Music Theme: "Memories" from the "Top Gun" Soundtrack (Extended)
During World War Two, in the opening months of the Pacific Theatre, the U.S. Navy's main carrier-borne fighter was fthe Grumman F4F Wildcat. It was a good little fighter, stubby but surprisingly maneuverable, and heavily armored. Those who flew it said that the fuselage could get shot up full of holes and they would still come back in one piece. Sadly though, it was soon discovered that its main opponent, the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M "Zero", could outperform it and outmaneuver it (for the most part). For these reasons it was highly inadvisable to dogfight a Zero, and if unavoidable, it was best to attack from above, by diving (the Wildcat could outdive the Zero). But another equally good tactic for pilots was to fly their Wildcats in pairs. This way, one could fire at a Zero and not worry about another getting on your tail, because your wingman could take care of that one. (I'm giving you this little history lesson so you can have some background on an analogy I'm getting out here.)
Well, yesterday I went out sharing the gospel (as I usually do each week), and this time my wingman was one of the Crusade Staff named Paul Nunez. We talked with 4 groups of people, and I initiated half of those talks. The first guy we came to didn't even want to talk because he didn't have time; he was studying for a final (Finals Week is next week, after all). The second group we came to was two guys, and they didn't have time, either, but I was able to give them a gospel tract for him to read and think over. Then we came up to another two guys, and Paul initiated this one. They didn't want to talk, but it turned out they were both in a youth group with a Calvary Chapel congregation. Anyways, we continued on. The last group of guys we talked to was a group of 4: 2 Chemistry majors, 1 Social Sciences major, and 1 Philosophy major. They were all upper-year undergraduates, and we had a very interesting conversation with them. In fact, we kind of got shot up. Heres how it went down...
Paul initiated the conversation, and we quickly found out that the leader of the group had gone to a Protestant church at one time, but he left it because he saw Christianity as condemning of other religions, specifically, the polytheistic systems that the Native Americans had before the Europeans came to North America (he was somewhat of Native American descent). He attempted to have his Philosophy friend speak for him, but that didn't work, and the discussion soon became a kind of free-for-all, with everyone throwing in their own two cents worth. Paul did most of the talking, and he put up a gallant front. As for myself, I went to God in prayer for protection and guidance as we talked, and I also patiently waited for my own turn to speak (which didn't come). Anyways, Paul and I both put up a good fight, but they threw every tack in the book at us. From relativism to Christianity vs. other religions to Christianity's views on homosexuality to the inaccuracy of the bible to evolution to the flood not happening globally... and other tacks I can't remember. It was intense. And we didn't even get to share the gospel with them. But when our time was up and we had to leave, they complemented us on our courage in going out there to talk to people like this (as they said, "it takes balls to talk to people like this"), and we thanked them for that; and I felt a little better after that, for a little while.
After the talk, Paul and I walked for a little bit and prayed for those guys as we were walking. When we were done with that, we talked about the discussion and concluded several things: 1) it was intense, 2) we didn't say or do anything wrong, no one was at fault for anything, 3) there were some things we could have improved upon, and 4) even though we think it might've not gone so well, we know it was all for God's glory. Then we went our separate ways, I to my dorm room and he to talk with Jim Kercheval, our campus director for Crusade. I got back alright, and did what I needed to do for the rest of the day. He got back alright as well. And even though the odds were 2:1 against us, I am very grateful to God (and to Paul, for being my wingman) that it wasn't 4:1 against!
To tie back into the information on the Wildcat, I fully realized why, in Crusade, we go out sharing in pairs: so that one wingman can protect the other. I also realized that we as Christians who are being continually refined in Christ can take a lot of hits and still survive, just like the Wildcat. And why not? For Christ Himself did tell us that we would be persecuted because of Him, and that we should be ready for it, that we will not go astray (John 15:18-26). Praise God for comfort in persecution and tough battles!
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