A friend of mine posted this blog entry on Facebook a few weeks ago. The title caught my attention, so i saved the link. I finally got around to reading it recently.
Now, don't get caught up on the word 'gay'. His thoughts relate to any person we feel uncomfortable around, for what ever reason we think they are different from us.
It reminded me of an incident at our church a few months ago. A young girl came to visit our church. Now we attend a church of about 300 members, so fairly large congregation. We first saw her, and was introduced to her at a potluck lunch. I have to admit I was taken aback at first. She had orange unwashed bleached hair, heavy eye make-up, piercings, sloppy clothes, a tattoo...not what you expect to see in a good Adventist church...
We sat at her table, and partook in the conversation around the table. She told the table that she came to church to practice her English. She had a heavy accent, was not the easiest to communicate with her. Well, we had our meal and then said our good byes. She was eager to socialize with someone, anyone...that afternoon. Funny how quickly everyone came up with activities they had to attend. And so with a sad look on her face she said goodbye. I believe she attended the afternoon program.
Now I have to admit, that she scared me a little... Why? Was it because I did not feel like I could relate to her because she looked so different from me? Was it because she looked so un-kept? Was it because of the communication barrier? Or was it that I just did not want to get involved...?
Well, a few weeks past and she came to church again. That day we did not attend potluck, but we saw her at the evening sport program. Well, very ashamed, I admit that I had no intention of approaching her, or conversing with her. When the program was over she was heading for the gate. My conscience spoke to me...or was that the Holy Spirit... I said to my husband we should talk to her. So we spoke to her a bit, she said that she would come again...
Once she was gone, we went and sat back at our table. And yes, the conversation among the table was about her. One lady said she had a bad feeling about her, like she was just around looking to take advantage of someone...and so the conversation went...
This incident has left me taking a long hard look at myself... Did we as a church let her down...did we let God down...? Did I as an individual let her down...did i let God down...?
She came to our church looking for something. I don't think she was there just to practice her English. She was there looking for friendship, she was there looking to fill the emptiness...and what did we do? We shunned her! No one offered her friendship, no offered an ear to listen, no one offered her understanding, no one offered her an arm around the shoulders... No, we children of the most High...we pushed her aside...why? Because she did not look like us! God had given us this golden opportunity to engulf this girl in our love, in His love, in His church...and we through it back in His face...we let Him down...!
Still today when I think about this I feel disgusted by myself, by the Church behavior. How can we change this attitude we have?
By changing our individual attitude...I can not change the way my other church members act...I can only change my own actions...
We pray to God for a chance to witness for Him, to bring people to Him...and then when it knocks on the door...we run away with our tail between our legs...
I just pray to God that this girl will not miss the opportunity to discover His love through my own inadequacies...I pray for forgiveness for my lack of love and compassion...
As I mentioned before, she said that she would come again...she never did...she gave up on us...deservedly so...
So please go ahead and read this article. It leaves you thinking and questioning your own behavior...
I think sometimes we get to complacent in our own little corner of the world, that we think we are okey, we are good...but it's good to take a good long hard look at ourselves from time to time...
Click on the link below to read the article 'I'm Christian, unless you're gay...'
http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html
Now, don't get caught up on the word 'gay'. His thoughts relate to any person we feel uncomfortable around, for what ever reason we think they are different from us.
It reminded me of an incident at our church a few months ago. A young girl came to visit our church. Now we attend a church of about 300 members, so fairly large congregation. We first saw her, and was introduced to her at a potluck lunch. I have to admit I was taken aback at first. She had orange unwashed bleached hair, heavy eye make-up, piercings, sloppy clothes, a tattoo...not what you expect to see in a good Adventist church...
We sat at her table, and partook in the conversation around the table. She told the table that she came to church to practice her English. She had a heavy accent, was not the easiest to communicate with her. Well, we had our meal and then said our good byes. She was eager to socialize with someone, anyone...that afternoon. Funny how quickly everyone came up with activities they had to attend. And so with a sad look on her face she said goodbye. I believe she attended the afternoon program.
Now I have to admit, that she scared me a little... Why? Was it because I did not feel like I could relate to her because she looked so different from me? Was it because she looked so un-kept? Was it because of the communication barrier? Or was it that I just did not want to get involved...?
Well, a few weeks past and she came to church again. That day we did not attend potluck, but we saw her at the evening sport program. Well, very ashamed, I admit that I had no intention of approaching her, or conversing with her. When the program was over she was heading for the gate. My conscience spoke to me...or was that the Holy Spirit... I said to my husband we should talk to her. So we spoke to her a bit, she said that she would come again...
Once she was gone, we went and sat back at our table. And yes, the conversation among the table was about her. One lady said she had a bad feeling about her, like she was just around looking to take advantage of someone...and so the conversation went...
This incident has left me taking a long hard look at myself... Did we as a church let her down...did we let God down...? Did I as an individual let her down...did i let God down...?
She came to our church looking for something. I don't think she was there just to practice her English. She was there looking for friendship, she was there looking to fill the emptiness...and what did we do? We shunned her! No one offered her friendship, no offered an ear to listen, no one offered her understanding, no one offered her an arm around the shoulders... No, we children of the most High...we pushed her aside...why? Because she did not look like us! God had given us this golden opportunity to engulf this girl in our love, in His love, in His church...and we through it back in His face...we let Him down...!
Still today when I think about this I feel disgusted by myself, by the Church behavior. How can we change this attitude we have?
By changing our individual attitude...I can not change the way my other church members act...I can only change my own actions...
We pray to God for a chance to witness for Him, to bring people to Him...and then when it knocks on the door...we run away with our tail between our legs...
I just pray to God that this girl will not miss the opportunity to discover His love through my own inadequacies...I pray for forgiveness for my lack of love and compassion...
As I mentioned before, she said that she would come again...she never did...she gave up on us...deservedly so...
So please go ahead and read this article. It leaves you thinking and questioning your own behavior...
I think sometimes we get to complacent in our own little corner of the world, that we think we are okey, we are good...but it's good to take a good long hard look at ourselves from time to time...
Click on the link below to read the article 'I'm Christian, unless you're gay...'
http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html
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