Five weeks ago, I was on my way to our weekly prayer meeting at church; it was near freezing outside. I exited the interstate to turn toward our church and walking along the side of the road was an older gentleman, pulling a wagon-style cart behind him. He was obviously homeless, moving everything that he owned along with him as he struggled walking in the blistering cold. So I did what every other kind and caring Christian in the world would have done, I pulled over and offered him a ride.
But the ride on this particular day came with stipulations... I was headed to church. "If you'll humor me, I have a meeting at church just up the road. If you don't mind riding along, you can warm up and have a cup of coffee... we might even say a prayer for you, if you wouldn't mind, then in exchange for your flexibility, I'll buy you lunch and take you anywhere you need to go..."
That was my spiel. And, surprisingly, he agreed. So we did just that. We rode to church, the entire staff prayed over him, and I honored my end of the bargain.
Fast forward five weeks. That same gentleman has my phone number and calls me at the beginning of each week wanting to know if I am going to church the following Sunday (he knows I am, this is how he conveys interest in wanting to join me). He hasn't missed a single church service since attending the first time, including a special evening service, where he was bold enough to bring a friend.
This Sunday was no different. We picked him up from a store parking lot where he had slept the night before and off to church we went. Many people there are kind to him, and enjoy seeing him show up. He was happy to have a hot cup of coffee when we arrived, as is tradition. Normally, unlike many folks that I have served in the homeless community over the years, he will allow very little to be done for him. Not out of pride, but out of respect. He is thankful for what we offer to do for him, and he will accept no more than what we originally bargained, which was transportation to church. This Sunday was different, however, "If the offer still stands, after church, I wouldn't mind trying out that restaurant that you mentioned a few weeks ago," He said. "Of course! My wife and I would be honored to have you join us for lunch."
Over the last few weeks, I have earned enough respect that he has become comfortable with me. He watched. He listened. And he believed that we were genuine. So this Sunday brought about a surprising revelation that pierced me, unknowingly to him. "I just want to thank you," he said. "You know, you're the first person to ever notice me, who wasn't afraid of me and was willing to take a chance on me." I smiled. "What are you talking about, how can someone not notice you?!" I was trying to lighten the air around the situation, but his tone remained steady and serious. "A few weeks ago, a church van pulled up to the exit where I was standing in the cold, holding a sign to get food. I thought, maybe God was trying to tell me something, so I moved toward the van to ask them if I could ride to church with them. They saw me, locked the doors and sped away as I approached. I was embarrassed."
My chest tightened. So did my jaw.
I was both hurt, humiliated by our family of Christ, and upset at the misrepresentation. "I'm very sorry that happened to you. That isn't how we are commanded to act, and that obviously isn't the way that I operate. I'm sure that they might have not understood the situation, which made them uncomfortable. Regardless of their comfort level, it was wrong how they acted, and for that I am very sorry." I didn't know what else to say. You see, this homeless gentleman, had no religious affiliation and no pre-conceived notion of Christianity. All that he knew about our faith was what he had been exposed to. And this... lack of caring or acknowledgement, this fear of the unknown, this lack of empathy... was the impression that he was given. He wasn't wrong in his experience or the way he was made to feel. This was the literal impression left by those that were **specifically called to feed the hungry, heal the sick, deliver the oppressed...**
These Christians clearly forgot the mission. They failed in the assignment. Evil had its way with them, using fear and scheduling distractions- and it worked. Thus, another person was yet again wounded emotionally by a van of so called "Christians." I cannot tell you with words on a page how exhausted I am of this type of scenario. And I agree with Jesus, I don't like anything that is lukewarm. In my opinion, there is no place in Christianity for the lukewarm Christian.
Why would I say that?**
Have you even been reading this article? THIS IS WHY!!
The destructive wake being delivered by the example that lukewarm Christians are conveying is DAMAGING. It's betrayal to our beliefs. It's your back turned against the Gospel. It's failure to be compelled by the cross. It's leaving a wake of disaster that is doubling the work of the true Christ-followers who are having to clean up the messes you leave behind you. And I personally couldn't care less who is offended by this.
I hope Heaven rains fire down upon me, should I ever have or operate a Church bus only to haul around 'faithful believers', and turn away those who actually need to meet Jesus.
Why are you afraid? Do you not serve the Lord of Lord's, the King of Kings, the legitimate Master of all things created?
What do you have to fear? And if something did happen, can you convince me that it wouldn't be part of God's plan for some higher purpose to begin with?
In that light, how can you be afraid to take a chance for Jesus? Do you only want to serve as you are willing? Where you are comfortable? When it is convenient? Where there is security? Then let me be the one to inform you... you aren't serving!!!
Jesus sweat drops of blood prior to being hung from a tree, for no benefit to Himself whatsoever, for YOU... do you think that He wasn't afraid? But thank God above, He did it anyway. Or else, where would we be?
Jesus sweat drops of blood prior to being hung from a tree, for no benefit to Himself whatsoever, for YOU... do you think that He wasn't afraid? But thank God above, He did it anyway. Or else, where would we be? Thank God others answer the call, or where would some of our brothers and sisters be?
Am I mad about others indifference to these situations? Yes, I am righteously angry.
How dare you profess to be a Christian with your mouth and defy God by your actions?
Where do you think your blessings come from; by your own doing? Let me be even more clear- you are nothing more than grass of a field, here only for a short season.
What power do you have to add to your life, even a single day? All of you who practice self-righteousness, you are no better than the very religious leaders who put Christ to death... for you also fail to see the forrest for the trees.
Are you still reading? Is this you? Behold, the truth has come to you in these moments; may the very Spirit of God convict you in the most mighty and humbling way. You serpents, slithering among God's chosen people... you may offer a bruise, but His heel WILL crush you. Do you not understand the harm that you are doing? Do you even care?
(Deep breath..........)
(Another deep breath...........)
(One more.........)
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." -Matthew 25:40 AND, by the same token, when you had opportunity to 'do for the least of these', and did not, so did you also do to Him. Read that last sentence again and let it sink in.
No one is perfect. We all fall short. But our calling can't be something that we choose to toggle on and off based on convenience, comfort. or safety. We are either living for Christ or we aren't. Everyone will experience bad days, or days that where we are off, maybe out of sorts. But it needs to be the exception to the rule, not the rule itself.
Back at the restaurant, the waitress dropped the bread off at our table, while we were waiting for our food to be prepared. "What is this? Why did she do that? I didn't order this," our guest contended. It was his first time ever eating at a restaurant where they brought bread to the table.
He's 64 years old.
Herein lies the purpose of today's article, or so I originally thought:
Do you know, despite our family being the one's fortunate enough to physically feed this gentleman, He will never know how much the Lord fed me, through this one act of obedience. My heart was completely full. Today, I was able to serve Jesus first-hand. God blessed me enough, that I could share that blessing with another, and through that act of charity, the blessing was returned two-fold. "...whatever you did for one of the least of these..."
The way I see it, my wife and I literally ate with Jesus today. We fed Him... the Master and Creator of the entire universe. And, in true Jesus style, He unselfishly fed me back.
I wish the same blessings for all of you. I pray that you maintain a sense of awareness. That God gives each of you a true heart of charity. That you strive to emulate the only hero worthy of being emulated. And if you aren't going to strive to be set apart, to meet the calling that is placed on you as a Christian, I say this with all humility, PLEASE, step aside. Step down from that position of grace, where sacrifice is required, where carrying your own cross and having a safety net isn't an option, and stop making the path so difficult for all of us who are genuinely trying in earnest.
Cry out to God in your separation... "Create in me a clean heart!" And pray the day will come for you to return into Kingdom service. If you are sincere in your calling, God will answer. And your return into the ministry of Christianity could be powerful. Pray also for the saints, that strongholds will be destroyed within the faith, that sleeping Christians will awaken to their calling. That we will boldly answer our call to service, in all that we do in life.
And for each of you who took the time to read this article, I pray discernment for you, I pray wisdom and understanding of this message. And I pray for opportunities to find you, that you will accept, to bless others in Christ's name. And in doing so, I pray that you experience the fullness of God for your faithfulness to Him.
To my brother who will likely never see this- We love you! We thank God that our paths crossed. We are blessed having been able to meet and spend time with you. My family is covering your situation in prayers, interceding for your needs and asking for a movement in your situation that only our God could provide. We personally resolve to always remain a part of the solution, rather than contribute to the problem.
In earnest, we pray that God will turn His face and His favor toward you. May you then have the opportunity to pay these blessings forward to another. And do you know what? I know you will. For your seeking and your faithfulness, may God protect you and open many doors for you in the days ahead.
~Devin
Devin Osborne
**The photo here is not authentic, to respect the privacy of my kind friend.
