White Gloves
In early years of our marriage Laila was reluctant to have visitors to our home. It was not that she did not like visitors or extended family to coming to our home, Laila just had the notion that home was supposed to be perfect—spotless and well-ordered.
Last week we had the seniors of Covenant Church to our home. Just as they were preparing to leave I noticed that the broom had been left out leaning on the wall in the kitchen for the entire event. I softly chuckled to myself at how much Laila had changed.
We learned with time that folks who come to visit do not bring "white gloves" to inspect window sills and book shelves. We also learned that if someone does bring white gloves it matters very little to us. Our focus is people. And the Lord has taught us that warm hearts and hospitality are what people remember, not whether there is dust on the coffee table or a broom out of place.
Thinking of this part of my life as a pastor brought me to another conclusion. I do not want to get to heaven with white gloves. Hear me out.
I think about Pastor Jenkins, a local pastor of one of our larger community churches. Much loved. Respected. He also served as a military chaplain. He returned from recent active duty with a Bronze Star, not something common for military chaplains. A few weeks later he resigned as pastor to return to military duty as a full-time chaplain.
While I am not privy to details, my hunch is that Pastor Jenkins would probably have enjoyed a much softer and easier life as a pastor. Possibly even his pay might be greater as a pastor. Instead, he is off to minister to soldiers in dangerous places where "white gloves" are useless.
I thought about Jesus. He did not come to earth with white gloves. His birthplace was a manger. He had no home. He stayed with friends and family. He talked with lepers, people the Jews considered "dogs", Romans, hated tax collectors, prostitutes and other sinners. Think of the risk of health, of reputation, and of embarrassment.
Once Jesus healed a blind man by touching his sightless eyes. When the man said he saw people as "trees," Jesus prayed for him again until sight was restored to see people as PEOPLE.
Some people see color. Some people see money. Some people see education. Some people see social class differences. Some people see differences in intelligence.
Jesus saw people. He touched them. He allowed a woman defiled with blood to touch him. He was not less but more because He was with people and loved people. He did not measure people by what they were but by what they could be. He did not see them as filthy, polluted, or little devils. He saw them as God's creation. Special. Worth His dying for them.
Jesus did not get to the cross with white gloves. He was pretty messed up by the time He got to the Cross. Blood everywhere. Spit of others on him. Dirt. And more that we do not know. He would not have passed a white glove test on the Cross. He looked awful, so awful that you would not have recognized him as he was only days before.
Yet, in all the filth of sin Jesus was pure. He was sinless. He was still the undefiled Son of God, spotless, no blemish, no fault, a perfect and acceptable sacrifice for the redemption of sin.
Every church must make choices. There was a choice in New York City back in the early 1900's. A dirty and ill dressed about 12 year old boy went up the steps of a grand church. A deacon waited for him at the top of the steps, took hold of the boy, and pushed him back toward the steps. White gloves on a deacon told a little boy that "their" church had no use for such as he. The little boy was John Dillinger, who later is said to have repeated: "I stood on the church steps and swore that as long as I lived I would never set foot in a church again." He became one of America's most notorious and cruel criminals.
White gloves keep the church well ordered. But stain of many people's blood is on those white gloves.
Jesus did not call us to form a circle and hide from the enemy. He gave us power to go out into the world, not be of the world, and share the love of Christ. Even as I write this letter to you a meal is being provided for refugees at Hope Community Center. People who have recently come from Burma, Iraq, Congo, etc., are being blessed with good food before they enjoy an English class taught with a Christian base.
At this very moment a bus from Covenant Church is picking up homeless people to take them to Hope Community Center. Last night a mother and two small children found shelter, warmth, security, and food at Hope. About 25 homeless persons will also eat at Hope Community Center tonight and sleep secure and warm.
God is not looking for laborers who want to wear white gloves. He is looking for laborers who will go out into the harvest and be willing to sacrifice to make a difference. I frankly think that people trying to live a "white gloves" religious life will be left here with the Anti-Christ when Jesus comes. Jesus is coming back for those who love him and are his servants to touch the lives of others.
To all those of you who read this letter weekly and do not regularly attend Covenant Church, would you think about an offering to help with the ministry to homeless and refugees? Mail your check to Covenant Church and mark it for "Homeless." Covenant works with Hope Community Center in this powerful outreach.
If you cannot go to the streets to minister to the needy, give and pray to send those who do go. You will receive rewards with those who go! May the Lord give us work gloves, not white gloves.
Much Love
Pastor Bare
Then He said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." Matthew 9:37