-Michael Mewborn
I recently spoke with a fellow seminary student and we talked about our experiences and requirements in various classes. He told me about the requirements for one of his classes which was to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting. The particular group with which he was required to interact was at levels 6 and 7 in the 12-step program. After he described the scene of the room and sense of encounter to me, I perked up to receive the conclusive and valuable insight regarding how to deal with the needy. Then he said something that shocked me. "Michael, I felt more accepted and received amongst that group of individuals than I do my own church family." I was taken aback and jolted. I expected to get valuable insight on how to attend to the needy however I realized that he along with I, had been thrust into an encounter with brokenness for which we very much wanted to be involved. Instead of identifying someone else in their brokenness as though we were observers or onlookers, he and I came to understand that we were as broken as they were and very much in the middle of our own significant struggles.
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1 comment:
This post reminded me of something i've heard before.
(paraphrased) "If the church acted to its fullest potential to what Jesus has called them to, there would be no need for government sponsored social help programs."
I forget who said it... and that would only happen in a perfect world. but the truth is still there.
I think you have nailed two core issue that the church (especially in america) is not accomplishing very well. 1.) adequately and correctly ministering to the poor, addicted and socially downcast as Jesus has called us to. 2.) experiencing real, authentic community where the love of Christ is so vivid in our lives that we are honest with each other and build each other up and keep each other accountable.
a very convicting post, z. thanks.
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