“My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.” (James 5:19-20 NLT)
Wednesday while dressing I turned the TV on to a station that featured a show where the main character traveled to various countries and reported on things worth bringing to the attention of the world. On this episode he was visiting a shelter in Costa Rica that attends to over 1500 stray dogs. He pointed out that stray dogs were a big problem in this country. I was amazed that the person who managed the shelter had so much compassion for every dog and was able to call them by name and discuss their particular needs.
The stray dog situation stayed on my mind all day. So I inquired of one of my former co-worker who is from Costa Rica if all that I heard was true. She confirmed the story. I still wanted to check and see if the number I recalled from the show was correct. I did some research and found out that it is estimated that there are over two million stray dogs in Costa Rica. To put things in proper perspective, Costa Rica is about the size of the State of West Virginia in the USA. Animal rescuers are trying to introduce cultural changes to reduce the rapid growing number of strays.
If we take off our blinders as Christians, we will clearly see that cultural changes and church initiatives must be seen as imperative courses of action to minimize the number of people that are straying from local churches, congregations, and from a bigger perspective the ecclesia. To put things in perspective the nation of straying people is large! We must reach out, recapture, and retain folks in our churches. If we don’t the number of folks at all ages that are leaving the church will continue to increase by geometric proportions.
We can start with those that we know; individuals we know by name and are aware of their stories. If you can help bring one or two people, no let me change my statement. If we all can bring one or two people back to the church where they can find shelter under the wings of the Lord and safety in His arms, our communities will be better off, brighter, and blessed. Help bring someone back to where they can experience compassion, not criticism; love and not a levying of condemnation of their straying. If a believer who has strayed comes back, extend a welcome and don’t automatically focus on warnings about relapsing into futile, fruitless, and failing behaviors in the future. Think on these words! Act on them! Be blessed!
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” (Psalm 91:1-4 NLT)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King