Some months ago I had the opportunity to attend a worship service in a large church located in a major southern city. The minister was away and I enjoyed hearing from the president of the local university. In the sermon, the president of this large university was talking about homeless people and the need for the Christian church to become more involved. He gave an illustration from his own local church that is located in the downtown area across the street from the University. I was inspired by his illustration relating to the fact that homeless people would come into the doors of his local church and worship on Sunday. The illustration continued to state that the homeless visitors were comfortable on the back pew of the church.
This story has haunted me for a long time now. What haunts me is the fact that these people are recognized by this university president as “homeless.” Apparently the individuals with whom he identifies as “homeless” are in shabby clothes, and appear to be the stereotypical picture of which we have all become accustomed. This thought has occurred to me. Why would a regular attender to a worship service continue to look “homeless?” Is it that we tolerate the “look” and are happy to see a homeless person in our worship sanctuaries but are not willing to do anything about helping that person get some new clothes? Further why would we allow a homeless person to sit on the back row of our sanctuary without reaching out to that human being? Why wouldn’t we assist her in finding a place to live so she would not be homeless?
Here is my struggle today. Are our Christian antennas that dull to those around us? Are we so accustomed to seeing that person and recognize them as just part of the landscape? Have we lost the compassion for helping the human being who needs a place to stay and clothes to wear? Why is it that there are visibly homeless people attending our churches? Once we have identified a person in need, why is it we don’t take the next step and do something? I reflect upon the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan. Before the Samaritan arrived on the scene of the beaten and naked man, there were two “church” people who came before him; people who were unable to see the need or were too busy to stop and help. Maybe they just didn’t “see” the man. He was a part of the landscape. There is a great book by John Ashman entitled Invisible Neighbors. I love the subtitle: “If you don’t see them, you’re not looking.”
LaCount Anderson
