Sunday morning I was on my way to church and stopped for a cup of coffee at the 7-11 on the corner. Shut up, it's cheap coffee. And as Luke pointed out, I have no taste.
I always chat with the usual guy behind the counter, and I mentioned I was on my way to church. He told me all his life he'd been raised as a Catholic. He lowered his voice and leaned across the counter and said, "I don't want to say it like I'm bragging, but I ALWAYS tithed, you know." He always considered himself a devoted member of the church. He said he'd had some personal issues recently, and had wanted counseling. He'd gone the church and recieved a flat "no". I wish I could describe the pain in his eyes as he told me. He looked like in the moment he believed God had turned his back on him.
But then his whole face changed and he said, "Then two Jehovah's Witnesses CAME TO MY DOOR." He was so floored that someone would take the time to come to him, and talk to him and help him figure out answers to what he was dealing with. He said so proudly, "I'm a Jehovah's Witness now."
He didn't care so much who was 'right', the Jehovah's Witness or the Catholics. He cared about who CARED.
Is this story sounding familiar?
1 Corinthians 1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
I always chat with the usual guy behind the counter, and I mentioned I was on my way to church. He told me all his life he'd been raised as a Catholic. He lowered his voice and leaned across the counter and said, "I don't want to say it like I'm bragging, but I ALWAYS tithed, you know." He always considered himself a devoted member of the church. He said he'd had some personal issues recently, and had wanted counseling. He'd gone the church and recieved a flat "no". I wish I could describe the pain in his eyes as he told me. He looked like in the moment he believed God had turned his back on him.
But then his whole face changed and he said, "Then two Jehovah's Witnesses CAME TO MY DOOR." He was so floored that someone would take the time to come to him, and talk to him and help him figure out answers to what he was dealing with. He said so proudly, "I'm a Jehovah's Witness now."
He didn't care so much who was 'right', the Jehovah's Witness or the Catholics. He cared about who CARED.
Is this story sounding familiar?
1 Corinthians 1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
That's what attracts people, love. Not catchy slogans on t-shirts, bumper stickers or church signs. Not a big building, or a theological degree.
John 13:35
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
2 Comments:
I always thought the Beatles said it well too.
Why do people always forget about love? They need to watch Moulin Rouge more. Grr.
Good post, and good point.
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