The shrewdly practical Randy Frazee
March 8, 2006 · Print This Article
Those of you who attended New Community tonight heard Randy Frazee’s message on “shrewd” stewardship that offered up many poignant and practical ways to serve God and serve others with all that you have. The example he gave about the guy who instead of writing a rent check for a needy couple fixed up a house for them and helped them to eventually buy it would have ranked high on our justice continuum.
Now, if we run Randy’s thought process through a social justice framework - never settling for only compassionate acts, or ever forgetting the “least of these,” but always working with a view towards justice - then we will begin to have the answers we are looking for this week. What are practical daily things each of us can do to begin living “the just life?”
Randy’s knack for these examples is why I believe the work he is doing in developing the neighborhood model has the potential to provide the building blocks for a viable social justice model at Willow Creek and churches everywhere.
Wednesday, I was in the city. I parked my car that the mechanic had just repaired, washed and waxed and exited my car dressed in a suit and tie. Upon exiting, while retrieving items from the trunk, I was engaged in conversation about the absence of parking meters in the meat packing district where we were. I found myself in conversation with a well spoken black gentleman, 10-15 years my senior, unshaven, bloodshot eyes, and fairly well dressed in casual work clothing.
Eventually, he asked for $4 for some food. Needless to say, I was not surprised. I fumbled in my pocket for some cash, but not the $40 that I had recently received from the ATM. Of the cash I had in my pocket, I wound up pulling out only 2 single dollar bills. I offered them readily, with an explanation.
“Larry,†I said, “You do know who Jesus Christ is, don’t you?†Larry began quoting scripture more eloquently than some pastors I know. He told me how God had delivered him from alcohol, drugs and that God was working on the cigarette thing. Larry was smoking while we chatted. Several businessmen walked by while we chatted. I wondered what they must have thought.
So here I stand, ready for God to use. What was I going to say next? What did God want me to say? This guy knows his Bible and knows Jesus as Lord. We chatted about church attendance and other small talk. This guy is obviously a Christian. I still knew that there was a reason we were chatting that had not yet been revealed.
Then it hit me, the Holy Spirit prompted me, this guy was a good Christian who had experienced the power of God. But he needed to get to the next level. I firmly stood straight, looked him square in the eyes and said, “Larry, God has great things for you. In fact, He has something specific for you to do. God wants to use you as you are, whether you smoke or not. Larry, God will reveal to you very soon something great he has for you, will you be ready?â€
Social Justice. Did this man need a ride? a job? $4? a place to stay? a racial bridge? No, he needed a word from God. Social Justice for Larry, at this point in his life, on Wednesday, on Fulton Market Street in Chicago, was a word from God.
We must never get so caught up in programs or habits of social justice that we lose the ability to interact supernaturally. God dwells in us. I was obedient and Larry was blessed with Social Justice.