The David by Michelangelo
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Thanks to a good Friend for sending us this story
A note from AOM:
I follow Jesus. I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I try to live according to the spirit of his teachings and example. Jesus taught us to love one another, to take care of one another, and to forgive one another. I do not call myself a "Christian" because that label is being misused and usurped by so many people who do not follow the teachings and spirit of Jesus. In fact, many of them live diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus and have given the label "Christian" very negative connotations. TO BE CLEAR! I'm not saying all people who call themselves Christians are fakers but there are enough "Christians in Name Only" who have caused me to look for other ways to identify my own personal faith - a follower of Jesus.
In America, these "self-proclaimed Christians" say that America is a Christian nation. That is so not true. If America were a Christian nation then we would be taking care of the poor, those in prison, the sick, and the needy by insuring that all people had access to good health care, a good education and good paying jobs. We would accept and treat all people as our brothers and sisters. We would be a force for Good, Peace and Love in the world. Our elected officials would be men and women of good moral character who care more about helping people rather than their own greed for money and power.
I ask you to please not judge Jesus or his true followers by these "Christians in Name Only". "By Their Fruits You Shall Know Them." (Matthew 7:15-20) ~AOM
The following story is almost certainly a modern parable and not a real event. It does, however, do a good job of pointing out how far away the "so called Christians" are from what Jesus called us to be and do.
(Sadly - I've actually seen something similar happen in a church I once used to visit.)
The Homeless Preacher
"Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced to as the head pastor that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service....only 3 people out of the 10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food....NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks; with people looking down on him and judging him. As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation..."We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek"...The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle, the clapping stopped. With ALL eyes on him he walked up to the altar, took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this), paused for a moment and then he recited Matthew 25:34 -40: 34
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning...many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame.... he then said....Today I see a gathering of people......not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples...when will YOU decide to become disciples? He then dismissed service until next week.......BEING A CHRISTIAN IS MORE THAN SOMETHING YOU CLAIM...IT'S SOMETHING YOU LIVE BY AND SHARE WITH OTHERS."
~Author unknown
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“It is a sinful abomination
for one part of the world's Christians
to grow richer year by year
while our brothers and sisters
ache and suffer for lack of
minimal health care,
minimal education,
and even—in some cases—
enough food to escape starvation.”
~Ronald J. Sider
(Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity)
