On the Side of the Road
May 31, 2023
Jesus did many, many unauthorized miracles. His healings were rarely done inside a synagogue or other consecrated building. He did not have any recognized priestly authority. Many of the subjects of his healings were not even churchgoers, for they were considered “unclean.”
The religious authorities had a problem with this kind of miracles. How could they put their stamp of approval on Jesus’ work?
I think we still have trouble with “outsider religion.” A lot of people experience miracles that…don’t even go to church! There are miracles of healing, persons saved from addiction, prayers answered in amazing ways, and even hearing directly from God on what vocation to pursue.
I’m getting used to it. At first I doubted, thinking, “How could this person be so close to God when they don’t sit in a pew on Sunday morning?” I’ve equated being in church to being with God, which is not exactly the same. Some people can “keep the Sabbath day holy” while waiting on tables in a restaurant, spreading kindness and love. There are non-churchgoers who spend more time reading the Bible than those who never miss a church service. Some praying saints are rarely in church.
So why should they attend church? Because I need them. I need to hear their testimony to help remind me how awesome God is. I need to know about their answered prayer, to encourage me to cry out to God. They need me, too, whether they admit it or not, because we all have times in our spiritual lives when we are weak. The Christian religion is one of teamwork.
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