Swallowing Camels
Sample of Daily Encounter by Dick Innes
I read the following story about how on one Sunday morning a usually long-winded pastor preached his shortest, but one of his most effective sermons ever.
He said, "My sermon this morning has three points.
"First, over three million people in the world today are homeless.
"Second, most of you don't give a d_ _ _.
"And third, it is a shame that more of you are upset by the fact that I said the word, 'd_ _ _', than by the fact that over three-million people are homeless."
I've heard that a well-known preacher did a similar thing when speaking about the tragedy of abortion in this country, only the four-letter word he used was even stronger!
Seriously, I'm not condoning preachers using these words, but how sad it is that so many of us will get considerably more upset over someone using a bad word than we do about people being homeless, about the problem of abortion, human trafficking, not to mention the lost going to hell.
Jesus said, "Woe upon you, Pharisees, and you other religious leaders—hypocrites! For you tithe down to the last mint leaf in your garden, but ignore the important things—justice and mercy and faith. Yes, you should tithe, but you shouldn't leave the more important things undone. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat and swallow a camel" (Matthew 23:23-24, TLB).
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me not to be guilty of straining out gnats and swallowing camels, and help me to be concerned about the things in life that truly matter. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name. Amen."
NOTE: Case in point ... when I sent this article out as a Daily Encounter one subscriber was irate at me over my use of "d_ _ _" used to illustrate the point I was making.
1 comment:
I've heard that story too -- trying to remember where, as the preacher was identified (accurately, I think).
I could play Jr. psychiatrist here, but that takes way too much time. Understanding why people react in such a way doesn't change them (if it is my job to change people). Continuing to hold the "camels" in plain view is the only thing that might make a difference (not to mention getting oneself crucified...).
BTW, I really wish I had thought of your comment (Hell freezes over) for my title. Perfect.
Some day I'll figure out how to get an e-mail link on my blog, but in the meantime: I'm a classically trained pianist, with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music, Piano Performance and Accompanying. Not doing that, however (really long story).
So my music for nearly two decades has consisted of singing in a church choir (not a trained singer, however), sometimes playing organ (also didn't study much organ) and directing a small group of women who sing the service of Compline twice a month (and I only studied conducting for a semester in school).
Go figure.
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