What will The Righteous do with me?

Once upon a time a long time ago I was working at a College Press Publishing. I was a student at Ozark Christian College at the time, studying for the ministry and one of my fellow workers and I were in conversation about personalities and such, and my co-worker looked at me and said, "They just don't know how to handle you."

To which I replied something to the effect that I had already figured that out.

"They" in this instance referred to The Righteous. Now, don't get that look on your face. I'm not going to bash good Christians. They are good people, doing their best in this evil world and they find themselves in a Christian world that has no tolerance for things that are worldly. I didn't say things that are evil, just things that are worldly.

Once upon a time a longer time ago I was so rotten and so evil that my very nature only sinful. I did abide with John Barleycorn and probably accounted for half the global warming of the planet by clouds and clouds of cigarette smoke bellowed into the atmosphere from my lungs. My language could turn a longshoreman's ears red with shame. You get the picture.

Then came the Holy Spirit who worked a number on me, and before I knew it I turned on my old master...the devil...and returned to my true master, who is the Lord Creator of the Universe. Now, not every one is called to quit their job and go to Bible College, but that's the way it worked for me. I don't want you to think that this is a surprize, but I literally had old acquaintences laugh in my face when I told them I was Bible College bound.

It has been 20 years since I left for Bible College. My problem is that I suppose that I was so scarred from life that I had a difficult time morphing into The Righteous. I still listen to rock n roll music. I still watch James Bond movies. I am a fan of Mel Brooks, and unless it is Life of Brian (which gets me frothing at the mouth) I still like Monty Python. In other words, I have dedicated my life to service to God and to Christ and to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, but you see it's still me.

And both The Righteous and Those Who Suppose Themselves Righteous just don't know what to do with me. Apparently I don't fit the mold or the fold. I don't know what to do about that at this stage of the game. I guess I'll just keep on talking with sinners, there are plenty at work, after all I do speak their language (not cussing, just how they speak and think) and I can only hope that I can plant seeds of righteousness that the Lord will grow to a fruitful harvest in their lives.

And at the end of the day, isn't that what it's all about?