Rude Graffiti

I love the book The Hole In Our Gospel  by Richard Stearns because it has given me so much to think about.  Recently, I revisited some of the notes that I took on the book, and was stirred by this quote. 

 

“Why did God make me?  The answer?  To love, serve, and obey Him.  That’s what I now understood for the first time.  No matter where I was or what my circumstances were, I was made to love, serve, and obey God.  I could do all three whether unemployed or as a CEO-my situation didn’t matter.” (pg. 29) 

 

The part that really struck me was his point that we were made to love, serve, and obey God.  Therefore, what’s important to God has got to become important to us.  That, in a word, is people.  All people really, but “lost” people in particular, those that do not know God. 

 

Now, what frustrates me more than anything is when people pay lipservice to something, but clearly negate that through their actions.  I realize that no one is perfect, and we all make mistakes.  However, when a child, who happens to be a guest of a regular church attender, is not allowed to come to that church’s vacation bible school outreach because they weren’t pre-registered, we have a problem.

 

Houston, we have a BIG problem!

 

Really?  Really we can’t let this little girl into our outreach program known as vacation bible school because of a misunderstanding?  Are we really going to let something as little and silly as not being pre-registered keep someone from the very thing that they may need?  Do you think this little girl, or her family for that matter, will want to come back to that church?  I wouldn’t.  I could go so far as to say I may not want their God either. 

 

I am just stunned by this story.  Someone who just started attending this church a few months ago, and their daughter wants to bring a friend, a guest, someone who’s never been there before, and is turned down because the child is not pre-registered.  WHAT IS WRONG WITH US TODAY????!!!!!!!  I want to scream at the top of my lungs from frustration.  It reminds of me of the story in the N.T., Mark 10:13-16 as a matter of fact.  People were bringing children to Jesus and the disciples rebuked them for it.  AND JESUS WAS PISSED!  (If you’re offended by my use of the word “pissed”, get over it).  He was!  He took the kids up in his arms and I can imagine with a huge smile on my face the wrestling match and playfulness that must have ensued! 

 

Let’s not get so caught up in our programming that we forget the purpose of it, or for heaven’s sake the God that we are doing this for.  I am glad, for this child’s sake, that they weren’t there when told she wouldn’t be able to come.  She will be disappointed enough, but to be turned away at the door would have been worse.  What damage could have been done because of this?  What will the eternal ramafications of this be? 

 

Again, no one is perfect, but with so much riding on this spiritually, we ought to be more on top of our game.