A Scratched Record

Young people may not understand where I am coming from today. They do not know much about record players. I bet some of you remember that sound of the needle gliding across vinyl records. The disk jockeys called it spinning the wax. I spent many an hour in my youth listening to music on a record player. 

Those who also enjoyed that simple pleasure will remember how carefully you had to handle those records so as not to stretch them. A record with a scratch on it would just keep playing the same part over and over again. How frustrating and disappointing that could be. 

That is exactly how I feel after months of ministering to skaters and those on the fringe of society. We keep hearing the same message going to the skate park week after week. The skaters are open to Jesus. Some even admire Him as a great teacher and a kind person. Some are a little unsure about the virgin birth, the miracles and the resurrection. Others just do not know what to believe.

One thing they are clear on.  Crystal clear. Unified even. The church is filled with hateful judgmental people, many of whom are hypocrites. That message has been repeated nearly every single week. We hear the story of one church after another condemning these people Jesus died to save. 

Sure, they are different than me. They often wear Vans, skinny jeans and long hair. I dare not try to wedge myself into anything that identifies itself as skinny. I have worn the same military style haircut since Brenda and I wed 30 years ago. We have seen long hair, colored hair, and everything in between. Our two worlds should never collide except for one reason. Jesus loves skaters, bikers, drug users, and those social outcasts who find acceptance at McGratton Park. 

These skaters are not sub human species. They are people. People Jesus loves. People Jesus died to redeem. People Jesus pursues out of His kindness leading to repentance. So on Monday nights, armed with pizza, bottled water, love, patience, prayer, compassion, and the gospel message we keep showing up. We meet new people just about every week. We listen to their stories and ask lots of questions. We pray for the chance to share the hope of the gospel with them. We pray with them. None have trusted Jesus for salvation yet, but we are not discouraged. 

We have braved freezing temperatures, at least one threat not to return, numerous spiritual conversations, heart wrenching stories of sin, mistakes, abuse, neglect, and the constant theme of judgmental churches. 

CHURCH. STOP IT! YOU ARE TURNING THE VERY PEOPLE AWAY FROM JESUS AND SALVATION WHO NEED HIM MOST! STOP IT! STOP SAYING YOU ARE A GREAT COMMISSION CHURCH WHEN WHAT YOU REALLY MEAN IS YOU ONLY WANT TO REACH UPPER MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE. STOP SAYING JESUS LOVES AND SAVES PEOPLE BUT GIVING OFF THE BODY LANGUAGE THAT SKATERS AND OUTSIDERS ARE NOT WELCOME. OR THAT THEY ARE TOLERATED BUT NOT WANTED. STOP MAKING OUR JOB HARDER. SOME OF US REALLY DO CARE. SOME CHRISTIANS REALLY WANT TO SEE PEOPLE SAVED. ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE. ALL RACES OF PEOPLE. STOP THE SOUND OF THE SCRATCHED RECORD OF JUDGING THOSE JESUS DIED TO SAVE!