Something Short

1 Timothy 1:5
“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

I want to preface this post by saying that I am reaching far outside of my comfort zone in sharing this with you. I realize that this may be offensive to some; I am sorry, because the intention of this post is not to offend, discredit, judge, or be critical of anyone. I only wish to advocate for the people whose voices we don’t listen. The scripture I have included is all scripture that the Father has laid on my heart recently and a lesson I am learning.

Matthew 7:1-6
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “why do you look at the speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from the other person’s eye.”

As we entered Jackson Square on Lundi Gras, there were already many Mardi Gras revelers out and about that morning. We were excited for our friends (street performers and artists) because we knew that this day would surely bring profit for many of them. This is something that we had discussed with many of them last time we had been out for outreach.
Ruben was the first person we greeted that day. Usually, when we walk up to him, he will stop his act and step down from his crate to talk to us and catch us up on the happenings in his life. Ruben greeted us even before we had walked up to him. He stumbled down from his crate, not because he was intoxicated, but because he had been emotionally wounded. He looked into my eyes and said, “Where were you guys half an hour ago?” You could hear the grief in his voice. I asked him, “Why, what’s wrong?” He told us that he had been assaulted by some self proclaiming Christians, wearing scripture inspired shirts and carrying around large wooden signs. Kati and I looked at each other and our hearts sank. We already knew what we were about to hear.

Ruben described the atmosphere, as these men with godly intentions surrounded him on his crate and began verbally persecuting him, a man they had never met before. Even though every word spoken was probably intended for the crowd of revelers that were his audience, Ruben did not know the difference. They deeply wounded him. They continuously blocked tourists from taking photos of Ruben, preventing him from earning the income that pays his rent, utilities, and grocery bills each month.

He was crushed by the behavior of these men who talked about Jesus. He didn’t understand how someone who does not know him could accuse him and hurl insults at him and claim to represent the Lord. He said, I’m a good person. I love God. Sure I should read my Bible more and even pray more. Sure, I drink some wine to unwind and I smoke. That does not make me bad person though. And it is not okay for them to call me the things that they did.”
Meanwhile, over to his left and near the street curb was an additional person, bearing a megaphone, shouting at the top of his lungs at point-blank range of our new friend Joan’s ear. As she recalled the incident to me, she told me, “I don’t have a problem with anyone coming out here and sharing their faith, but to yell in a megaphone right next to me for an hour, is unnecessary!” Again, I am sure that the message these men had to share was intended for the crowd of revelers, but they also deeply wounded her.

I agree with Ruben. I don’t think it is right either to come into a city and assume that because you are a Christian that you have authority to speak. That was the first lesson I learned in street ministry, that you have to meet people where they are, on their level. Don’t assume anything. It’s the precious blood of Jesus that gives authority. It is absurd to expect a bunch of strangers walking by, to stop and listen to the “good news”, when our message is “Shame on you, you bunch of sinners! Shame on you, for going next door and having sex with your neighbor’s wife!” (That is not an exaggeration. That is one small morsel of some truth we heard being spoken.) Really, just what kinds of seeds are we trying to sow, and where are we planting these seeds (Matthew 13:18-23)?!

It is this approach to evangelism that makes our relationship with Ruben more challenging. With people like Ruben, Joan, Regge, Tim, Ricky, and many more, they have been hurt, verbally assaulted in the name of Jesus. Where is the fruit? (Matthew 7:15-18) What are we selling? (1 Corinthians 13:13) Are we selling love (Luke 10:27), hope, and faith (1 Corinthians 13:13)? Or, are we selling a God that is critical, judgmental, angry, and hurtful? Are we speaking with a good conscience and sincere faith? Or, have we departed from these? (1 Timothy 1:6)

It is not anything we say or do, but solely the Lord and his great big LOVE that brings repentance to the hardest of hearts and breaks down walls. Romans 2:4 “. . . God’s kindness (love) is intended to lead you to repentance.”

So with that in mind we will continue to reach out consistently to the people in this city, building loving relationships centered on God.

Angela Schoonmaker