In preparation for our upcoming conference in Tyler, TX (next week!), we’ve pulled the following excerpt from our archives (originally published over at Key Life). Here, conference speaker Dr. Steve Brown discusses hidden agendas and the distinctly un-sneaky love of God:
Some seriously misguided Christians once called a Jewish friend of mine a “Christ killer.” When I told him how very sorry I was for what they had said and how he had been hurt, he didn’t say anything for a minute. He was waiting for me to continue. Then my friend said something that really surprised me, “Steve, I want to thank you for what you said; but more than that, I want to thank you that there was no kicker.”
I asked him what he meant by “kicker.” My friend explained that a “kicker” was a hidden agenda. “Sometimes,” he said, “I get the feeling that the only reason Christians even talk to me is to get me to become a Christian. When you said that you were sorry for what Christians called me, I’ve heard it before but always with something else…a kicker.” […]
Christians don’t have to have a kicker. We are loved without condition, forgiven without exception, and free without any bonds except those of love. We don’t have to protect anything, sell anything, or force anything. We don’t have to be right. We don’t have to pretend to be anything other than what we are…redeemed sinners who are loved without condition.
Do I live my life without a kicker? Are you crazy? I can think of a dozen places off the top of my head where I’ve added a kicker. In fact, I’m probably one of the best kickers you’ve ever met. But Jesus is still quite fond of me…
We are one week out from Mockingbird Tyler and would love to see you there! It is next Friday and Saturday, April 5-6. Visit the conference homepage for more info.
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