Michael Tolosa

I went to Reston Bible Church this evening, because one of my co-workers invited E and I to go. I simply went to encourage E. I also hadn’t been to Reston Bible Church before, and I wanted to check it out. E ended up calling additional backup—M, her ex—to come with us.

I was impressed with the church. The sanctuary is about a fifth of the size of McLean Bible Church’s. It provided an intimate, yet modern, worship environment.

The event was called “Conversations,” and it was a mix of drama skits, testimonies, and live music. In all honesty, I thought it was the best bit of evangelism I’ve ever witnessed. Each of the five acts targeted different segments of people—a few of which really pinpointed where my friend E is right now. At parts, it sounded as if they were talking specifically about mine & E’s relationship and year-long dialog on Christianity.

After the performance, the pastor spoke for a bit, explaining the role that Jesus plays in the big picture of salvation. He communicated it very well—making it clear and simple. I think E was impressed with the evening’s message, and M seemed to gradually become less and less hostile (judging from her body language throughout the performance).

Once the lights came on & we started to exit the sanctuary, I got caught up in some conversations with other audience members. I recognized one girl from Campus Crusade at GMU (ten years ago). I’ve also seen her at Frontline before. She told me she was just talking about me earlier today with P (the former leader of GMU’s Campus Crusade for Christ), with whom she works. Apparently, he popped in my “Heroine” CD and asked her if she knew what ever became of me. I told her to tell him I’m now the captain of a church kickball team. I also tried to recruit her for my team (even though I don’t have any spots left). She said her friends had wanted to join, but she wasn’t into it. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), she has just gotten married, and she and her husband are “shopping” for a church to go to on Sunday mornings. I told her—in all seriousness—that I was going to start going to Reston Bible Church on Sunday mornings (or Saturday nights), in addition to going to Frontline. I want to attend a church that’s more intimate and traditional than MBC. Then keep Frontline as something additional and separate—a place where I can do more serving than being served.

Anyway, I was really impressed with Reston Bible Church. They have a great facility, the pastor is terrific, the worship music is really good, and there seemed to be a lot of cool, young adults in attendance. Plus, I already know a few people there. I’m going to try and make it back there this weekend.

I HIGHLY recommend their “Conversations” performance. It’s playing for two more nights (Thursday, Friday). If you get a chance to go, you really should. It’s a really great presentation. They really know what they’re doing over there. Bring your friends.

I’m hoping E will have a lot of questions for me tomorrow.

Her: when churches try to “save” someone, that means have them follow their jesus stuff?
Me: nobody can save anyone, ‘cept christ. so when they want people to be saved, they want them to have faith in Christ, so that he can save them from hell.
Her: so that assumes everyone goes to hell b4 they believe in christ?
Her: i’m pretty sure i’m a sinner
Her: but i’m down w/ it
Her: and i dont think i’ll go to hell
Her: karen’s church thing is encouraging people to bring “unsaved” friends
Me: Christianity teaches that everyone is born with “original sin,” that everyone sins and that the punishment for sin is death. only christ was without sin, so he paid the penalty for those who would believe in him & have faith in his sacrifice to save them from death.
Her: well everyone dies so that doesnt really make sense
Me: a spiritual death–afterlife.
Her: ooh
Me: heaven & hell
Me: hell is basically where folks pay for their sins, while heaven is where they go, because their sins are already paid for.
Her: oh cuz they believed in jesus?
Me: yes, because he paid for their sins on the cross.
Her: would you ever go to say a jewish temple?
Me: i probably would not go to a jewish temple on my own, because i don’t believe their teaching–but that doesn’t mean i wouldn’t be caught dead in one. it just wouldn’t serve any purpose for me to go, other than to go with a friend or whatever.
Her: hmmm
Me: it’d be interesting to see how they do things, though.
Her: true
Her: i’m just gonna tell karen i dont need to be saved
Her: if that was her mission
Her: which i dont think it was
Her: but you never know
Me: what will you tell her is your reason for going?
Her: my reason was just to learn
Me: that’s cool
Her: but i don’t believe what most of their website says
Me: well, if you can go & take it all in without standing up and objecting or something, then i’m sure you’ll be okay.
Me: if you’ll be uneasy and hate being there, then maybe you shouldn’t go.
Her: i wanna go, but the bring an “unsaved” friend bit, threw me off
Me: that’s just slang for “non-Christian”
Me: it’s not really a good term to use
Her: i agree

Her: hey
Her: do you know why peeps pray?
Me: ha, ha
Her: tryin to learn!
Me: it’s like talking on a phone with God
Me: wireless communication
Her: that’s a high tech God
Me: infinitely fast broadband
Her: but can u hear things from him
Me: not literally
Me: but yes
Her: like let’s say i ask you to pray for someone who’s sick
Me: yes
Me: i would come to him via prayer to ask for his intervention
Me: understanding that he may not
Her: ooooh
Me: nor does he have to
Her: do you pray out loud or in your head
Me: either
Me: some people pray as a group
Me: out loud
Me: like asking God to bless dinner
Her: oooh y
Her: do u do that?
Me: my family does
Me: i usually don’t think to do it on my own.
Me: though i probably should
Me:
Me: but not out loud
Me: prayer is a personal thing
Me: i wouldn’t use it to show off or make a statement
Me: it’s communication between you and god, not an opportunity to preach at other people.
Her: i see
Her: did you grow up religious?
Me: yes
Me: my parents were Catholic first, then converted to Christianity (protestant) when i was young.
Me: then i went to christian school until 5th grade
Her: i didn’t grow up religious, obvi
Me: most people our age didn’t.
Her: i’m trying to understand how peeps have a relationship w/ God
Me: you don’t need years of experience. it can start at anytime.
Her: cuz if someone is sick…i can keep them in my thoughts
Her: but not nec. pick up the God phone
Me: sure
Me: but since we as humans are powerless to help our friends who are sick (aside from medicine), some look to a higher power who can help.
Her: oooh i get it now
Me: it’s something to hope for
Me: i guess a lot of christianity has to do with hope. …for an afterlife, etc.
Her: i’m still trying to figure out what i think about God…i’m thinking it’s more of a spiritual energy
Her: and i dont get the jesus stuff
Her: i’m a unitarian
Her: but i’m openminded to learning diff. religions
Me: basically, christianity says that there is a permenant rift between man and god, and jesus repairs that rift.
Me: and it is an exclusive belief (i.e., not unitarian).
Me: and that’s what most people find offensive with christianity.
Me: that they believe that there is no other person/diety that can repair that rift.
Me: other than jesus
Her: oooh
Her: well peeps can believe whatever they want
Me: they sure can
Me: we have freewill
Her: well i’m sure i have more questions!
Me: anytime!
Her: some of my christian friends have a hard time explaining things to me
Her: and then we just argue
Me: well, we can get in a fist fight, if you want. but i’d rather just talk.
Her: haha ok
Her: well i cant go to the 5.30 service this wkd cuz i have to go be gay at the l word premiere party
Her:
Her: but maybe the next wkd
Me: yeah, come to Frontline anytime. let me know though, so i can sit with you.