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Watch out where you go 10/29/2007 6:30:05 AM
What are the recipients of the destination looking for from you? Watch out where you go. What are the recipients of the destination looking for from you? Are they open to you with a wecoming spirit and an open door? Or are they announcing ultimatums with measuring tools before allowing you inside anywhere near their meeting places?
Granted, I thought that being Biblically oriented was enough when I went to the church I visited over the course of these past few weeks. The women were wonderful, the singing was fun, the service was what I was looking for in style. I thought I had found the 'right place'.
Then, the leopard leapt out of the hidden closet. "Be healed" first. "Come here to be healed".
"Healed of what?" I wondered?
And so the litany began of faults. Judgments.
"Hold on a minute", I protested. "What right do you have to judge me?"
"What makes you think I need healing?" knowing full well the judger knew nothing about me, and that our last conversation had been eight years prior. She obviously would be completely closed to anything I had to offer the parish.
Yet, the judgment went on, fiercer this time.
I stood my ground for awhile, then saw that it was useless due to the judger's position as wife to the parish head. What I saw was a style of spirit in the head, the leadership of the congregation.
I departed after reporting the event to the assistant head of the parish. He stood dismayed. I doubt there is anything he can do since the attitude can only be changed by God.
What is your attitude in accepting others in? Do they have to measure a certain criteria? Dress code? Credentials? Neighborhood? Style?
Or are we accepting in the Name of Jesus the sinner that everyone of us is..... the filthy, the ragged, the poor, the homeless, the sinner, the loud, the arrogant, the whatever.... you fill in the blank. Jesus did. It was His gentle love that soothed the spirit and kindled kindness in others, shaping them to love others.
