Accept Everyone
“For the Son of Man came to
seek and to save the lost.” –
Luke 19:10
They don’t attend our church anymore. The teenager prefers
another church, as does his younger brother. The adults, well, they don’t want
the Sunday morning battle. It’s just easier to attend church where the kids want
to go rather than try to force them to attend a church they don’t want to
attend.
One church member asked about the mom, who had been
active in women’s ministry. I explained without getting into great detail. Her
reaction shocked me. You see, she volunteers with the youth at our church. She
teaches a Sunday school class and knows most of the kids.
“He’s a little different,” she said of the teen. “He
just never fit in.”
Excuse me? He’s a wonderful young man who does indeed
walk to a different beat. He’s into music, not sports. He gravitates toward
theater, not softball. He has much to offer but I wonder how much of it she and
others missed because he doesn’t conform to their stereotype.
We certainly missed an opportunity. Church provides a
wonderful time to teach people how to accept and form friendships with those
who are different than them. Did no one seek him out? Did no one try to include
him, to hear him, to see him?
Because I know the backstory to this young man, I
understand a bit more about why he might be different. I won’t share that here.
It’s not my story to tell. I will say that we don’t always know the traumas
others have endured. We don’t err on the side of being kind and inclusive. It’s
just too easy to exclude those who don’t conform.
It is high school stuff but it’s stuff we see everyday
in church. It’s sad. Church should be the one place where everyone is welcome
and accepted. Sometimes that’s true. Oftentimes, though, it’s not.
We want to surround ourselves with people who look,
talk and think as we do. We’ve got no room for anyone who maybe dresses a
little bohemian or likes things we don’t care for. We prefer our own little
cliques rather than try to expand ourselves by reaching out to someone who is
different.
Several years ago I gave a ride to a man who was headed
to his job at a nearby army base. He was from another country. His wife and
sons were thriving in our area. His wife was working on a Masters Degree at a
local college. His sons were involved in school and had made many friends. His
daughter was suffering greatly. Because of their culture, she dressed
differently. And, because of that, she was an outcast at school. No one wanted
to be her friend. No one wanted to know her and include her.
I know what you’re thinking and you’re right. They
weren’t Christians. So what? They were visitors to our country, to our
community. What does this little girl now think about people who call
themselves Christians? Did we draw her toward Christ or push her away? You
already know the answer.
Our job in life isn’t to criticize, condemn or judge
others. That’s especially true when people are different than we are. We have
much to learn about Jesus if we don’t get that. Our Savior drew others to
Himself. Jesus reached out to the outcast. Why don’t we?
Take a moment today to reach out to someone you don’t
know. Include them in your group. Get to know them. Open your heart and your
mind. Be kind. Accept them as they are just as Jesus would. Show them your
faith through your words and actions. Draw them to Jesus by letting His light
shine through you.
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