"He's alive, right?"
This was the comment my dad made to me that forever shaped my thinking about how we are to treat one another.
The comment was made after a man that went by the name of "Bub" offered me a piece of Wrigley's chewing gum. Such a gesture wouldn't seem to illicit such a comment unless I told you that Bub had not likely showered in weeks, and his hands were covered with dirt. Thus, taking the already unwrapped gum from his dirty hands and inserting it into my mouth seemed extremely undesirable!
However, after noticing my hesitant reaction, my dad quickly grabbed the gum, put it in his own mouth, thanked Bub, and then proceeded to talk with him for a few more minutes. After their conversation concluded and Bub left, my dad looked right at me and said,
"He's alive, right?"
While my dad only posed a three word question, the implications of that question have stuck with me throughout the years. Essentially, my dad was asking me who I thought I was to treat another individual in a way that I would never want to be treated. My hesitation taking Bud's gum was telling him I thought I was too good...too proper...too clean...too sophisticated...too whatever... to accept his gift.
And in turn - I was telling Bub that I thought I was better than him. Quite the opposite, my dad's gesture declared...
Whoever You Are...You Matter and Have Value.
Jesus' actions and words advocated this very same thing.
Regarding his actions, simply consider the dinner guests Jesus often chose to dine with that expressly declared in his day who he believed were welcomed around God's table in God's Kingdom. Or, take into consideration his conversation with Samaritan woman by a well one afternoon - a conversation no Jewish man in that day would ever have because of the deep-seeded hatred between Jews and Samaritans.
Regarding his words, Jesus plainly validated the value of all people when he commanded, "Love your neighbor as yourself."
This fall, our new church (Rise City Church) launches here in Santee. And you want to know what my prayer is?
I'm praying we become a church of gum chewers!
I'm praying our dinner guests look like the dinner guests of Jesus.I'm praying we can look around the table and see a diversity of people from various backgrounds to ages to ethnicities to life experiences in order to catch a true glimpse of heaven.
And, I'm praying we take Jesus at his word and do our absolute best to love and treat others as we would want to be loved and treated.
I also pray that you would consider joining us - whoever you are.
Rise with us.
Rise City Church launches on October 6, 2013 at 10am at Hill Creek School. For more information about the church and/or to get involved, email brandon@risecitychurch.com.
