Aaron Reddin onLife, Liberty, and Pursuit of Jesusness

I know I rant allot….but go along with me because it’s worthwhile. 

Again tonight we hit the streets to try and get people in out of the sub-freezing temperatures.  We pretty much go out every night that the temps get below freezing.  Basically if we see -32 we drop everything. 

Now I’m telling you that to lead into my next point.  It is so critical of a task to go out and take care of these people, that we are going to do it at all cost.  We will bring people in until there is no more people to pick up.  My staff knows very well that the Men’s Recovery Center is NEVER full.  If they have to sleep on couches and in my recliner then so be it.  But NEVER are we “full”. 

Ok, so let me just dive right into this thing.  I know for a fact that a MINIMUM of 5 people were turned away from “faith based” shelters here in Little Rock.  But it’s not just that, it’s that it is below freezing tonight and one of them was a PREGNANT WOMAN!!!!!

I don’t know about you but I find it absolutely despicable that this in-compassionate treatment is coming from organizations that proclaim “compassion” and that tell us they are “doing the most good”. 

How can it be this cold out and you tell a homeless pregnant woman that your “Christian” Shelter can’t make room for her???  This is heartless.  This is what is going on out there people!!! 

While most of Little Rock sits at home by the fireplace watching American Idol, real people are being turned to freezing streets by the “faith community”.  This must stop!!! 

We are not the greatest place in the world, but I can absolutely promise you that we would NEVER turn ANYONE to the streets in this kind of weather, especially a woman carrying a child!! 

Well just to let you know, we took the woman to a safe and warm bed at the Dorcas House which is our women’s ministry, and we got two of the untold number of men who were turned back to the streets into our shelter. 

It really upsets me that the “church” allows this.  We just let it happen.  What’s worse is that it’s some of the church that’s actually doing these deplorable acts!!!

God have mercy on our city, and our churches.   

This guy right here is the face of Christianity in our society today.  He is the norm for what it means to be a “believer” today.  He is the poster-child of everything we are NOT supposed to be doing. 

Too many people think that Christianity is just saying the “Christian” things, or reading the “Christian” books.  We think that going to church makes us a Saint. 

But I have to tell you Little Rock…… I have to tell you ministries in Little Rock…… I have to tell you churches in Little Rock……..I have to tell you that sitting at home talking about all the “Jesus stuff” is NOT Christianity. 

Jesus always said come with me, do as I do.  Don’t sit still.  Don’t sit at home.  Don’t be naive to the things going on in the lives of the people in your community.  He said to go out to them.  To take care of them.  To love and give sacraficially to others.  He didn’t say to go out and make sure you have all the nicest things and then sit at home enjoying them in your free time. 

He showed us that we have no free time.  If we are not DRASTICALLY changing  the lives of those that are beaten down by life, then we are NOT using our time effectively and we are not doing anything to advance the Kingdom of God.  Jesus never stopped to waste time on senseless things, he made the objective for himself and for us very plain.  Sacrifice everything you have for the betterment of OTHERS. 

I’m sorry if you just “have” to have the latest greatest house, car, phone, wii, wardrobe, shoes, and the nicest food and dining that money can buy.  I’m sorry if you are that consumed with yourself, and your things. 

But if the Body of Christ is ever going to really fulfill it’s divine purpose, then EVERYONE is going to have to have compassion running out their ears and stand up for pregnant homeless women who have been turned away from a “Christian Ministry”.  This cannot continue to happen Little Rock.