I have another story to share from my experience at Missionsfest which took place late last month. I visited an Aboriginal ministries booth to tell them how much I enjoyed their uplifting TV show. (It's called Tribal Trails and I recommend it.) I began talking to one of the elders in charge of the ministry and he began to open up his Bible and minister to me in a very fatherly sort of way. He asked if he could sit down and I didn't object. He had brought along a special reclining chair and explained to me that he has a broken hip and showed a picture of his x-ray to me that was on his cell phone. I said to him, "I can see that you're in pain and having a bit of trouble walking. Why did you feel the need to show me your x-ray?" He replied, "Even Christians don't believe that something is real unless they can see it. My broken hip isn't an obvious enough injury for them not to question." "Really? What makes you think that?" "Oh, you'll see."
As he read to me from scripture about the power of God's Word and it's being a two-edged sword with which we can distinguish between good and evil, person after person approached him. "You certainly seem to be relaxed. I wish I could recline like that on the job." "How can you minister to someone from the Bible in such a position?" I saw this kind servant of God hit with comment after comment about how he shouldn't be reclining as he was at a Christian gathering. In a half hour period, at least 6 people approached and subtly reprimanded him. All of these doubting Thomases had to be shown the x-ray before they believed this man had the right to sit in his special chair just as the apostle Thomas had to place his hand in Christ's side before acknowledging his Resurrection.
Another thought that occurred to me was whether or not some of the people who approached the booth were racist and wanted to straighten out a "lazy Indian". A great deal of ethnic superiority still exists even within Christian circles. Someone even said that the booth was "sure needed in that community" as if Aboriginals are so much more godless than other races. The truth is that First Nations people are often raised to have reverence for a Creator God and easily understand the concept of God the Father.
I would like to conclude by stating that this experience has acted as a reminder to me. Christians should put the best construction on and have faith in the actions of fellow believers unless we have witnessed a pattern of questionable behavior in that person's life. Let's give one another the benefit of the doubt before we stand in a position of judgement. Please!
As he read to me from scripture about the power of God's Word and it's being a two-edged sword with which we can distinguish between good and evil, person after person approached him. "You certainly seem to be relaxed. I wish I could recline like that on the job." "How can you minister to someone from the Bible in such a position?" I saw this kind servant of God hit with comment after comment about how he shouldn't be reclining as he was at a Christian gathering. In a half hour period, at least 6 people approached and subtly reprimanded him. All of these doubting Thomases had to be shown the x-ray before they believed this man had the right to sit in his special chair just as the apostle Thomas had to place his hand in Christ's side before acknowledging his Resurrection.
Another thought that occurred to me was whether or not some of the people who approached the booth were racist and wanted to straighten out a "lazy Indian". A great deal of ethnic superiority still exists even within Christian circles. Someone even said that the booth was "sure needed in that community" as if Aboriginals are so much more godless than other races. The truth is that First Nations people are often raised to have reverence for a Creator God and easily understand the concept of God the Father.
I would like to conclude by stating that this experience has acted as a reminder to me. Christians should put the best construction on and have faith in the actions of fellow believers unless we have witnessed a pattern of questionable behavior in that person's life. Let's give one another the benefit of the doubt before we stand in a position of judgement. Please!
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