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Hey Christian Huddle Are You Killing the Church?

A Word for the Christian Huddle

Posted on May 25, 2016May 18, 2020 by Cheerful Soul

He was an outcast. Not a friend to his name. Despised. Rejected. Hanging his head in shame.

He was familiar with ridicule.

And the feeling of loneliness.

Peculiar isn’t it…how we are afraid to admit we’re the same.

A bell hung around his neck, much like today we would imagine worn by cattle. It’s so people would know he was near and hence, they would scatter. The Christian huddle was nowhere to be found. The bell signaled, “Unclean! Unclean!” Serving as a constant reminder. He was dirty. Unworthy. Living alone on an island.

In search of help, the leper made his way through the crowd. The assumingly “clean” people jumped, bolted, and scattered. They wanted to stay in their safe, Christian huddle. People who they knew by name. Recognizable and familiar.

After all, they had raised respectable kids, who held doors open for madams and shook hands with businessmen. They did not cuss in their circle or venture out of their shelter. It was scary for them to see what was a matter.

A dying world may lay wasting, but do you even care?

We can get wrapped up in our own Lil’ worlds. Playdates. Soccer games. And football tailgates. We often do not pay attention to those outside of our sphere. Someone in need? Someone we could help?

Why in the world we would ever venture there?

This leper that particular hot, sultry day made his way through the crowd with Jesus fixed in his gaze. He desired to be made well. His flesh was downright rotten. Disgusting and gross. And the smell…ew…like fresh roadkill. Bloody and nasty. This man had lived his life in the dumps. His inner emotions…the hurts and the pain…were more than the nose-in-the-air onlookers could take.

But if we could take a closer look, maybe the issue at hand wasn’t so easily recognizable. The onlookers had their problems, you see. They were just pros at making them disguisable. They felt lonely. And unaccepted. And left out a time or two. They battled with perfection and knowing what was the right thing to do. They envied their neighbor and wished their life could be better. Why, when you cut to the heart of the matter, they weren’t much better off than the leper.

Although from outside appearances, everything seemed okay…inwardly, they were caving. Just trying to make it through the day. Laughing at jokes of friends. Having just one more drink. Zoning out to their favorite television series. Wanting to escape their reality.

Maybe this dirty, dingy ole’ leper would help pave the way?

 

The leper was needy in all sorts of ways. He approached Jesus saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Jesus, looking beyond the disgust and dismay, replies, “I will; be clean.”

And immediately his leprosy forever disappeared.

The leper that day walked away from a changed man for he had been clothed in dignity and respect. He now understood that He was created in the image of God. Restored. Redeemed.
Christian huddle, I hope I made you think.
I will make people more gold

From a former Christian Huddle Junkie, “Life is better on the outside.”

 

You may find this story in Matthew 8:1-3.

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9 thoughts on “A Word for the Christian Huddle”

  1. Melissande Deardurff says:
    May 25, 2016 at 3:46 PM

    Your word pictures about the leper were great. I love the image of him being made clean and whole in Christ Jesus.

  2. Anonymous says:
    May 25, 2016 at 6:03 PM

    Amenl

  3. GodlyGal (@GodlyDivaGal) says:
    May 25, 2016 at 7:06 PM

    Ah those images – something i’m still working on

  4. weirdolelady says:
    May 25, 2016 at 9:10 PM

    Yes, so necessary to look at everyone as potential redeemed by the Lord. Can’t exclude anyone. Well written!

  5. mariewikle says:
    May 26, 2016 at 12:13 AM

    beautiful.

    We forget that so many beautiful on the outside people are so filthy inside and vice-versa.

  6. Allison Lancaster says:
    May 26, 2016 at 1:59 AM

    I absolutely love this! I am sharing on my Facebook page and Twitter…so convicting.

    1. sue a allen says:
      May 26, 2016 at 1:32 PM

      Thank you Alison! Have a great day!

  7. Faith Ganchua says:
    May 26, 2016 at 11:39 AM

    All our righteousness is as filthy rags. No matter how “in” we are with the good people, we have have to remember God looks “into” our hearts.

  8. sue a allen says:
    May 26, 2016 at 1:33 PM

    You are absolutely right! God gets all up into our business…which is messy and awesome all at the same time. God bless.

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AUTHOR//BLOGGER//SPEAKER


Sue is an author, blogger, speaker, and mission enthusiast. In her spare time, you'll catch her hiking in her backyard.

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