If I Were Not A Christian

THIS COULD HAVE COST A SOUL
(BROOK'S POEM)
By Debby Black
 Copyright © 2001

My car died on a busy street
When I was all alone
Weary from a long day's work
I went searching for a phone

To my delight, I saw a church
With members standing around
I smiled at the Believers
They stared at me--then frowned

I asked them if they had a phone
"No," was their quick reply
"Is there one in the building?"
They grimaced with a sigh

"Are you a member here?" they asked
My heart sank in dismay
"No, but my car broke down"
Annoyed, they pointed the way

 

   

 When I entered the building
No one spoke to me at all
They stared at me as though
I  had an awful lot of gall

Not one person volunteered
to help me find my way
If I were not a Christian
How would I have felt that day?

Would I have thought, 'HYPOCRITE!'
With angry disrespect?
Would I have closed my mind
Future witnessing to reject

Is the church an exclusive club
Where we cleave to our little clicks?
Do we snub or act perverse
To non-members in a fix?


   		 Have we hardened any hearts
By uncivil word or deed?
What is our motivation?
Which Spirit is in the lead?

The church is many people
Who are called out for our God
They are good Samaritans
Anything less is a fraud

Let's be honest with ourselves
What kind of Christians are we?
Do we shun those who need us
Or treat them with dignity

Thank God I was a Christian
Before this rigamarole
I know people aren't perfect
But this could have cost a soul

This poem was written as a result of an actual experience my daughter had in May of 2001. She was received with even greater hostility than was addressed above.  Later we discussed what effect this could have had on a non-Christian.   We need to always be aware of the influence we have on others--even strangers--for evil or good.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bartonquest/

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