together and that we do struggle, fall down, and hurt. May God grant our church (and countless others) the grace to repent of our self-righteousness and pride. After all, that's what it is, isnt' it?

Like Derric Webb says, maybe the best thing that could happen to us is that we would have our sin broadcast on the evening news...

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