Tough Love For Grandmas

2/18/14                                      Bob                 about 25

As part of a coffeeshop conversation with Elias, a brother in Christ, we decided to put our faith into action and initiate a missional conversation with someone around us.  A man named Bob not only agreed to speak to my main question about eternity but to allow me to video-record the conversation, so in this video Elias is my cameraman as I talk with Bob.  I ask some essential questions and one of his answers stood out to me.  I ask "Do you have a particular purpose in life?"  At first Bob isn't sure, but then says he would like to be like his two grandmothers whom he describes as strong believers, one Catholic, one Protestant.  The interesting thing to me, though, is that although his role models are believers, Bob is not.  Bob describes himself as an agnostic who leans towards atheism.  What impresses Bob about his two grandmothers is their ability to be strong believers and yet not impose their beliefs on others.  They are the most loving and kind people he knows, and he believes he can strive to be the same way only without their belief in God.  The weird thing is, I think he is right is one sense.  Some of the friendliest, most outgoing and generous people are atheists.  We Christians have a lot of competition if we are trying to win the world over simply by being "nice".  Very likely, Bob's grandmothers were trying to do just that.  I believe this is misguided, because their silence on matters of faith also sends a message.  It says that they must not really believe what they profess to believe, and therefore Bob need not believe it either. If they do truly believe one is condemned outside of faith in Christ, than not sharing that message would not be loving at all.  I talk to Bob about the need for "tough love".  This is the kind of love that is willing to risk short-term rejection for the long-term good of another.  Sometimes grandparents believe they have the luxury of just loving on their grandchildren and leaving all the discipline to the parents.  But if they truly love their grandchildren, especially when it comes to eternal truths, they need to be willing to love even when that means they have to be tough.  (note - because of some copywritten background music at the coffeeshop, this video won't play on some cell phones)   http://youtu.be/HzO7zS60djM