Today I heard an interesting story. Apparently there is an unwed woman that has attended a church around, though infrequently. She's pregnant and showed up at church this past Sunday. She didn't attend either service, but came in between services with invitations. She was throwing herself a baby shower. There is an attitude of some members that this is wrong. Not only is she not attending services, she's asking people to come to her baby shower while on the property. It's clear she wants people to bring her things for her baby. She's "using" the church. I have to wonder though, should people even be able to "use" the church? That sounds like I'm against her coming and doing this, but it is really quite the opposite. What I mean is, if we're ministering in light of the way Jesus ministered...should people even have a chance to make it their agenda to "use" the church to help their needs. In other words, this woman is clearly seeking help from a place she has at least made prior connections to. I wonder, what if the church would have thought to provide her with a shower first. Wouldn't that have been right? Some will say, "no, not if she's not giving back to the church." But that makes me wonder, what is the church's role? Aren't we as a body instructed to care for the poor and any in need?(1 John 3:17-19) Didn't Jesus himself say he was the least of these presented before us? (Matt. 25:33-40)When did Jesus first require a commitment to the church before healing anyone. Isn't that what this woman is seeking?
Sure, there are always people who are out to beat the system. There are people waiting to make the church a "sucker" who they plan to play and get all they can and then move one. Oddly enough though, I don't think the church can be a "sucker". If we are to love all the way Christ loved us, that involves offering the same grace to others that Christ offers to us. I'd like to say all churches would do this, but I'd be foolish to believe that. I know there have been situations where I certainly have been on the other side of this argument. We are imperfect and I am certainly no exception. With that, I'll leave us with something from the gospel of Luke.
Luke 6:30-36
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
