As I ran the short distance from the car to the Church building the wind blew freezing cold from the snow capped mountains around our city. Our little church is in the Red Light down town district squeezed between two three story apartment blocks housing prostitutes and transfestites. The little building does not look like much but as I pushed the heavy, cold metal door open I was touched by the warm friendly chattering of people mingling and talking inside.
Often during our time of worship and singing in summer time, people in the street walking by will stop and listen through the open windows. Some will take a free Bible from the windowsill, and some will even come in and sit down for a bit. There is a constant flow of people coming and going through the open door of this little building, for prayer or just out of curiosity. A few Sundays ago a man lit his sigarette for a smoke during the sermon, then a person got up and made himself a cup of tea and somebody climbed through the man hole in the Sunday school class and sat smoking his sigarette on the roof. It sounds all strange but these people know where to come and hear about Him and sense His love.
Sunday morning again he came, with his usual dirty worn out clothes. He seemed drunk and had obvious sores on his face and hands which I have not noticed before. I thought it might be from overdose of strong alcohol. The doorman helped him in and as he passed by me I smelled a heavy alcohol stench and also noticed his pants soiled in the back. He was seated next to an elderly lady which has been coming to church regularly.
During the worship he sat quiet, with his eyes open but his head bow down. I wondered if he came in because the streets was bitter cold and the church somewhat warmer, or was he really searching for Jesus and an end to his struggles. I stood praying in the back for him realizing that Jesus can change his life, he could be saved and live a sober Godly life. Nothing is impossible for God.
The lady sitting next to him suddenly jumped up just before communion was served. Obviously disturbed by something, she talked to the doorman pointing to the drunk man. She walked back to her chair, grabbed her handbag and left church. My friend the doorman came and stood next to me with his head down. I could see he was upset by what the lady said about the drunk man being there.
The well known question: "What would Jesus have done?" came up in my heart. I put my hand around my friend the doorman's shoulder and whispered in his ear: "In difficult situations I always ask myself, what Jesus would have done in love, in this situation? I think you have made the right decision to let this man inside."
Standing again looking at this poor, lost, rejected, dirty, smelling, drunk man I knew Jesus saw him different. He saw him as a child of His that needs love and acceptance. I prayed again in my heart that God would help me to love others, and help me to see them as He sees them. That to love others would be seen as a command and not a choice or option.
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