Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful for only priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:3-5
During prayer requests at church, a mentally handicapped man asked for prayer to find a wife for companionship. Another Sunday, the same man changed seats to sit next to me. The two men who bring him to church approached to pluck him away. Not wanting to be his next rejection, I said he could stay. When he asked me to go out after church, I explained I was married.
The Lord of the Sabbath wants us to put the needs of others above the codes of the church, as David did when he fed his companions with bread meant for priests. Have you seen someone at church rejected because of their actions or physical appearance?
Heavenly Father, help me make a special effort this week to find someone who is at risk for rejection and show them Your love.
Yes, I have seen rejection at church. As an adult I can look back on my youth and know that friends and myself made some pretty bad choices. There was a boy named Bill in our MYF group. As an adult I know that he had a mental handicap. As a teenager I just thought he was weird and strange. Our youth group was the one place he should have been accepted. It was the one place he should have felt kindness. I really don’t feel good about what happened to this day. It was mean and I hope that he forgives us. We should have put his needs first.
It is unfortunate that the Methodist Church doesn’t train its youth pastors. The worst experiences we’ve had with youth pastors have been in the Methodist church. I remember Bill although I was younger. The leaders of the church could have used Bill for a wonderful learning experience, but they let the meanness continue. Being shy and sometimes not accepted well at school, I always felt accepted at church and youth group and loved going there. Bill will forgive you in heaven, but God has already forgiven you.
Thankfully, I was never a ring leader and was never mean to his face. I don’t think the others were mean to his face either, but I am not sure. People made fun of him behind his back, and even though I was not a ring leader I am guilty by association and by not telling them to stop. It was wrong for sure. I have prayed for him and for me about the situation. I hope he is doing well in his life and has found people that love him.
Sometimes we learn from our mistakes. People used to talk behind my back because I was so shy, so I was sensitive to that. I think Bill would appreciate it if he knew you were extra kind to people who are really shy, a little different, or mentally handicapped. I didn’t know his family well, but I remember Mom poking fun at his mother, not a good example for you.