Lancer's Testimony
Testimony #1 - I am primarily interested in those experiences which (seem to?) show God working in real life and that cannot be explained by "coincidence" (None of that "I caught the bus, so there must be a God" rubbish). This is from my real life experience. I'm not a great writer, so it's perhaps a tad long. Read on if genuinely interested. Though it's not impressively written, if you begin to read this, my challenge for you is to read right through to the end. (I bet something or someone distracts you...) BACKGROUND:A long buildup to this. Basically I'd been kicked out of a previous flat for being such a 'tidy boy'. I didn't fit into their lifestyle so I was out (they brought their girlfriends in to replace me - two birds with one stone.) Their flat crumbled less than a week later - but that's another story.After a prayer session with the guy across the road, I was offered a place of my own for a very cheap rate. It was falling apart physically and smelt very bad, but hey - it was as close to the University as I'd ever want to be (I was entering my final year). After getting somewhat “established” (I still couldn't cook - yet) I bought a paper to line some of the shelves. Headline: Students sleeping on dormitory floors. I had a 'thank you' prayer session to God for getting me this place, I suddenly got this... conscience about the Jesus' rules of 'two coats' (Luke 3:11) etc. To cut it short (and get on with this particular story) the fun and games began when the new flatmate turned out to be a (diagnosed) hardened alcoholic. OKAY - HERE'S THE STORY...Steven (name changed because I’ve since lost touch, and don’t have his permission to write this) came in through my bedroom on his way to the kitchen. "Morin' Lance" he murmured. But I was ready - the past hours I'd made up my mind to ask - "When're you gonna pay the rent Steve?" "Wha-?" "I asked, when are you going to pay the rent?" "I'll pay - shumtime" "When Steve?" This was not looking good. "Awww - it'll get paid." "Hey - I'm not asking if - I wanna know when." "Oh - I'll pay it." (pause) "...next week." "How do I know you're gonna pay it next week, Steve? You haven't paid it last week - or the week before that - nor the week earlier and then another... it it 6 weeks now or 7?" "In all the flats I've been in - I've never had to hand over my money - to an [Steve's Nationality], it's cultually insensitive for one flatmate to be collecting the money of another." "Look Steve - When you first came here, you said you wanted to be in charge of the kitty system, because you said you were the better mathematician - I said, 'No'. Then you said it was a silly system, but I told you that's how things are in this flat. Next you wanted to change from paying on a Saturday to a Thursday because that was when you got your cash - I agreed, but when the day came you wanted to change back again - so we missed again. When I asked about whether you planned that to miss a week, you replied 'Yes - good eh?' Well no Steve - not good - the kitty has gone into the red, and if you'd paid when I told you to, we'd have been some $100 in the clear! Now you say that you've never been asked to pay a kitty before? Come on, Steve, you've been in ten flats! You can't tell me you've never seen a kitty system!" Then he said it: "I don't see how you can call yourself a Christian." I didn’t know how to answer that one. "Oh really? What makes you say that? What is it about me asking you for your rent that makes you say I can't be a Christian because of it?" "Weelllll.... all the pay this / do that / I think this... I - I - I - I - I You're like the [Steve's Nationality] Government you are - military - don't do what what we like - bang! Authoritarian - that's what you are." "Look Steve - I'm gonna go and do my washing. Right now you owe the kitty (food and expenses) more than what it actually in our combined kitty fund. I just want you to know that I can't keep putting the money in the kitty for both of us - I'm running out. I don't know how much you've got, though I want you to do something to help even out the payments today - I'm flat running out, and I can't afford to keep paying for both of us any longer." Pay for both? Right now I'd have trouble paying for just myself! I went out with my load, cursing an swearing about the flatmate still in the house behind. How could you do this to me God? What was I doing in a flat with someone like that? Not only is he taking advantage of the hospitality I'm showing him because I'm trying to do things Your way... he's making a mockery of You at the same time! The #$@#$!!! I'll show him! How dare you, you $%#$%*!!! Get out - Get your #$%#$%#$ stubborn ways out of here you %$#$%@!!!By the time I was all the way up the hill to the laundry, I needed to catch my breath from the steep walk and I'd run out of steam, so my attitude was somewhat less. I stuffed my washing into a machine and then sat down. The washing was in - now I had to go back. But I couldn't just walk back in there - that would mean picking up just where we'd left off - sheeesh! He's in there - I'm out here and don't want to go in because I don't want an awkward confrontation. Who's flat is this? Thanks a lot God - look what you've gotten me into. See? Now I know don't I? My past friends could've all told me that if you follow the crazy preachers advice about all the religious acts of generosity it'll get you nowhere. Well then - now I know. This is how it is then - just where are all those 'wise' church leaders now eh? Well at least I know now that it works out like this - Thanks a lot God - at least, at any future time, if anyone wants to know - I can finally tell them first hand... if they’ll believe me that is. Then a half-thought entered my mind. I pushed it aside. But it came again. It was a simple Bible reference. No thank you - that's all I need to add insult to injury. A bible reference to look up - Been there before. Previous times of need opening he bible randomly to find it full of fire and brimstone type passages (You're doomed for your sins etc). Just what I need. But the verse just kept coming into my mind again - clear seriffed capital letters:- ROMANS 13 Okay - I'm looking it up - you know why - I'm right and this thing is just my imagination - there's no help when you really need it. I'm going to look that up just to prove that it's got nothing to do with this situation. I pulled out the frail and tattered mini bible from my back pocket I'd been given by some visiting preachers, four years earlier on my final year in secondary school. | |
| CHAPTER 13 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. the authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the au- thority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on them- selves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's ser- vant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an angel of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only be- cause of possible punish- ment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authori- ties are Gods' servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. From NIV Bible | I thought about how I'd been kicked out of one flat, and the miracle of getting this one at very short notice. About my previous conviction to get someone else in... Aha! This is beginning to make sense! If you're going to be so stubborn about not paying, Steven, you'll only get what you deserve... Yes! Yes! If Steve would only pay, I'd be glad to keep him on - it's just that it's no longer financilly possible unless he does. Keeping him on would be much easier... if only he would pay... Hey! My name, Lance, means "servant" (coincidence). So! God's placing the decision in my hands. I'm beginning to understand how it isn't a sin if I decide I have to kick Steve out. I (almost) don't believe it! This part is almost literally reading "Steven - you owe it to Lance to pay your rent!!!" |
I couldn't believe it! this was great! It's exactly relevant to our situation! And I don't think I've ever read that passage before in my life! (There is a God ;-) ) God spoke to me! Thanks you - Thanks very much for your answer - now I know... I ran down the road to the flat very quickly, trying to walk in casually, despite my excitement about being "given" the correct answer. "Hey Steve!" He was over by his bedroom window - coolly looking out "You know what you said about how Christians and authority don't mix? I've just been... given the answer. It's right in there in the bible. Wanna hear it?" "Go ahead" he murmured. I read the passage to him - explaining how it applied to our situation between verses as I went. "You see, Steve - God's let you be in this flat with me - the authority - which means that in His eyes, you are expected to obey the the authority He has let me have over you." Steven walked over and dropped something on the floor in front of me. "There y' go Lance." "What's this?" - I unravelled the two $20 notes. "My first downpayment." Lancer. |