*Explicit Content--the story is true and real and the church needs to see where the world is at so that we can run to them with the hope that we have inside of us--like Jesus did. It's time to get messy*
The first time I met Katie was the second day at my new job. She was in the back fixing to fall apart as she just found out that her uncle had died the night before in a tragic car accident. Since I was new to this place and didn't really know anybody, I didn't know exactly what to do. But I sat down with her for a moment, let her cry, and then made her laugh. (like milk, laughter does a body good lol) We got off about the same time so we set down and drank some coffee as she told me her life story...
Divorse. Step-parents. Death. Sickness. Cancer. Worry. Depression. Anti-depressants. Poverty. College Full-time. Working two jobs. Cancer again--this time herself (age 20). Weed. Alcohol. Questioning. Broken heart. Empty sex. Sucidal thoughts. Tears. No hope.
At the end of all this she was asking God why??? Her grandfather was a pastor, but her home was filled with a bunch of religious rules and not Jesus' Love. My heart was broken for her. We would hang out after work all the time and she would let me know how her week was going. I'd just let her vent, but she would always come back to asking questions about God and Christians. She was trying to find some kind of answer.
One day while we were talking, she was shaking all over and smoking more cigarettes then her norm. I asked her what was wrong and she rolled up her sleeve. "I just couldn't take it anymore," she said as she showed me her 48 scars where she had cut herself the night before. Then she asked me another question about God that has never left me. In her desperation and tears she asked, "If Jesus is such d@#* good news then why don't it change anything? If it is such f@#*ing good news, then why don't christians act like it is f@#*ing good news? I don't believe a God d@#* thing!!!" She looked at me for an answer and I couldn't say anything.
I went home that night in anger, not at her, but at myself cause I didn't know what to say. Her question haunted me and made me question things.
What is the gospel?
Is it good news?
Why is it good news?
Why don't I act like it is good news?
Why doesn't it seem like good news to other people?
How is the world suppose to see this good news?
I mean really think about this for a moment. When we have something good happen to us, most of the time we tell someone about it and our whole attitude changes. And we have the greatest news ever in Jesus and we're scared to tell people about him and christians are some of the most depressed people i've ever met.
If you were in my situation, what would you have done? What would you have told Katie? Most of us would say, "Well, I'll be praying for you," and then just walk away. Is that showing her good news? Is that showing her Jesus?
"We often ask God to show up. We pray prayers of rescue. Perhaps God would ask us to be that rescue, to be His body, to move for things that matter. He is not invisible when we come alive. I might be simple but more and more, I believe God works in love, speaks in love, and is revealed in our love." (twloha.com)
You see, there is good news...it's Jesus. It's not heaven. (one day there will be...) No, the good news is that Jesus is here...which means...that love is here and hope is here and healing is here and forgiveness is here and it's here NOW!!! We need to show Katie that.
This needs to be our response...
She is ours to love.
We will be her hospital.
We will be her hope.
We will be her healing.
We will be her CHURCH,
the body of Christ coming alive to meet her needs,
to write love on her arms..." (twloha.com)
Now that's good news--that's the gospel!!!
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Sources
To Write Love on Her Arms