The Life You Are Called To: Part 1

THE LIFE YOU ARE CALLED TO: PART 1

By Jeremy Gentry

May 2, 2023

Last night, I stayed up late praying. The Lord has put a huge burden on my heart, as of late, for the people we've been meeting in the motel mission and to the homeless that I've been trying to share the Gospel with. I teach a Monday night Bible study, and we discussed this last night, and it's been stuck in my head and my heart. For one thing, it seems unbiblical that we live in a country as wealthy (materially, definitely not spiritually) as America and yet, there are literally millions of children who go to bed hungry every night. It is sad that families have to live in rundown one-room motels, just to avoid being out in the elements. Many people in this country treat this group of people like dirt. This is the epitome of living for yourself, not for Christ.

However, what I cannot understand is the way many "Christians" view those in these situations. Not only those who are homeless or live in motels, but even fellow Christians in the church. In last night’s Bible study, we were in Romans 12. True Christians are a part of the body of Christ, and no part of that body is more or less important. A pastor is no more important than a layman. A CEO is not more important than the employee. ALL Christians have their place in the body of Christ. Unfortunately, in many cases judgment is based upon outward appearance, human achievement, and human opinion within the church. There are cliques among the wealthy and the powerful, and people who literally look down on those who don't meet their pharisaical standards. It reminds me of the true to life movie, "Jesus Revolution," when scores of "hippies" started getting saved and coming to church, and the long time "Christians" wanted them gone. One deacon said "they'll ruin the new shag carpet."

I have personally seen many of these wonderful people that come to church (I have actually brought several of them myself), and most say the same thing: "I felt very awkward" or "people were looking at me funny." In talking with many of these people in poverty situations, the vast majority of them claim to be Christians. I have had the honor of leading some of these images of God to the Lord. Many of them have had a really tough life. Sometimes it is due to bad decisions on their part (drugs, alcohol, etc), but other times they just had a bad year. They need help, both spiritually,  emotionally, and financially. 

Why does this break my heart so badly? Sadly, there are many who claim to be dedicated followers of Jesus Christ who look disdainfully at them and gossip about them, rather than ever think about helping them.I was one of these people. I made some very bad decisions in my life. I was a wretched sinner who only cared about myself and getting my next high.  BUT GOD… HE changed me. When He CHOSE ME (I didn't choose Him. He CHOSE me before the founding of the world, KNOWING how sinful I would be.). He regenerated me from my sinful dead state, I died to my former ways, and I instantly became a brand new person in Christ. That is one major reason why this scripture, 2 Corinthians 5:17, is one of my favorites. Also, Ephesians 2:1-10, clearly shows that before coming to Christ, we are DEAD in our sins. BUT GOD, makes us come alive by His grace. We are literally BORN AGAIN. THE OLD, SINFUL WRETCH IS NO MORE.

Why in the world do so many "Christians" continue to look down on people who come to Christ, but bear the burden of a shady past? They see someone’s outward appearances, and sneer at them. I've had members of my own family say that the reason why they don't go to church is because, when they do, they get looked down upon. Of course, we know that reasoning shouldn't keep anyone from church. This doesn’t solve the problem or answer the question. Why do Christians still act like this? "Well, we are imperfect..." or "the Lord's still working on me." So why does that apply to us, but not these wonderful people?

Sadly, many of these people with sinful pasts (which is literally all of us), come to Christ, and still struggle financially and emotionally. They don't "fit in" with the "holier than thou" crowd who were fortunately born into a family that didn't have these problems and got "saved" when they were 5 or 6, and have never had to worry about where their next meal was coming from. That's absolutely wonderful for them, but unfortunately, it is difficult for them to understand what it's truly like to sleep in the woods, in a dingy motel, in a car, etc. Many of these people would rather die than to go through the heartache of another day. Many church members struggle to know how lonely it is to go through withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, or to literally have to ask for change just to get a hamburger. Whether or not many church members do it on purpose, they judge them, based on appearances. I've heard so many times: "Well, if they would have made better decisions, they wouldn't be in the mess they're in" or "I didn't make them drink or do drugs, so why are they my problem."  "Why don't they just get a job like everyone else? They're just lazy and asking for a handout?" We must consider the fact that they may have tried over and over again to get a job, but nobody will hire someone with a criminal background? Maybe they have health issues that you don't know about. The point is, true Christians DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS BASED UPON APPEARANCES. 

Many American churches are failing at walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Let’s take a quick look at what the Bible says about ministry to the poor, the homeless, or those with a boat load of offenses? Here are some verses that I DID find, however:

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it." (Proverbs 3:27)

Acts 20:35- "Help the Weak...it is more blessed to give than to receive."

Galatians 6:2- "Bear one another's burdens."

1 John 3:17- "But if anyone has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in Him?"

James 2:15,16- " If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[a] is that?"

Not to mention the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, on Luke 18:9-14, where the Pharisee thanked God that he was "not a sinner" like the tax collector.

Of course, when looking at those who are “worse off” than you, I have heard many people quote "him who doesn't work, does not eat." The problem is that they are not reading the context where Paul is clearly talking about the lazy, who did NOTHING to help others or share the Gospel. The problem is that this culturally acceptable line of thinking goes totally against what Grace and the Gospel are all about.

The bottom line is this: Christians in this country have GOT to do better in displaying true Christian qualities. What is the evidence of true Christianity? When someone becomes a true Christian follower of Jesus, we become a NEW CREATION. Our past is essentially erased. The Lord forgives EVERYTHING from our past. Why do we insist on looking down on those with a bad past, who continue to struggle because of mistakes that were made in their former life, while we praise those who have never wanted for money in their lives? That's a worldly view, and it belongs in the world. We truly need to start being more understanding of those who have made so many changes through Christ. It's so sad to see these people suffer day in and day out in a country that pays people millions of dollars to play sports or star in movies, or even just to look pretty. That's how this wicked world is. But it should be the testimony of the church.