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| Carl Medearis - Author and speaker. |
National Ministry Conference (NMC) is where Canadian, and some international YFC'ers meet up once a year. We talk, we chase our kids through the crowd, catch other peoples kids, and listen to speakers.
As I sat in my comfy chair I watched this middle aged man who looked more like he spent most of his time relaxing in Hawaii than doing missionary work between Christians and Muslims. His name was Carl.
Some people called him Mr. Carl.
He was introduced as a man who "truly knew Jesus" and it made me curious. He didn't strike me as the super pious of the group. He looked more like he would sit back and relax with a beer and tell you a tale of his childhood. A funny, but relaxed man.
As he came up on stage to speak he began with what he did and how he managed to start into working between Muslim and Christian organizations. He had a hearty laugh and was a great story teller.
He finally came to the place where I now remember his talks. He was talking about one of his first times speaking at a Mosque. They had asked him to speak about Jesus. As he was going up to the stage area, the man who was in charge of the place ran up behind him. Carl thought for sure the man had decided to call the whole thing off. But instead the man said..
"Carl ... Carl..." running up behind him. " Please, only speak about Jesus. Not about Christianity or religion. Only Jesus".
A remarkable statement really.
So Carl, went up on stage and began to tell all the parables from the gospels. He avoided the books of Paul and just tried to keep directly to the 4 gospels. After he was done he simply said he was finished at which point the peopled said..."More...More Carl! One more Hour!!"
So He said he tried to continue and got maybe about another 20 good minutes in before he started petering out.
And then it dawned on him that he only knew Jesus enough to talk about him for and hour and 20 minutes.
But that's all they wanted to know.
Skip all that church part and religion and Christianity and everything else. Tell me about Jesus! what is HE like?? Who is he??
Carl doesn't associate himself with the title Christian because he noted that over the years the real meaning in that title has been lost and now almost anybody will call themselves that. So he specifies that he is a follower of Jesus. When people say their not interested in religion. He says "good. me neither". because he finds no worth in religious or pious acts. But only in knowing his Lord Jesus.
He's written a few books on his travels into lands that are strong muslim areas. Places where many Christians won't go.
Christians, Muslims and Jesus
and
Speaking of Jesus - the art of non-evangelism.
Carl Medearis
Here is a site where you can view more of this guys speaking or books.
http://www.carlmedearis.com/free-stuff/audio.php
Ghandi once said...."I like your Christ but I don't like your Christians" (parapharased)
What are we sharing with the world?
Do we share our church? or do we share our Lord?
Are we excited to show off our church programs and how attractive our pastors can speak? Or do we want people to be introduced to our amazing Lord Jesus and to experience his awesomeness?
Do we know our Lord? Or do we only know our religion?
