By Danny Minton

Several years ago, I received a call from someone who wanted to take me out for a cup of coffee. When a request started this way, it usually meant there was some issue they wanted to discuss.  So, I was prepared for one of those “What I don’t like” conversations. We sat down and had a friendly talk for a short while, and then he went into why he wanted to talk with me.

However, the issue wasn’t an issue with something about me or the church. It was a personal issue in his life. He was having a problem and needed someone that he thought would understand without being judgmental of him.  He hesitated to call me because, as he put it, he had great respect for me and didn’t want to harm our relationship or what I might think of him.

Talking about a sensitive subject was hard for him, but he had heard me talk about Jesus and his disciples and how they were close enough to share their hearts no matter what it was about. I listened to him, told him I was not as perfect as he thought, and told him I loved him and would help him however I could. We can still look each other in the eye without him having the fear that I may think less of him.

We may ask why people tend to shy away from church when they fall into an embarrassing or devastating situation. I’ve been there in the past. It starts with just not wanting to face people and tell your story. Sometimes, you feel you must make up a story or tell a half-truth because the truth is too hard to share.  Sometimes, it’s because we’ll go around and tell ourselves that everyone is thinking about us and what has happened or what we did. In reality, we might be disappointed to find out that so few people actually think about us. They’re too busy with their own stories. 

Jesus ate with sinners. He touched lepers. He knelt beside adulteresses. He went home with tax collectors. He spoke to lowly Samaritans and well-dressed Pharisees. On one day he would rebuke those closest to him while the next day, expressing how much he loved them. No man or woman was too poor, rich, good, or bad for Jesus not to spend time loving them. 

I pray that we, as Christians, are that way. I pray that we accept those with open arms who have struggled with life challenges or sin.  I pray that they can see forgiveness and mercy when they look into our eyes. I pray that people will not be embarrassed to be a part of our church community because of what they have said or done, knowing that they can be forgiven and that we accept the forgiveness that Jesus pours out. 

Many people, when they look across a congregation, see sinners, hypocrites, liars, cheats, adulterers, backbiters, complainers, and the like. Jesus, on the other hand, when he looks across a congregation, sees broken people, people who need to be touched, people who need to be hugged, people who desperately need him. 

As for me, I want to see people like Jesus saw them. I want people to be able to sit across from me as we share a cup of coffee and know they can tell me their innermost secrets and problems, knowing good and well that when we part company, I will still respect them and that I will still love them despite their failings, realizing that I, too, am not perfect.

After all, that’s what Jesus would do!

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ