On Aug 2nd, R & I had an incidence where we've kindly ask the neighbouring kids not to play on the parking lot of our church since others will be coming for worship practice. However, an angry neighbour saw this and start naming us evil with no loving capacity. She blames we took all their parking spaces every Sunday and why can't we share ours to them. This really strucks me & both of us have no chance to response.
For sure, our presence in that neighbourhood is quite awkward giving most of us being so well-educated and wealthy, there's simply a gap between us. I can definitely feel for their uncomfortableness and seeing us being the intruders. I can see how repellent we are because all these years we are only good at attracting non-believers that are like the core group.
To this day i'm still thinking about how to face those whose needs are opposite to ours (i.e. this neighbour).
I keep thinking whether i need to learn what Jesus said in Matthew 10:16 so I can response properly to this people (Matthew 10:16: "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves").
So i look up the the meaning of the word shrewd vs innocent:
shrewd -- cunning (subtle or deceptive planning or action), ingenuity(cleverness); Characterized by keen awareness, sharp intelligence, and often a sense of the practical.
innocent -- Uncorrupted by evil, malice, or wrongdoing
When i read this i was very despair because there's no way i can live with no sins and be so clever like Jesus.
However, last night during my small group, one of my brother shared something really really touches me. He said, "it's not about meeting the needs this people have. It's about how much you're willing to sacrifice yourself to them." The best part is when another brother responsed who said, "this is exactly how i feel...i was very different than all of you but you guys are willing to sacrifice so now i'm a Christian".
As Christians, ain't we called by God and Jesus to do this "To give ourselves to God as living sacrifices (May it be giving up my time, my resource, my needs, my oldself)". Didn't Jesus set many good examples in the bible (i.e. spending time with tax collectors & sinners, touching those man with leprosy, etc.)? When i see this, i feel much more happier coz i know i can fullfill this and I'm up for the challenge!!
~cC
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