Lessons from a Pit Bull
Posted by Meredith Griffin on June 17, 2008
This past Sunday I shared an illustrative message, taken from the previous week’s events in the life of my family. During the previous week, we adopted an American Pit Bull Terrier from our local SPCA. It was amazing to view the reactions from friends, family, and strangers about this new addition to our household. All of the reactions were based upon general knowledge (right or wrong) of the breed, and the general appearance of the dog. No one took the time to actually see or know “Tasha”.
As I experienced the reactions of others during the week, I was reminded of the apostle Paul’s words to the Corintian church in his second letter to them. He informed them that we have been given a ministry of reconciliation, as though God were making an appeal through us to the world. This ministry requires that we no longer view anyone according to the flesh, but that we understand that if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation. Gone are the things of the past–the old person and nature.
How often, I wondered, do we treat people we don’t know, or with pasts that we have heard about like American Pit Bull Terriers. Rather than moving forward with the ministry that God has charged us with, we instead avoid them, opting to approach those we deem more “acceptable” to God and the church.
“Tasha” the Pit Bull Terrier, is a welcome new addition to our household. We endure the looks and comments that we receive because we have adopted her. We are more than willing to do this because we know what we rescued her from. As Christians, are we willing to go and rescue those that we and others would consider “Pit Bull Terriers” from the fate that awaits them? The choice is ours. What do you think?
Ed Small said
Well, it is a simple proposition… Are we willing to rescue those who need it, for we once needed it and were rescued by another. Will we pay the favor forward? It is what the concept of Christianity is based upon – we are all the result of a effective conversation/experience used within the fibonacci sequence (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32…).
Michelle Coleman said
This message truly encouraged me to open my life up more to others. It is pertinent that as Christians we live with hearts full of compassion. It is in the moment of compassion that a person is rescued. Stepping out of “self” to help someone else is exactly what Christ did for us all.
Lessons from a Pit Bull is one sermon you have to hear!
Be encouraged,
Michelle
mlgriffinjr said
Ed,
I had a real chuckle when I read “simple proposition” and Fibonacci sequence” in the same comment post. I was inclined to attach some links to pages that detail the Fibonacci sequence, but after reading them thought better of it. Anyway, your point is well taken, and poses the question “how effective are we as Christians in paying the grace (favor) forward?”