The Outcasts, both Real and Imagined (Part 4 in the "Normal Is Moving" series)

NEW! Now you can LISTEN to the author read this essay. Click here: Listen to the Scrawling Shepherd read this essay


Poor sinners, outcasts, at the edge of the crowd. Wanting to see, wanting to hear, wanting to draw near, but not daring to risk being noticed, being rejected.

Perhaps he or she is thinking "They know me. They know who I am, what I've done. They'll never let me in. They'll never let me get close. And they are right. I don't deserve it."

But also, they might be thinking "but what He is saying has the ring of truth. He's speaking in an accent of love and of mercy. Maybe He won't turn me away, even if those around Him do."

In the last few weeks since church services have gone ONLINE ONLY, something different and WONDERFUL has been happening. Well really, many different and wonderful things have been and are happening. I haven't noticed ALL of them. If you have noticed any, why don't you go ahead and write about what you've noticed?

The thing I have noticed and want to comment on is this: some people who for any number of reasons have found themselves no longer comfortable or welcome attending a local church are finding their way back by joining ONLINE. Online, they won't be confronted with glares, stares, or suspicious glances. There, they won't be shunned or snubbed. They can see, they can hear, they can move up close to the front safely and without fear because they are present ONLINE ONLY.

Jesus was often surrounded by crowds of people, leaning in intently to see Him and to hear what He might say, and especially to see what miracle He might DO. The word about Him traveled quickly in whatever parts He traveled through. There are quite a few instances recorded in the Gospels where some of these very "outcasts" or "social pariahs" were among those trying to see and hear Jesus.

Sometimes, they were sick people. Lepers, the literal unclean outcasts of their day. They were required by law to keep social distance from healthy people, lest they infect them. Jesus never shunned them or turned away in outrage, disgust, or fear. As far as I can tell, there is no record of Jesus ever encountering a leper and leaving him or her in the same condition as when they first met. (Of course, Jesus was immune to any virus or illness. He didn't have to wear a mask or maintain a safe social distance.)

Once there was a hated tax collector, named Zaccheus. He was not a nice man. He had betrayed his own people, working for the Romans, and further, cheating his countrymen to become wealthy at their expense. Yet he, too, wanted to see this man Jesus for himself, hear what he was saying. He wasn't a very tall person, and couldn't get close enough to see Jesus. Certainly, his neighbors were not willing to make room for him! I can imagine them shouldering him aside, crowding together all the tighter to keep him from getting close. So, a clever man, Zaccheus climbed a tree to be able to see. Not only did Zaccheus see Jesus, but Jesus saw Zaccheus, and called to him by name. Oh, I bet that the "in" crowd didn't like it that Jesus went to visit Zaccheus in his own house! (This story is found in Luke 19:1-10 if you'd like to read it for yourself!)

And the children--don't forget the children! Some parents were wanting Jesus to bless their children--what parent doesn't want that?-- and they were trying to get close to Jesus, but of course, children are supposed to be seen, and not heard, so the disciples, thinking that they were doing a good job of crowd management, tried to shoo them away. Jesus wasn't having it, though. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (that's from Matthew 19:14-15)

There are other examples, too. Jesus is far more welcoming to the socially underprivileged than most of His followers are. Maybe we have good intentions, such as they are, and maybe we can even cite chapter and verse to justify our opinions and actions. I wonder, though, if Jesus would agree with our attitude toward those that we have judged "undeserving" of His attention. There's this one thing Jesus said that really troubles me sometimes: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." (That's from Mark 9:42, but this saying of Jesus is also recorded by Matthew in 18:6 and Luke in 17:2. Seems like these words made quite an impression on the disciples who heard it "Live" also.)

How does this look today? Those people who are finding their way back to "church", to worship, to the teaching of God's Word, to prayer, and hopefully ultimately to God, are like Zaccheus, or the lepers, or the woman caught in an adulterous act, or even the noisy children. To some, they have no right, no place at the feet of Jesus. But to Jesus? Well, He's spoken quite clearly on that subject. Who really "deserves" to come near to God? Of course we all know that the answer to that question is "NOBODY! Certainly not ME!"

And yet, Jesus has made it possible for any of us, for ALL of us, to draw near to Him. He has taken my unworthiness, my uncleanness, my unfitness, my disease, my contagion, my filth, my sin, and paid for it. "Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow."

When this time of social distancing at last is at an end, and those of us who have been deprived of our assembling together return together, I'm praying that we come together with enough room for those who have felt unwelcome and unwelcomed. If I am part of the reason that you don't feel welcome or comfortable in church, PLEASE, PLEASE FORGIVE ME! Come with me to the "altar" and let's kneel together in joyful thanks that Jesus has made enough room for all of us.



If you liked this article, perhaps you'll also enjoy reading the previous articles in this "Normal Is Moving" series. You can find them HERE:

Part 1: "Normal Is Moving"
Part 2: "Closing the Distance"
Part 3: "Real Connections Take Real Effort"

30+ Days of Giving Thanks, Day 47: the Local Church

A week ago, I wrote about the Universal Church (see This Post to read what I wrote). Today, I am writing about the “other side of the coin”—the Local Church. This is that expression of the Body of Christ that is visible, it is tangible, it exists within its time and its place. It is what the world sees when it looks at Christianity—for better and for worse!

In particular, I am thankful for the local church to which I belong. Note that I do not refer to it as “my church,” for “my” is a possessive pronoun that may have two meanings: (1) that which belongs to me, or (2) that to which I belong. I belong to Jesus, and am a member of His Body—the Church. He has placed me in the part of His Body which meets regularly  (for worship, for teaching, for fellowship and for service, and more) at 481 South Street in Newburgh, New York, USA, and is known by the name of First Baptist Church in Newburgh. This is my church, but it is not my church—it belongs to Jesus Christ!
Anyway, I give thanks to God for putting me here in this corner of His Kingdom, and in the midst of this local church. The people who belong to the Family of God meeting here are some of the finest people it has been my pleasure and privilege to know anywhere and any time. In the five and a half years Kelly and our sons and I have been a part of this church, we have seen our church grow in grace, in love, in forgiveness and being accepting of others. We have said “Goodbye, for now” to some dear friends, and we’ve said “Hello!” to many new friends.

We have worshipped, we have prayed, we have studied God’s Word, we have broken bread together, we have laughed and we have cried together. We have carried one another’s burdens, and helped one another back to our feet when one of us has stumbled along the way. We together have carried the banner of the Cross, and have planted it deep in the soil of our community. I give thanks to God for this church, and each of the people who are a part of it. Most of all, I give thanks that God has placed me here, and now, to be a part of His great work in this place and time.

30 Days of Thanksgiving, Day 21: My "Job"

Today, I am thankful for my "job." I put the word in quotes because I don't think of my work as a job in the normal or traditional sense. As a pastor, I think of my work as a "calling" or an "assignment" from God, who is my "Boss." I don't mean to reduce God to the mundane by saying this. Everyone would not agree with how I view my work as pastor, but in my mind, I signed up for God's team back when I was a teenager and I made a decision to "dedicate my life to God." Back then I told Him that I would do whatever He assigned to me (though inwardly I was putting certain conditions on that), little imagining that He would accept my offer.

Anyway, God has given me a number of assignments along the way, and I've enjoyed them all in varying degrees. My current assignment, though, is my favorite so far. I am really enjoying the work God has given me to do among the First Family at First Baptist Church in Newburgh, and I am very thankful to God that He has given me this particular assignment.

30 Days of Thanksgiving, Day 19: My Pastors

Today in my thoughts of thankfulness marches a squad of remarkable men. These men have little in common in their outward appearance. Some are tall, some slim, some erect, some bent over. Some are smiling and cheerful in their countenance, while others wear a grim visage.

These men are my Pastors. Each one has had the role of shepherd in my life, and I render honor and respect to every one of them. Some taught me by their words, some showed my by their example, and a few did both consistently. Some little part of each one of these men has molded and shaped the person I am today, and the person I am becoming. I liken them to the tools a master craftsman carries in his toolbox. Each tool has a particular purpose and is used to accomplish a particular task. The hammer is used to drive nails home and to tap the chisel. The file and the rasp are used to shape and smooth. The screwdriver is used to...well, anyway,  the sandpaper and polishing cloth are used to smooth and finish the job. God has used each of the men on my list to do in my life what God knew needed to be done at that time in my life. I thank God for these men, and for those who are still living and serving God, I honor them and pray for their continued fruitfulness. This list is generally organized in chronological order.

Pastor Jack Beukema, First Baptist Church, Afton, NY
Pastor Howard Carlson, First Baptist Church, Afton, NY
Pastor Louis Caruana, First Baptist Church, Afton, NY
Pastor Ken Rogers, Berean Bible Church, Greene, NY
Pastor Joseph Mugglesworth, Lehigh Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA
Pastor Tom Rauch, Lehigh Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA
Pastor Ken Wilcox, First Baptist Church, Bristol, PA
Pastor James Bates, Mansfield Baptist Church, Port Murray, NJ
Pastor Don Stone, Victory Baptist Church, Berlin, Germany
Pastor Mike Peper, First Baptist Church, Aston, PA
Pastor Bruce Baker, Immanuel Bible Church, Campbell Hall, NY
Pastor Cam Thompson, First Baptist Church, Newburgh, NY

And, in a unique ministry to me,

Pastor Don Ashley, Scipio Community Church, Scipio Center, NY and Highland Bethel Evangelical Mennonite Church, Fort Wayne, IN.

Thank you, Pastors. God has blessed me through your ministry.

30 Days of Thanksgiving, Day 13: Colleagues in Ministry

Today I am thankful to God (when I say "I am thankful", I mean "I am thanking God" and not just chance, luck, the Great Spirit, Fate, or any other non-specific thing or being) for those who labor with me, whether up close or from a distance, in pastoral ministry in churches here in the Mid-Hudson Valley, around New York State, in the Tri-State area (NY-NJ-PA), and elsewhere.

Over the years I have made a number of friends who are now, or have been, pastors. A few of them have already gone on ahead into Glory, and are among the "cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrews 12:1. Most, though, are still accessible to me, whether by e-mail, Facebook, phone call, or even face-to-face visit. We collaborate in sharing ideas, we rely upon one another when trying out new ideas, we commiserate with one another over common disappointments and challenges in ministry, we pray for and with one another, we laugh, we cry, and encourage one another.

As I write, and as I was composing today's entry in my head during my shower this morning (no singing for me today!) names and faces cycled through my thoughts. Even now they continue like a carousel slide projector (the precursor to a PowerPoint Presentation, for those who may need me to draw you a diagram...) but I hesitate to start listing names lest I unintentionally snub a dear friend by omitting his or her name.

Later today, at our Annual Mid-Hudson/Union Association of American Baptist Churches of New York State (just our name is a run-on sentence!), I will see some of the very colleagues I am writing about this morning. I am always glad to see them, and I always feel lifted up when I have talked with one or with several of them, or have read an e-mail, blog entry or Facebook post from them. I thank God for my co-laborers in ministry, my fellow pastors.

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you today for the men and women that You have called, prepared, appointed, anointed, empowered, and all the other things that You have done and always do to put Your servant in Your pulpit in Your church today. Bless each one especially today, and please let each one know that they are appreciated. Thank You, Father, for the gift of pastors, and especially those who are known to me. In Jesus' Name I pray this. Over...

30 Days of Thanksgiving, Day 10

I'm switching over to the blog format for the remainder of this exercise.

30 Days of Thanksgiving, Day 10: this Thanksgiving project is growing on me, and I find that 30 days will not be enough. I intend to go through the rest of 2011, so it will end up as 61 Days of Thanksgiving. After that, I am contemplating 366 Days of Thanks in 2012.

Anyway, today I am thankful for the First Baptist Church in Newburgh Family, or the "First Family," as I like to call them. This family of people, numbering nearly 100 in all, is as important and as dear to me as my "family of origin" and my "in-laws", and in fact, there is often some crossover among my various family identities. My church family knows many of my family of origin members, and vice versa.

In a few cases, I have known some of my church family as their pastor since 1994, though most are far more recent in our acquaintance. This church family is marvelously diverse in age, in ethnicity, in culture and tradition, but we have found common ground in our shared faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are steadily growing more and more into the picture of the Family of God, or the Body of Christ, as it is described in the New Testament.

The First Family just spent a month showing Appreciation to their Pastor and family, and it concluded with a great fellowship dinner last Saturday evening. Words of encouragement and affirmation, along with generous gifts of appreciation, were bestowed upon Kelly, our children, and me. All I could think of was the line by Jack Nicholson's character in the movie "As Good As It Gets": "...you make me want to be a better man." That's how I felt, and how I feel, about my church family. I am thankful every day that God sent me to First Baptist Church in Newburgh!