Stoplight Christianity

Imagine with me for a moment. You are driving across town. As you approach an intersection, you notice a man wearing worn camouflage pants, a torn t-shirt, and a beard that, if it were to be washed, would most likely resemble that of Santa Claus. He's holding a cardboard sign which reads "Disabled and homeless, please help." As you get closer to the intersection, you start pleading with the light to stay green so that you can just zip by this man. But, the light turns yellow; you think about stomping the gas, but it's too dangerous. You're stuck there as the traffic light cycles. You keep your eyes zeroed in on that traffic light, trying not to make eye contact with the man who is literally holding his plight on a sign for the world to see. You tap your fingers on the steering wheel anxiously as you think "He'll probably just spend any money I give him on drugs or alcohol." What you don't know, is he is avoiding eye contact too. Out of shame this man is staring new holes into his already patched shoes. Finally, the light turns green, and you immediately step on the gas and flee the awkward situation.

We've all been faced with this situation. I have sat at a traffic light and gotten irritated because a slow light forced me to acknowledge the raw suffering of humanity. It's something that we would much rather not be faced with. We would much rather live our important busy lives with out having to be bothered by the "charity cases". I speak as one who is also guilty.

Peter and John were in a similar predicament when they were following Jesus. Matthew 19:13 says "Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them." (NASB) Jesus rebukes them and shows them how a Christian is supposed to respond to the "charity cases", and it's a lesson we know they took to heart.

Let's fast forward to Acts chapter 3. Peter and John are going to worship in the temple, and there is a lame beggar sitting there. As this beggar sees Peter and John approaching the gate of the temple, he begins to plead for coins. Rather than trying to speed up or pretend that they don't see him, we're told in verse 4 "But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, 'Look at us!'" (NASB) Peter and John lock eyes on this beggar and tell him to look at them. Verse 5 says that he looked up at them. This simple act of locking eyes with this beggar communicated to this unfortunate child of God the deepness of the love of the Creator for him.

In the three years that Peter and John had spent with Jesus, they had learned to not avoid certain people only because it might make them feel uncomfortable or look bad. They had learned what it meant to be in the Creator's image.