MISFITS

I was talking with a close, loved one today and we were speaking of people who have been made to feel unworthy by some churchgoing folks. I know. It is a deep and painful subject. I think many of us have experienced this. It is like opening a can of worms for many people. It is one of those subjects that no one wants to talk about and no one wants to take accountability for.

Misfits in the church. What are misfits? Well, misfits are the exact people that Jesus was out looking for when He was walking the long roads on His journey, finding people to speak words of hope to. I believe that He presented the plan of salvation to those who did not even know what salvation meant. He spoke to the outcast. He spoke to the rejected Samaritan woman at the water well when he was not supposed to. She was considered beneath Him by society in those days. Samaritans were beneath Jews. Jesus still spoke to her and offered her salvation and advised her to not sin anymore. He knew her story. She had been with many men and she had a terrible reputation. I would say she qualified as a misfit. Would you not agree? Yet, Jesus took time to share hope with her. Why can’t we do the same? Why do we create divisions and levels making us seem better than the rest? If you are going to a church that encourages that type of thing, get out. Go find a more Jesus-like church. Some churches are nothing more than social clubs and that is a big, fat shame. Places of congregation to praise and worship were not meant to be social clubs where we can shun those who don’t fit our patterns. God made a way for all of us misfits. No one is better than the other. The bible tells us that we have ALL fallen short of the glory of God. The word ALL is the key word there. All means every single one of us. Therefore, we ALL need forgiveness from God and we ALL need salvation.

I want you to know that you matter to God. Sin is something we ALL have in us and it is something we ALL fall into. We all have different things that attract our attention. We have different likes and dislikes. We all have our weaknesses. I know of some who have an alcohol addiction, others have a drug addiction, others like to steal, tell lies, gossip about others, speak in profane words, and others have sexual addictions. There is a right way to live and a wrong way. The addictions are not good for any one of us. I only named a few but there are thousands more. God’s plan was a good and perfect plan meant for the better things in life for humanity. Anything outside of His plan and that is not pleasing to Him and is forbidden by Him is under the umbrella of sin. We don’t have to like His rules but we do have to choose. He said He loved us enough to send His only Son Jesus to die on a cross for our sins and to deliver us of any of these sins that have us bound like chains. Whether we choose His way or not will not change the fact that HE STILL LOVES US. This is the difference between God and man. God loves us unconditionally and man has trouble with this part. Man will love some but not others. Be careful where you choose to congregate. If you have sins that you are dealing with and want to go to church to find God and deliverance, I pray you will find the best place for you.

If you are a member of a church that looks down on certain sinners, you are a stumbling block for them to come to Jesus. Just know that. Yes. You are a stumbling block and the bible speaks against being stumbling blocks. God will hold you accountable for that life that could have come to know Him, but didn’t because you did not do the right thing. You did not lead them to Christ for salvation. Be careful! God is not pleased with the mistreatment of His children.

Yes the pulpit is a consecrated place. I am not saying people who are knowingly sinning should be in ministry. I believe there is a process of repentance and reconciliation with God and then restoration through the Holy Spirit and only God knows each person’s process and only He appoints them to a position when it is time. That is absolute. What I am also saying though, is if someone comes through your church doors on a Sunday morning, not dressed how you think they should be dressed, not looking how you think a Christian should look, etc, and you turn them away, YOU are in the wrong. Not them. The church is a place for people who need Jesus. It is a safe place for people who are needing a safe place. It is a refuge for people who need refuge in the Lord. It is a watering hole for those who thirst. It is a food bank for those who hunger. Do the right thing for we were ALL misfits at one time or another. Spread love and not hate. God bless you.