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He Went Outside...

by Shannon Heiden  
4/28/2010 / Devotionals

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. (Hebrews 13:13 NIV)

Beautiful One, have you ever noticed that Jesus spent most of his time on earth, outside? He traveled to many places teaching, and bringing good news, but most of his ministry was done outside of the temple.

The House Of The Lord or Church as we call it today, is a wonderful place. If you have ever been to one, then you know that there is just something about belonging and connecting to the Lord with his children. There is nothing like it. But for some, Church has brought many sorrows. The place we seek refuge in, has been known to repel many! Maybe you yourself have experienced this, or you know someone who has. Some will never recover from the wounds within those walls, and may I say; this should never be.

Not on our watch!

I currently work at a Resort. In my job I encounter hundreds of people. Business people, families, couples etc. Before this job I was in full time ministry. I was on staff Directing four ministries. So its safe to say, that I'm a people person, and I've encountered many people from different backgrounds, religions, and social standpoints along my way.

What I find so interesting, and somewhat disheartening is that as much as I loved being in ministry, when I went to work in the 'real world,' one of the reasons I have stayed there is because the people I work with and encounter seem so much nicer, more genuine, and real.

I really was shocked by this. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Shouldn't being around Christians, your family member's make you feel your best, not your worst? I think we know the answer to this, but let's explore it together. I know that it's an uncomfortable subject, but thats OK! Its a needed conversation! And because we as Christians feel so passionate about the Kingdom of God, dare I say, we need to work on feeling more passionate on why it's there to begin with!

Because its filled with the most precious things on earth.

People!

I've spent the last two years pondering and examining this. I've spent much of my waking hours asking the Lord why He exposed me to "the Church, and ministry" and then take me out of it. Literally placing me right in the midst of people, most of whom are non believers. The irony is rich in reality.

Church Ministry is available to help aid growth and knowledge in the ways of the Lord. We learn to serve, we gain wisdom and experience maturity as we go. Ministry helps us to connect to our newly found spiritual family. We belong to something greater than we've ever known, and we become known to others. For some, this is actually the first time they are ever known to anyone, and they go from survival, to stability, and are well on the way to reaching significance. Right before our very eyes.

But often times, what's right in front of us, escapes our vision, because it is only focused on me, myself, and I. Oftentimes, its about gaining numbers, and not the hearts that bring those numbers. So often we tell others to come as they are, and when they do, when they finally step through our doors, we reject and silently judge them. We even put a time limit on them as to when they should "get it."

Maybe you personally have not witnessed this, but I have. Forget Satan, Christians can do more harm to Gods treasure chest, than anyone else. The oldest trick in the book is to divide the house, so it cannot stand! But, the first step in changing anything, is becoming aware that there is a problem to begin with.

Being in ministry has allowed me to experience many wonderful things. And along with anything good, there also comes the snags and tears too.

Today I was reminded of an event that changed me. I've carried it with me as a reminder of just how "we the people" can be. It also reminds me of how amazing God is as well.

One Sunday morning, there was a man in our church who was visiting for the first time, He was a relative of a known family in the Church. Nothing unusual stood out about him, just a visitor on a Sunday morning. During the message, he got excited about what was being preached and shouted out briefly. It was no big deal.

But because no one knew this man, the Prayer Warriors in our Church, more like a pack of wolves, swooped in and stood behind him immediately praying in the spirit. Before I knew it, a few from the pack, security and a few others politely escorted him outside the church. I only found out after service they had deemed him "demonic," and were avoiding any further disruptions. I witnessed the whole thing, and being on staff myself, I was accustomed to watch for anything out of line. But this was not the case, and the man was not demonic. The poor guy wasn't churched. He didn't know the correct lingo of 'hallelujah' or "praise God!" He really was simply excited to hear the message. It was more disruptive to see all that transpired.

Just so happened, a Childrens Teacher was outside during service that morning. He just got the news that morning (-literally in the parking lot when he arrived,) that the Childrens ministry was shut down until further notice. The heartbroken teacher who was holding all his supplies and costumes, somehow felt like it was because of him that this was happening. He was a different man, but he loved children, he had two of his own. He felt like someone was angry with him for a meeting he had had the week before with the leadership.

He was told it wasn't because of him. But, the truth is, the Pastoral Leadership also decided that morning that this man was "demonic." This is the same man who they had teaching for over two years, and all of a sudden he wasn't fit to teach the children anymore. The leadership let him go and they did it on the Sunday morning he was lead teaching, with no warning or meeting from them to explain themselves. They diligently delegated the responsibility to guess who? Yours truly! Since I was over the Childrens Ministry temporarily because the Director was on maternity leave.

Beautiful one, I didn't have it in my heart to tell this man and his wife, who served in our church faithfully and wonderfully, that this is what the Leadership said about him. I didn't agree at all with any of them. Right or wrong, if I erred, it was on the side of protecting this man from being deeply wounded. But what I find so beautiful, is that this teacher deep within knew something was off, and he wouldn't go into service that morning until his heart was right about it.

And as he waited outside and on the Lord, another quote, unquote "demonic" was sent straight to his side.

Hmmm.... Two so called "demonics" suffering together outside the gate of the Church. Alone, bruised and judged, (incorrectly I might add! ) While the good Christians sang and praised, and had the edge on the holiness corner inside. You tell me, where was the Lord at that moment? I can assure anyone, He left that service awhile ago, and He went outside!

I guess the point I am trying to make is that Jesus never judged anyone. He extended mercy instead. He never rejected but rather He went out of his way, going through crowds, breaking all the rules of tradition and law, to search out the one who everyone else X'd out!

In fact, as far as "demonics" were concerned He never would tell them to go away, instead He took pity on them, freed them from their bondage, and sent the "demons" away while keeping the man close to him.

I myself after much thought, have finally come to the place of understanding that ministry is messy, because wherever there are people, there are problems. Just look within your own family, or marriage, friendships and jobs. The earth is filled with people, and yes, we all have problems.

But we can be better because of our pain. We can be more wise, compassionate, and understanding of ourselves and others in the process. It's no wonder that Jesus stayed outside. When we become inclusive, things just get weird. And when we get weird, we tend to hurt people. The Lord Jesus himself said "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!" When we as Christians hurt, or repel another away, we truly don't know what we are doing!

And we all have done it!

So let's gain understanding, let's use our experiences for something good, and forge an alliance together so that it doesn't happen again, to someone else. Because there is only one thing God truly cares about. Its not our church, our ministry, our job, or even our tithe. God cares about people. And if that's what God cares about, then so should we. The rest will all fall into place. When the Church, Gods people, care about what He cares about, great things happen!

Beautiful one, just believe, and lets take a walk with Jesus, outside!

Shannon Heiden
[email protected]
changingonelifereachingmany.typepad.com

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