Christians Who Throw Birthday Parties For Prostitutes

While we were in Haiti in May, our preacher, Phil, told our missions team how proud he was for us showing so much love to all we have come in contact with.  I will agree, our group did do an amazing job showing Jesus to people who really needed to feel that kind of love.  We met all kinds of people when we were doing house visits to provide food relief; some were Christians and some were not, but one of those people stood out from all the others.  Her name was Magdala, and she has been supporting her family through prostitution.  We didn’t tell her she was going to hell, we didn’t judge her, and we didn’t try to convert her right there.  Instead, we listened to her story and what led her to that walk of life.  We also prayed a very long prayer while we stood in a circle around her.  Phil also told her a story of Mary Magdalene and how special her name is and that we will never forget her or stop praying for her.  We have given her some money to start a business, and maybe with God’s help, she will use the help wisely and can provide for her family in a better way.

That night, we had a birthday party for one of our friends, Fefe, who turned 15.  We surprised him with a fancy cake from the local French bakery at his house after sunset.  He was so emotional that he cried, and he told us that was his best birthday he has ever had.  We cut the cake with a plastic knife using the help of a kerosene lamp while crowding in his large family’s one-room house, and we had the best time celebrating and laughing together.

That night at our devotional, Phil told us a story that he was reminded of after the house visits and the birthday party.  You can read this story here.  We need to strive to be Christians like this, the type of Christians who “throw birthday parties for prostitutes at 3 o’clock in the morning.”  It is so easy for us to call ourselves Christians, but I think our actions speak for themselves.  We need to put ourselves out of our comfort zones and associate with everyone, even those who have gone down the wrong path and remember there is probably a good reason for how they got there in the first place.  We need to be as Jesus was and show His love to everyone, not just “devout believers.”

The reason I chose to write about this today is because Roni recently told me how he has started to talk to one of the regular prostitutes that comes to his hotel.  He said that no one else he works with calls her by name like they do to other hotel guests, and they just talk about the fact that she is a prostitute.  He treats her with respect, and in time he might get to know a little bit of her story.

Through the Eye of a Needle

I have recently been reading a book called "Following Jesus Through the Eye of a Needle..." by Kent Annan, and it has caused me to think about some things.  The book is mostly about the personal experiences Kent and his wife had while serving as missionaries in Haiti.  I have enjoyed it so far, but I am only about halfway through.

Jesus tells us lots of things about the rich entering the kingdom, but the passage I will quote is Matthew 19:23-24 (NIV):  Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Most of us have heard this verse several times if we have been in any type of Bible school classes.  If you are anything like me, you have read/heard this verse and thought "Wow, Jesus is right.  Those rich people are so greedy and sinful."  It wasn't until I read this book that I realized I am one of the rich people Jesus is referring to, and if you live in the United States, you are also a rich person.  Statistically, I am at or below poverty level in the United States, but I am still more wealthy than over 60% of the entire world!

So what does this mean if you and I are 'rich people' who will have a harder time making it into the Kingdom?  We all know it's pretty much impossible for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle.  I think the first step is being aware of our wealth and how much we really can share with others.  Surely all of us can spare a few dollars here and there for someone who really needs that money.  In Haiti, most people live on under $2/day, and it's not enough.  Who are we to say that we can't spare $2 because "our money is just really tight right now," even though most Americans continue to pay for luxuries like home internet and cable/satellite television when money is "tight."  All of us try to make excuses to get out of giving to others, but I think we do need to be more generous and live modestly whenever we are able to.  There are people all around us who are less fortunate than we are, and Haiti is just one example.

So if any of you are following this blog yet, what does this verse mean to you?  How do you think we should live based on the fact that we are wealthy people?

Sitting in the "Moses Seat"

Matthew 23:1-4 (NIV):  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:  "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, so you must be careful to do everything they tell you.  But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.  They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."

In the days of Jesus, there was a seat in the synagogue called the "Moses Seat" that is linked to this passage.  It is where the appointed people got to sit, read from the Torah, and give their interpretation of the shared scriptures.  As stated, they were often hypocrites, but aren't we all?  I am not a person in any authority to tell others what to do or how to live, and I am most definitely a hypocrite who does not always hold true to my own words.  I would still like a chance to share my beliefs on how we (both you and I) ought to live based on scripture.  From time to time, I will share some posts to have my turn in the "Moses Seat."

New to Blogging

This is my first attempt to blog.  I'm not sure what I will find myself writing about, so that is why I named my blog "Life."  I am guessing everything I will write will deal with life in some way.  : )