While driving to the ranch I was listening to KSBJ a Christian radio station.. When a Pastor came on and mentioned the name of his little church... I can’t remember the name.,, He started telling this story that is worth repeating… If I can tell it right, it should give you goose bumps.. But I’m going to make you wait for that. Instead I’m going to take you to 1 Corinthians 4:10-13, 20: “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things…For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” There are more scriptures , this one just fit.. To understand this passage one must consider the context. Paul was mad at the Corinthian church because of their arrogant attitudes. They were judgmental, condescending, and “rich” (but not in a good sense). He is showing that the humble state of the Apostles was more of a testimony to the power of God’s kingdom than their affluence and highness. They were unwilling to get their hands dirty… I remember thinking about all the churches piled upon churches, new building after new building with I would suppose, comfortable seats, cushy carpet, and a temperature controlled environment we have in the affluant areas in this country of ours. In the areas where the homeless live, if you want to call it living.. Not so many churches there. I guess they couldn’t fund the lavish creature comforts from the contributions of the disenfranchised and down-and-out. Do you think that just maybe we have abandoned those who might seem to be most in need because they have no jobs, leave a trail of stench, and have dropped out of society? Maybe. Truth be told, We will be in a warm home or in a church this Sunday. And will probably eat a good meal soon after the service; a meal whose cost could feed 1/2 dozens homeless. And now for that story. The radio broadcast stated it something like this: In an urban church, after the sermon, the pastor headed to the church door. There he was greeted by a homeless man, who smelled of stale booze, urine, garbage, and vomit. Being used to beggars attending the church, the minister assumed what the man wanted and began to reach for his wallet. But the vagrant protested, “No, no, no! I don’t want your money! I want to know the Jesus you were talking about.” And he buried his head in the preacher’s chest and sobbed. The pastor immediately felt God speak to him in his heart with these piercing words: “This is what the world I came to save smells like.” Did that hit you where you live? It did me.. I think Paul would agree. And so should we. We are often inclined to go up to meet the needs of the lofty and exalted or those in the same demographic as us, but are we willing to get smelly and dirty and go down to those who aren’t? So LORD let me not be like the Corithians and hypocrites… Doug
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 03:58:02 +0000
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