She woke up from a vivid dream.... it was so real.
Her heart was filled with joy.
"I can't miss Church today, even if it is not true!"
She jumped from bed and quickly began getting ready. She sang a hymn as she glided through her kitchen and grabbed some pop tarts for a quick breakfast.
The sun was shining bright as she made her way to her car. She looked at her watch and realized she was late. She would miss worship but be able to get there as they began to share about God. She could not wait! “Should I share about my dream?” She laughed out loud….
She pulled up to the parking lot and saw a bizarre sight. Someone had tied a donkey to the rails of the stairs!
She laughed again, thinking, “Maybe Jesus did come to church today!” Her heart jumped for joy!
She parked her car and could her quite a commotion inside.
“Who did he think he was anyway?”
“Maybe we should be more restrictive who we let in our church.”
“Can you believe how disruptive he was…. With our worship!”
She pushed the door open and quietly made her way in. She asked a little old lady whom this person was who came and caused such a stir.
“Some Jewish Hippie, probably and illegal liberal who is against the war and God and this country!”
The girl had to turn away from the spit from the old ladies mouth.
The girl asked where he had gone. The old lady said “Out the door!”
The Pastor saw her and beckoned her to come in… she was the newest person in his congregation. He was trying to get his numbers up.
The girl looked at him then back at the door…. She stepped towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Screamed the Pastor.
“I am leaving the Church!” she shouted as she pushed the doors open.
She saw a man walking down the rode, about one hundred feet away.
She stepped outside, and as the sun hit her face…
Joy filled her heart…
And she followed Jesus from that day on.
Friday, April 29, 2005
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4 comments:
Nice story, it has hit me so hard recently. I finally realized that Jesus is not a white middle class Republican. I was reading in a book about an encounter with an atheist. She was asked,"What comes to mind when you think of a Christian" she says "Judgemental, homophobic, hateful" When asked "What comes to mind when you think of Jesus" she says "Loving, Forgiving, and Compassionate"
JP,
Thanks.
pt 3 is in the hopper.
My struggle as my eyes opened to the cultural bias we paint Christianity with is, not to become jaded.
I re read some of my earlier stuff and can see why some would say I was judgmental to the modern church. Yet, I see it like looking back at the medieval church that thought they were doing God’s will. We will see from a larger historical perspective and later an eternal perspective what was good or bad or evil.
I constantly need to remind myself that we as Christians have been on a collective journey. Satan has been trying to give reasons to accuse us, the Body of Christ that we are not worthy… to corrupt the church to turn the hearts of the world against it. Satan uses HIS tools. The funny thing from the eternal perspective Satan does not seem to realize (he may) he is helping to purify the Church. He is still God’s Satan and can only do as God allows.
I will give a teaching of the "larger stage" some time soon… this basically is about going back to the time of the fall and Job and seeing what God is doing in relation to the judging of the angels.
We just need to be honest. Be Real. Jesus was real. He got angry, frustrated, and wept, yet somehow still remains innocent and sinless. Even though He was REAL, He still had all the fruit of the Spirit which is now imputed to us. We have such a corrupt view of being Christ like.
Be encouraged brother, because if you are suffering in your faith… the struggle in its self shows you are learning and growing. Seek Christ Jesus and know He will always be there to answer and walk with you.
Blessed,
iggy
As you grow, and Christ transforms you, yes, your foundations shake. Good post and response iggy. I do have a questions for you. You say "Yet, I see it like looking back at the medieval church that thought they were doing God’s will" Will the post-postmodern world look at us in the same light?
JP,
let me say it this way...
the stereo typed dating ritual of the caveman would look strange and out of place now... wuoldn't it?
If Christ tarrys and we move from post mod to post post mod... we will have to look back and should to see what is working and what is not.
Some see this as getting rid of those pesky doctrines...or at least questioning... which is not something we are really free to do in a modern church.
We are to always check and recheck our self on our journey and make sure we are in step with God. If God deems us or humanity as a whole to understand and grow... then we will.
More mud for you hut...
iggy
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