We're in the saying good-bye stages (and I'm in the avoiding packing stage - see all the new posts?!) Our pastor's wife is someone we said good-bye to this week. She has stolen our hearts (especially the girls'!) in the past year. She and her husband are the kind of people that love oozes from. Practical, real love. Jeff and I worry that they are going to exhaust themselves before they turn 30, but there is no doubt that they are living what it means to be a Christian. We are constantly humbled by their amazing acts of kindness.
You've heard the question posed, "Would a homeless person be welcome and comfortable in your church?" Check. The question that usually follows that: "Would Jesus go to your church?"
I had a few long paragraphs explaining Barefoot Christian Church that I just deleted, because all the explaining in the world won't describe it. It's no secret that Jeff and I have been wrestling with our faith and are currently residing in a place that would not be acceptable everywhere. But no matter that, we are loved and accepted at Barefoot. We have a place, and so does each member of the totally motley crew that calls Barefoot their church. I want to share a story about this past Sunday.
Noah (the pastor) explains that people at Barefoot have been reaching out to a community of resettled Nepalese refugees in the area. People from the church have just been hanging out with them, giving driving lessons, playing soccer, learning cricket, etc. (My family has not been involved in this, to illustrate the level of our unworthiness of being part of this church family). These folks had been living in refugee camps on the average of 18 yrs or so. One of these guys had a 21 yr old brother who was scheduled to come to the US this past week. Previously perfectly healthy, he died unexpectedly. In Nepal, a funeral is a big deal, and a proper funeral costs around 300 US dollars. Which neither this guy (who has 3 kids and can't find a job), his father, nor any of his close family members could scrape together. Noah assured the man that we considered him a part of our church, and would try to come up with the money to pay for the funeral.
This man was moved by that. He told Noah that he wanted to take some video of the soccer playing, etc. to show friends and family back in Nepal "what Jesus looks like." Noah said to the church, "So that's what Jesus looks like - playing soccer with refugees. Giving people driving lessons. Paying for a funeral."
You have to know what our church body looks like. If you make over 50K you're probably in the minority. You could be from any background, have any number of medical problems, financial problems, etc.
The people at my church gave over 500 bucks to this guy's family.
Jesus would totally go to my church.
4 comments:
This one was a tear-jerker, Tiff.
I'd agree with Amanda, but I'm on too many depression meds to well up with tears. I do have major goosebumps though. Awesome post!
We'll pray that you find a church in Syracuse where Jesus would attend.
If it helps, I just found out that one of the COOLEST people at IJM went to Syracuse and loved it. She described herself as "orange." :)
No matter what church you end up in if you keep being a picture of Christ in all that you do others will see it and it will be contagious. I will pray that you find the same type of place in NY that you found in MI. We have found the same kind of place that you had in our new church here. It sounds very similar to where we are now.
Don't let yourself get discouraged... The "church" is the body of believers flawed as we are... We are His bride. He would go to any church who teaches His word because He is the head of the church... He doesn't reject the church because of her flaws. Some churches do a better job of acting out the things in His word than others but they are still His bride if they are proclaiming the gospel to the lost.
The day the church stops teaching His word and only focuses on deed doing is a sad day. But a church that has only doctrine and no works is dead so you have to find a church that has both while keeping in mind that we are all flawed by sin so there truly is no perfect church... but someday Christ will make His bride perfect. Right now He is in the process of refining her.
Ephesians 5:25-27
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless."
See it doesn't say that the church IS holy and blameless or that she doesn't have spots and wrinkles but it says that He makes her that way by washing her and cleansing her thru His word. I know it is talking to husbands but it is also showing us what the relationship with Christ and His church really is... He would go to ANY church that worships Him because He knows we all need Him to make us holy and blameless. Another question to ask is not just "would" Jesus go to your church but "does" Jesus go to your church.
Great topic!
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