Welcome to my world

Allow me to introduce myself: I’m Deacon Blue. And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that isn’t my real name.

But I am a real deacon.

Not that it makes any difference really, in terms of my qualifications. Any Christian who will listen to the Holy Spirit can speak correctly and eloquently on matters of faith and obedience to God the Father. But I think it’s important for you to know that for whatever reason, I was called to be ordained as a deacon. I haven’t done much with that ordination; I don’t really have a church home right now in which to work as a deacon. So I’m going to put myself to a use that I have felt a calling toward, and it’s not a standard path. In fact, it’s a path I’m going to need to stay in prayer about every day, multiple times per day, to make sure I walk it properly. Because I’m taking on a task to talk about things that too many Christians, both rank-and-file and ministerial, just don’t like to talk about—or don’t talk about in a way that a non-Christian gives a shit about.

That doesn’t mean that everything I write about will be edgy or controversial, but a lot of it will be. I plan to get down to the nitty-gritty at times. I plan to step into the muck, though I hope I won’t give in to the temptation to wallow in it. As far as I can tell, I have been called to this path because there are people out there who need someone who will speak in common terms, perhaps at times even crass ones. I don’t want to give myself license to spew garbage out of my mouth or to cover topics that are always prurient, but the fact is, I have dubbed myself Deacon Blue for a reason—much of my subject matter will have a blue streak.

That might mean talk about frank sexual topics, it might mean that I use some bad words, it might mean many other things. To each Christian are given gifts with which to reach believers and non-believers. I have a gift to be able to write well, or so I’m told. I suppose I could write prosaic musings on spiritual topics and uplift people’s spirits though high discourse. But for years now, the Deacon Blue idea has been nibbling at my mind. I keep pushing it away, but it keeps coming back. And not only does it keep coming back, but when I try to figure out what God wants me to do to spread the Gospel, this is the only idea that ever seems to hold any weight for me. It’s the only one that has felt true for me.

Jesus didn’t hang out with just the good folks. He socialized with and taught amongst the gamblers and thieves and shady moneylenders and prostitutes and brawlers and other people who were not just common folks but crass folks. I’m not saying that Jesus swore and partied with them like a sailor on shore leave, but I am saying he got in the muck with those people so that he could lift them out of it. I’m pretty sure Jesus knew how to talk to those people and do so without swearing. He probably knew how to spin a good parable that gave them insight on touchy topics without violating the polite mores of society.

But you know what? I’m not Jesus. I need to follow his example of love and devotion, but I also know that unlike him, I’m not perfect. I commit sin. I fail to listen to God on a regular basis. I slip and misstep constantly. And many other people out there like me—whether they are saved Christians, people who go to church but never bothered to really accept Jesus, non-Christians or whatever—these people don’t always want to hear a preacher. They don’t always want a spotless sermon. Sometimes, they never want these things. They may just want someone to speak to them like they speak so that they can feel someone really understands them and want to connect to them.

I hope I will do that. But more importantly, in doing that, I hope that I will reach people for Christ. Because it’s the only thing worth doing. I’m Deacon Blue. Welcome to my little slice of the world, and before we get going, meet my very close friends God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I cannot speak for Them, but I can say I’m glad you’re here, and I hope I’ll give you many good reasons to stay.

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