Dignity - What is it and when do we use it?

  I have seen perplexing things happen in the area of evangelism and also in counseling. I have never been able to pinpoint what it is, but I think I have a clue now. There is a tension on how we should look at unbelievers, in that we want to make sure that they understand that they are sinners. So, if we try to reach them with love, they might mistake that love as acceptance, and that acceptance would appear to be an acceptance of the person as a sinner. We think if we love the sinner that that love will give them a false assurance of their salvation. For example, I have neighbors who are Hindu. If I show them love and acceptance, will they think that I think they are ok before God? Or should I talk down to them to let them know that they are sinful and separated from God? If I show them acceptance, will they mistake that as God showing them acceptance?
   I think there are more than one facets to this. Yes, I have to show them the love of God, and I have to trust that God will work in their hearts, convicting them of their sin before Him. Will my aloofness toward them help them see that they are separated from God, or will I be misrepresenting God to them? After all, the Bible says that 'God is love'.
   Here is the dilemma I see; I see people out there doing open air and coming down hard on people. Some of them are using name calling and showing great disrespect toward those walking by. That is not love, and that is not showing respect. Is that how we are going to help people see their sin? Don't get me wrong. There are open air workers that do it right. This same principle can apply to evangelism done one on one as well. It can even apply to Biblical counseling or other type of ministering. Are we surprised by other people's sins? Do we think we are incapable of doing them ourselves?
   1 Corinthians 5 says the following:

⁹I wrote to you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

 ¹⁰Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then you must go out of the world.

 ¹¹But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

  The above verses are telling us not to keep company with someone living in sin, but it is specifically referring to keeping company with those in sin who call themselves 'brothers'. Those who are part of the church, yet living in obvious sin is who were are not to keep company with. But how does that apply to dignity and respect? 

   By default, all of us because of our sinful hearts, have pockets of pride. We either think we are above other people or we try to be. We enjoy people being 'lesser' than we are. It makes us feel special or important. That is just one reason. The other reason, as stated above, is because we believe, probably unintentionally, that we have to do the work of the Holy Spirit. We have to make people see that they are sinners. If we 'love' the sinner then we must 'love' his sin. We think we have to separate ourselves from people in the world. We are 'above' sinning. 

  Yes, I know there is another valid side to this. We don't want to participate in sinful activities as part of our relationship with others. Being friends with people in the world could bring about sinful temptations that we need to avoid. We have to be careful and discerning. For example, it would not be wise for a man to pick up a woman on the street in order to minister to her. He could fall into a trap. 

   There are enough people in our neighborhoods and around us to make friends with so we can have an open door to minister to someday. We can show love and respect to our friends at work even though we have a different theology. God can work in their hearts and He can reveal Himself to them. Our job is to pray for them and serve them. 

   All people are created in God's image. People are enslaved to their sin until they are set free because of the power of the Cross. If I meet someone homeless or retarded, am I tempted to think that that person would be a waste of time to invest in? Is that person less of a human than I? What about a person who can't talk right? Or maybe a person who can't seem to get a job no matter how hard he tries? They are all people who are created in God's image. God's image can be restored to them, but we are the ministers of the grace of God for others to be blessed by. Can we go to the lowly and help them? Can we go to them and serve them and preach the Gospel to them? A lot of people end up in trouble because those who could have helped spurned the idea. Those who had the power to help wanted to spend it on people who have their act together. Can we identify with the poor, or are they just people on the other side of the world? Do we realize that that frail skinny body without much clothing is a house for the image of God? 

   Everyone was created with dignity. Many aren't treated with dignity. Babies are thrown out like garbage. Large groups of people are exterminated. People are brought into slavery against their will. Some are captive to other people's bondages. Why is this so? Partly because society has been indoctrinated into believing evolution is valid and God is therefore nonexistent. Partly because people want to be God. They want to be the top authority or power. They want to call the shots. They can't comprehend someone more powerful than they. Or maybe they just don't want to. 

   All of us have some blindness. We are our brother's keeper. We are all made out of the same clay. Let's take the time to look at our hearts and see those areas where we are resistant to people that are not as functional as we are. The bottom line is that we should associate with sinners and respect people because they are God's creation. We need to be in the world, but not of it. Jesus was the best example as He was known as the 'friend of sinners'. We don't have to be afraid of condoning their sin if we befriend someone in the world. Neither do we have to participate in the sins of others. We can show love and not sin. It takes a special skill and the grace of God. That is what we need.

Counseling in Women's Restrooms- For Women Only!

   Last night my husband and I were talking about how often there is an opportunity for counseling women in the restroom. This may sound like a silly concept but it is very workable. After all, how many times have I gone into a restroom and saw a woman in tears? It is interesting to note, that my husband has not seen any man in the restroom in tears. He informed me that men go outside and take a walk. There definitely is a difference in the composition of men and women, and that shows God's handiwork in both genders.
   I have met several women throughout my years of being involved in a church, who were in need of someone to pray for them, or to speak a word of wisdom to them. Some women are just lonely, and appreciate the time taken to get to know them. It is just part of showing hospitality to one another.
   Years ago, when I was around 19 or 20, I was the one crying in the restroom. The church we were attending at that time was very small, so I was usually the only one in the restroom at that time. I wished I had someone to walk me through some basic steps in learning how to work through problems and difficulties Biblically. I remember the need for that when I was young, and I often see young women going through struggles that I meet in the restroom. It is a great place to have fellowship, or to pray for someone going through a hard time. But I will say again, this can really only apply to women, and we do have to be sensitive to return to the auditorium so we don't miss the message!
   There might be cases that would require a pastor's attention, or a care-group leader may need to know what is going on in someone's life in his home-group (care-group). If you should find yourself in a situation like this, try to get the woman's phone number and have someone contact her that can give further help. This is a great way for ministering to one-another.