A pastor transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service. Only 3 people said hello to him, most looked the other way. He asked people for change to buy food because he was hungry. Not one gave him anything.

He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was told by the ushers that he would need to get up and go sit in the back of the church. He said hello to people as they walked in but was greeted with cold stares and dirty looks from people looking down on him and judging him.

He sat in the back of the church and listened to the church announcements for the week. He listened as new visitors were welcomed into the church that morning but no one acknowledged that he was new. He watched people around him continue to look his way with stares that said you are not welcome here.

Then the elders of the church went to the podium to make the announcement. They said they were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation. "We would like to introduce you to our new Pastor." The congregation stood up and looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle.

That's when all the clapping stopped and the church was silent. With all eyes on him, he walked up to the altar and reached for the microphone. He stood there for a moment and then recited so elegantly, a verse from the bible....

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me."

After he recited this, he introduced himself as their new pastor and told the congregation what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and bow their heads in shame. "Today I see a gathering of people here but I do not see a church of Jesus. The world has enough people that look the other way. What the world needs is disciples of Jesus that can follow his teachings and live as he did. When will YOU decide to become disciples?"

His sermon had been given.

Borrowed and reposted. Original writer unknown.

A good read weather you're a believer or not. Thanks.

That pretty much says it all.

Excellent Read!!
I see some of the same things happening in churches here. A sad thing but a lot of so-called Christians go to church for the community to say they go to church/member. Not all but some go to church for the wrong reasons, and I know some that do. They live their life different for 6 days and 23 hour.

The church I did attend wanted me to be a member, so I was on list that saying I belonged to this church. They were more interested in what you gave monitory than attending a service and being in fellowship with God. They told me if I'm not a member I could not take communion, have a funeral there, wouldn't get reading they send out.

I don't need to be a member of church to be a Christain, believe and to follow God scriptures. Having my name on a list as a member doesn't have anything to be with the relationship I have with God or my faith.

I told them so if, I stand in my garage for one hour each week, I will become a car. For the one hour in church each week doesn't make a Christain. They didn't know what to say. To many go to church to further their agenda and for show. Not all but some.

Very thought provoking. Thanks for posting it.

Check out Honor Your Oath on YouTube and see how churches and others treat a guy with a God Bless the homeless sign. Real world stuff. Some good people in this world and some not so good that pretend to be good.

Years ago, I went to a church where the associate pastor and I wanted to get a van to pick up some people who for some reason or another lived in a half way house. We would bring them to church on Sundays. We went to the board about it. We were told by a few of the board members that they didn't want just anyone in our church. Not long after that, I left that church.

In the area where I live there is a Vietnam vet who lives alone. He suffered a debilitating condition from Agent Orange. He has a long beard and hair. He looks like you would expect him to be homeless living on the streets. Some cruel people in the area referred to him as, "Troll Man". One day he showed up in the church I now attend. He was welcomed. Some of our people contacted the local VA and made them aware of his condition. The VA bent over backwards to help him. He is regular at our church now and shows up every Sunday. He has a man who looks after him and takes care of him. He is treated as one of our own; no different than anyone else.

Trapper 7 Bless your present church and congregation

Much the same happened to me when I came home from the 'Nam in '71.
The local VFW Post was stuffed with WW2/Korea vets and they didn't really want us scruffy long haired 1/2 crazy 'Nam guy's around. After a couple of decades went by, and the ranks got thinned out from old age etc, and they needed membership, we were finally made welcome. Still a sore spot with us 'Nam guy's, the Kuwait and later Vet's came "Hero's", and we were all "Baby Killers".

Just remember us GWOT guys look up to yall Nam vets

I've heard of peaple being treated this way but had never actually experienced it. Or seen it until about a year ago.
We had a church member being judgmental about tattoos on a new comers and was concerned about the low tithing and love offerings. This member left the church a short time later.
He had some pride issues. About half of our congregation are peaple coming in of the street
Many in need of some sort of assistance. These are the backbone and the most welcoming in our church today
If we have someone come in need we always give them benefit of doubt. But if they take edvatage of the hospitality, in time they will be rebuked and probably move on.

That's really sad.
A friend of mine said leaving Nam they were told not to wear their uniforms when they left for the US or they could be assaulted. There were stories going around about soldiers being spit on, called baby killers, and being physically assaulted he said they were told.

The Hard Gospel.

Love God with your entire heart and soul
Love your neighbor as yourself.

Except Jesus didn’t define neighbors as those living next door.

That story has been around a long time. Used to be a long haired hippy though stead of homeless.

Must be several different versions of the story. On the internet, it says he is disguised as a homeless man. It really doesn't matter which version. The message is still the same.