This true story illustrates the...
Illustration
This true story illustrates the lesson found in the first few verses of James 2. A large church in a midwestern university town had just begun its morning service when a shabbily-dressed black man entered the sanctuary. There was considerable commotion as the ushers refused to seat the man and tried to get him to leave the church. In broken English, the man tried to explain to the ushers why he was there, but to no avail. The pastor and members of the congregation simply looked on until the ushers had firmly escorted the man outside, and then the service resumed as if nothing had happened.
It was later discovered that the intruder was the pastor of a congregation in South Africa which had been organized by a missionary sponsored by the American church which refused him admittance. The African congregation had worked very hard over a long period of time to raise the money to send their pastor to America. He had come to personally thank the church for their support of the missionary who had been so valuable in his own spiritual life. Yet, the pastor was shut out of this church which sends its missionaries to proclaim the good news of a loving and impartial Christ.
-- Byrd
It was later discovered that the intruder was the pastor of a congregation in South Africa which had been organized by a missionary sponsored by the American church which refused him admittance. The African congregation had worked very hard over a long period of time to raise the money to send their pastor to America. He had come to personally thank the church for their support of the missionary who had been so valuable in his own spiritual life. Yet, the pastor was shut out of this church which sends its missionaries to proclaim the good news of a loving and impartial Christ.
-- Byrd
