PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME
For a moment, I feared my life might end near the dairy section of Safeway. Late one night I popped into the grocery store for a gallon of milk. I didn’t notice any other customers as I made my way to the dairy case in a dimly-lit corner. Reaching for my carton of 2%, I observed a shadow looming over me. Stepping back, I looked up as a huge man reached in and grabbed a gallon as well. Dressed like a biker and covered in tattoos, he sported a host of piercings in places I didn't know were possible to pierce.
Extending his hand, he boldly stated, "I'm Mike." I managed to squeak out, "Barney." His giant hand gripped mine tightly. I turned to walk away, and he followed closely. I wondered if my sojourn on earth was about to come to an abrupt halt. As I looked for a possible escape route he asked, “You live near here?"
"Yes," I replied, intentionally vague, since I wasn’t in the mood to have my house ransacked.
"Where do you work?"
"I'm a minister," hoping that would discourage him from further conversation.
A huge smile engulfed his face. "Really? Me too! I’m planting a church here in town for people who look like me. Because people who look like me probably wouldn't go to your church."
I froze in my tracks, totally humbled. My holier-than-thou judgement of this brother evaporated quicker than a water droplet on the sun. I knew he was right. Our community needed a scary-looking guy to plant a church to reach scary-looking people. We prayed for each other, embraced, and I safely exited Safeway.
I learned a profound lesson that night: how quickly I judge others based on external appearance. God declares, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7). Likewise Jesus proclaimed, “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly” (John 7:24).
There are no "cookie cutter Christians.” Followers of Jesus come in all shapes, sizes and appearances. Some wear suits, others dress like bikers. Some are clean-cut, others sport tats and piercings. But we all unite on one truth: Jesus is Lord, and we love him. I discovered that reality from a scary-looking dude in a dimly-lit corner of Safeway at midnight.
What class of people do I tend to have judgments toward?
How can I open myself up to allow God to break through those judgments?
Dear Lord, Thank you for the beautiful diversity in your Body.