Once a month Thelma and her sisters and a counsin have lunch together. Today was the day for April. I took time from my Easter preparations to join them at the Sweet Tomato. As we waited for all to get there, a car drove in with bumper stickers all over the back. I shouted to the young lady who drove, "Why don't you get some bumper stickers and put on your car?" She smiled and shook her brightly dyed red hair and said, "Some people probably don't like them."
One of them stood out in my mind: "I believe in the separation of Church and hate." I loved it!
Later in the restaurant, I stopped by their table and talked with them. She said that she was a a "pagan". She said, "I believe in God and Jesus, but I don't believe in the church."
We talked about the fact that the church has a bad name because there are a lot of churches that practice hate. Especially during recent years some of the church has been busy politically judging others. I told her that I was disappointed in much of that talk and action but there is also in the church a lot of love and acceptance.
I told her that she should read the book , "The Shack." I told her I thought she would like it. I told her that the author said that when we are judgmental we are acting as someone who thinks they are superior to the person they are criticizing.
I thanked her for her influence in my life. She said she was glad to see a pastor who was not like her stereotype of preachers.
Do you suppose God used that conversation? I may never know. It did give me a good feeling as I went back for a second helping of food which I shouldn't have eaten. But, who is going to just me for that? I guess only someone who thinks they are superior to me!
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