Hi everyone,
My name is Alex Dyson. I’m from !Audacious North; I’m part of the online Alpha team and in-person Alpha at North loca tion.
We’re continuing the theme of Favourite Bible Characters at the moment, and mine definitely has to be John the Baptist because he was tenacious, audacious, fearless yet humble, and he took the job that God had given him to do seriously and was totally committed to it.
Matthew 3:1-2, 10-11 (NIV): ‘In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” … And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’
Now, I’d just become a Christian when I read this at age 16, and I realised that to be a Christian, I needed to live a life of no compromise, totally surrendered to God. I’d started going to church. I was in the youth group, and I went on a youth camp and I was filled with the Holy Spirit, and I understood what John the Baptist meant about being filled with the Holy Spirit, because it’s like a light had been switched on. I had this overwhelming love for God, and I knew that He loved me.
I came home from youth camp and I told my mum – who wasn’t a Christian – that I’d been filled with the Holy Spirit. She went absolutely ballistic. She screamed and shouted at me saying that I’d been brainwashed, that I’d joined a cult, and that I was not allowed to go to church until I was 21! She said it was just a phase and that I’d grow out of it by then! My mum was fearsome and I knew she meant it. I wasn’t allowed to see my Christian friends. She ripped up my Bible and destroyed my Christian music tapes and books.
I rang my youth leader and he was really upset for me, but he said I had to obey my mum because that’s one of the commandments in the Bible. I was devastated. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I knew he was right. He offered to speak to my mum, but she refused. I was terrified of losing my faith in God. I felt so isolated and alone. I was really confused.
Why would God let this happen? I cried out to Him, “What are you doing?” I kept saying why, why, why? I thought He’d abandoned me but, actually, although it was one of the hardest experiences of my life, it turned out to be so good for me at the same time. It was just me and God. He taught me about His love for me, about how to fight my spiritual battles, the power of praise, the power of the Word of God – the Bible. Instead of my faith diminishing, then, it actually just grew stronger.
When I eventually turned 18, I told my mum I was going back to church, and she accepted it
because I was an adult. It was so good to be back amongst my friends and church family again. A few years later, my mum became a Christian, and we’ve laughed about it all since, and the fact that the “phase” she spoke about lasted nearly 40 years! I never take for granted the fact that we have the freedom to meet with other believers, though, and to spend time together, to praise and worship God together and to learn about Him as one body.
John the Baptist was put in prison for doing the right thing, and Jesus sent a message to reassure him that his message was producing results. God also showed me that if I keep being holy and keep being true, then He’ll always come through for me.
I just want to encourage anyone who’s going through a tough time, that God is in it with you. He hasn’t left you. He’s right there with you and He will help you.
Anyway, thanks for listening, and have a great day!
Alex Dyson.
