Whilst at a different church to the one I usually go to someone said something to me I found really disturbing.
I've got a friend using drugs I've tried to tell him it's bad. All his friends except me are drug users. He can be a bit hard to like. There's no way anyone here (as in at his church) would like him. Only his drug using friends like him.
The conviction in his voice that there was no way any one at the church would like him, or entertain the idea of even meeting him was so strong, that I just got on with the practicalities of what he as one person could do. It was only when I was driving home the full impact of what he had said had hit me. I hope that he was wrong but even that he assumed that to be the case saddened me.
3 comments:
Sad for sure, especially when everyone is so broken and lost (even when they try to hide it.) We all have sins and stuff in our lives we think people wouldn't like or accept. I hope you (and others in your church) can show him that love is unconditional from Christ and that he can find a place in the lives of others and visa-versa if he just opens up to becoming.
are you kidding jess?!
as someone who has had a drug problem that is naive and simplistic at best.
the church would be close to one of the most judgemental forums to be seeking assistance.
don't believe me
i dare you to find the smelliest stinkiest pieces of clothing you can find. muss up your hair take and take on the attitude of the unloved and forgotten or the addicted and hopeless.
wander into a church and challenge them to help you!
help you right then and there.
on a sunday morning in a quiet service or a joyful singing service. either or
the last time i did it the 'bouncers' politely asked me to leave as it was inappropriate.
a final thought:
millions have been, and are, being spent on restoring cathedrals in perth as we speak and many more millions for building new 'worship' centres that are deemed postmodern and functional.
to paraphrase mother teresa when visiting princess diana's home
"...it seems like an awful lot of room for so few people..." if the homeless are not permitted to find shelter and SANCTUARY in the newly renovated cathedrals when they are not needed for other things then what is their purpose for the creator?
Hey there anon,
I think that's a bit harsh as your possibly reading a little too much into Jess's comment.
Having said that, It's probably worth asking how do we love someone who isn't interested in opening up. And this seems to be (I think) part of your point that as long as someone is becoming more like us then we find them easy to accept. But when someone is as they are and not thinking about change or needing plain help the Xn community is often unsure or unwilling to help.
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