Jesus said some inconvenient stuff.
My friend Liz talks about pick-n-choosers, folks like me who occasionally ignore the less warm and fuzzy parts of Jesus’ teaching. When we confront issues of social justice, I suspect we all have to be aware of biases that lead us to pick-n-choose.
As I’ve worked with the men at Harvest Farm, I’ve learned how often relapse is part of the recovery process. Whether folks are emerging from addiction, sex trafficking, homelessness, or any of a number of issues, relapse–sometimes multiple times–is frequently involved. Many of the guys I’ve met at the farm have tried recovery more than once, and some are repeat clients at the program.
“Lapse” is defined as a temporary failure to meet a previously defined standard. “Relapse” means you’ve improved and then suffered what’s hopefully a temporary setback.
For those who’ve never been there, it’s easy to become judgemental and simplistic.
He made his own choices… If he really wanted to get better… She needs more willpower… You only get so many chances… He has to take responsibility… She’s just taking the easy way out… Other folks had tougher circumstances and they didn’t… He had every oportunity and he went right back to… If he really wanted a job…
All true enough, I guess, if you’e seeking an excuse to turn away. Thing is, you and I have relapsed. Diet? Workout? Daily devotions? We’ve all started, slipped, and started again. The important part is “started again,” no matter how many times it takes.
Jesus talked to a woman at a well. She’d relapsed into sin many times. Plus, she was a woman, and a Samaritan woman at that. He had every reason to dismiss her and turn away.
Apparently Jesus saw the temporary nature of those setbacks and dealt with the woman in terms of her potential rather than her past. His willingness to offer continual opportunities to begin again changed her life and the lives of everyone in her village.
You and I make a lot of assumptions about situations we’ve never experienced. I’m learning from the men at Harvest Farm to listen before I speak–listen to them, and listen to Jesus. After all, He was poor, homeless, abused, and marginalized.
Can’t see the video? Click here.
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If you’d like to know a bit more about Harvest Farm, a Denver TV station did this fun report.
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