I was enrolled in a Methodist church while still an infant. We went every Sunday even when traveling on vacation. Mostly to earn attendance pins. We learned Bible verses. Mostly to win prizes. We sang songs about Uncle Noah and someone’s memory of a childhood church.
But we didn’t lean how to be true followers of Jesus. Church was the center of our social activities not religious ones.
I recently read a book classified as humor about a 33-year old man living in a old folks home because he paid a year in advance for his grandfather to live there but grandpa died before moving in and the facility would not refund the pre-payment. Since the hero shared his name with his grandfather, he claimed the money was for him and he moved in.
What does that have to do with being a Christian? That man taught me what it means to actually be a follower of Jesus, the Christ.
Did Jesus ask us to build a huge structure in which to worship Him? No. He asked us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, refrain from judging others, and love one another.
We could do that. We could work at a soup kitchen or a food pantry. We could donate good clothes–not just the ones too worn or stained for us to be willing to wear them. We could volunteer at a hospital or nursing home. We could stop blaming others for their, or our, actions. We could welcome people not just like us into our lives.
In thinking about Bible stories I learned as a child, I’m beginning to make sense of them. The woman at the well was surprised that Jesus accepted a drink from her because she was used to being judged as not worthy. Jesus defended the adulteress from stoning then told her to stop sinning. Turning water into wine was not about the wine, it was about celebrating love.
I don’t remember there being stories about sheltering others but, I suspect, Jesus would be happy for you to work with Habitat for Humanity or the Homes on Wheels Alliance
I wonder how many other ways we can help people see us as followers of Jesus?
TTYL,
Linda