Sometimes, we as the Church, set out with our own mission statements that Jesus didn't give. We say, "Let's go win the lost that look like us..." or "Let's go support this ministry that deals with THOSE kinds of people." I say we have a problem in the Church. We should not be picking and choosing who is granted access to the love of Jesus. The love of Jesus is for all - not just you and not just me.I ran across a blog this morning that reminded me of a certain sect of society that is overlooked by the Church at large.
Now, don't get me wrong, the Church cares for the homeless. We build homeless shelters. We have our food pantries. We have our clothing drives.
But what about when they come through the doors for our morning worship?
How do we treat them at that point?
Do they smell a little bad? Do they have a bit of alcohol on their breath? Do we care if they can't throw anything in the offering plate?
I won't talk much more about this. I will allow Amy Simpson to tell you what is on her heart. Here is the link to her blog.
"6 Ways Churches Should Be More Like Libraries"
http://www.qideas.org/blog/6-ways-churches-should-be-more-like-libraries.aspx
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” - Matthew 25:31-46 NLT
