Bad theology is absolutely detrimental to the existence of humanity and the future growth of Christ followers.
Let me explain.
Pastor just bought a new motorcycle. His old bike is pretty old and has some mechanical problems. He was able to fix it up, but he told us that he really wanted a new one so that he could better his ministry. He finally made the purchase today, and invited his daughter, Rebekah, and me out on the first spin. On the way out to fill up on petrol and get some groceries, there was a man lying in the middle of the road. He was outside the church’s pathway and lying in the middle of the road. My immediate reaction, like any caring, compassionate person was to help him. Rebekah told me he was a drunkard and she wanted me to just leave him.
This road is traveled throughout the day and night by tuktuks, motorcycles, vans, buses, and cars. There was absolutely no way that I was going to leave this man in the middle of the road. He could have been the devil himself and I really feel like I would have had compassion to want to save him. I called to Brody, who was inside the church. He came out, barefoot, ready to help.
Against Rebekah’s bidding, I went with Brody to help. There was a tuktuk coming towards us as we lifted this 60-something year old man out of the middle of the road. Pastor just watched as we brought him to the side of the road.
In India, it seems that the Gospel is only available to Christians. Woe to you if you are a Hindu, a drunkard, a smoker, or someone who has a tattoo. Because of the choices such as these, you are no longer welcome to learn about Jesus.
A girl on my team was showing Rebekah pictures of her family from back in America. Rebekah happened to see a picture of a man with a beer. With anguish and disgust, she asked if this person is a Christian. The girl on my team had to explain that drinking alcohol is okay. Rebekah didn’t even try to hide her repulsion.
Not to make a general claim for all the Christians in India, but Christians here that I have met avoid people with problems. They avoid people who are not like-minded. The only way that “sinners” will ever have a hope of being saved is if they seek it out and pursue righteousness. Against judgment, a “sinful” person in India would have to come to church and ask to be accepted. Is this how Jesus lived???
Not a chance.
God loves broken people.
He loves sinners.
He loves it when we’re not perfect and we’re real with ourselves about.
Trying to live a life with the pretense of being perfect is exhausting. It’s limiting and it’s heartbreaking.
No one is perfect. No one who has ever lived until now and no one who will ever live until the end of the world is perfect. None but Jesus.
Praise the Lord for his compassion and his mercy and his forgiveness. Thank you Jesus for seeking me out. I would not have been able to turn from my old, sinful ways without your help, Abba. I would not be where I am if it weren’t for people who are in the likeness of Jesus and took me under their wing to grow me up in faith.
I was that drunkard lying in the middle of the road.
I was that sinner who didn’t feel accepted.
Thank you God that you love me and that you are not stopped by fear or bad theology.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
