“If you knew the generosity of God …
you would be asking me for a drink, and
I would give you fresh, living water.”
Jesus
When my dad was only eight years old, his mother abandoned her family. He found her, years later, after I was born. She was a modern day “woman at the well”. She had been married five times, and the man she was living with was not her husband. Like the woman in John 4, my grandmother (after a lot of care and love) experienced the grace of God.
As I have been thinking about my grandmother and reading about the “woman at the well”, I have been struck by the verse, “For the Jews do not associate with Samaritans” (John 4:9). Many Christians would not have associated with someone like my grandmother. She was an alcoholic, an adulteress, and poor.
Recently, I have been thinking, “Why are there people that Christians do not associate with today?” Intentionally, and more often unintentionally, there are people that many Christians do not include in their circle of friends. The people that we do not associate with are the very people Jesus would be around.
As author Mary Snyder states, “We, as Christians, have turned faith in Jesus into something that requires you to fit into a mold that is of our own making. I know that Jesus is not pleased with what we are doing.”
“I’m after mercy, not religion, I’m here
to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”
Jesus
Thank you Landon Saunders and Mary Snyder, for contributing to this post. Scripture references from John 4:10 and Matthew 9:13, The Message.
Well said Sara, more of us associate with those who are more socially acceptable than Mama was. Seeing her realize how special she was as God’s child touched all of our hearts. Thanks for sharing her story. Love you, aunt carol
Wow, that’s a great question. “Why are there people that Christians do not associate with today?”
I think we are afraid to get outside of our comfort zone. I also think most of us struggle with setting boundaries so we’re afraid we will be consumed by “needy” people if we make ourselves available to them. It’s just easier to “not get too involved.”
I’ve been trying to talk with God throughout my busy day and ask Him to show me who He wants me to encourage or pray for. I do tend to be focused on my own little life, but I’m trying to become aware of those people God is puttng in my path.
Ouch! This is sad but true. We so easily gravitate toward people like us or people we are “comfortable” with and that is not what Jesus would do and not what we should be doing.
What a beautiful story and thank you for quoting me, but I can’t take credit for those words. The Lord has just placed this in my heart. I, too, have lived a life that would have never been accepted in the “good Christian” circles. Maybe that’s why the Lord makes me so sensitive to these. I could have been the one on the outside, but God, in His incredible mercy has given me a new life in Jesus Christ!
Amen, Amen , and Amen:
Reminds me a bit of when studying the parable of the prodigal son, seeming to hear a small but well recognized voice asking me, “Who was the real Prodigal in the end”
And of course the oldest son was the one in the end, on the outside looking in.
God Bless
sonsothunder
I’m scared. What would happen if I did associate with them and step outside the boat?
That said, segregation annoys me. As long as we can remain not of the World, I think we should be as Christ in the World.
Great thoughts, Sara! I am guilty of the same thing. It’s so much easier to stay in our comfort zone than to reach out and face feeling like a fool.
Last year our church had a “Doable Evangelism” training. The main thing we learned was simply to notice others. So I try to talk more to sales clerks, moms at the park, other Kmart shoppers, and so on. And I sometimes–not all the time–remember to pray for them. Occasionally, I have a more in-depth conversation, but even just talking and praying behind their back is a lot more than I did before.
There are some neat stories of people trying to live this on their website under “OA stories” (OA=ordinary attempt).
http://www.doableevangelism.com
Also, check out this video: http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/2009/06/08/the-spiritual-discipline-of-serving/