In the opening of his book, The Kingdom of God is a Party, Tony Compolo tells of a trip to Hawaii. When you travel from the east coast to Honolulu, your biological clock runs wild for a day or so, and the first night there, Compolo was both hungry and awake at 3:00 a.m. He went off to find an open restaurant., but the only thing open was a greasy spoon diner run by a guy named Harry. So he sat down and ordered a donut.
As he was beginning to eat, a group of prostitutes entered the diner and sat at the counter, trapping Compolo among them. One of the prostitutes mentioned to her friend that the next day was her birthday. Her friend said cynically, “Why are you telling me? Do you want a party and cake; is that what you want?” The first prostitute, named Agnes, said, “Why do you have to be so nasty? I was just telling you. No, I don't expect a cake and a party; I've never have had a birthday cake in my life!” There was something about this woman that touched Compolo. After they left, he asked Harry if these girls came in every night. When he found out that they did, Compolo and Harry decided to give Agnes a party. Harry did the cake, Compolo did the decorations and Harry's wife got the word out.
The next morning at 3:15 there were crepe-paper decorations, a huge birthday cake and about thirty prostitutes and street people in the diner. When Agnes walked in, everybody yelled “Surprise” and they sang happy birthday. Agnes almost collapsed, and she began to cry uncontrollably. She was at her very first birthday party, and the party was for her! She didn't even want to cut the cake; she took it back to her apartment so she could look at it for a couple of days.
After Agnes left to take her cake home, something just prompted Compolo to say, “What do you say; let's have a prayer for Agnes.” It just seemed like the thing to do at the time. After the prayer, Harry said, “Hey, you didn't tell us you were a preacher. Why kind of church do you belong to anyway?” In one of those flashes of inspiration where you to say exactly the right thing at the right time, Compolo answered, “I belong to a church that throws parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning!” But it was Harry who told the punch line to this story; he said, “No you don't. There are no churches like that. If there was, I'd join. I’d want to be a part of a church like that!” You know, who wouldn't?
Who was it with whom Jesus spent his time? Why was Jesus criticized by the religious establishment in Luke 15:2? He ate with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus wasn’t refined or discriminating enough in his selection of companions. He threw parties for prostitutes (metaphorically if not literally). Has the church become too refined and sophisticated to walk where Jesus walked? Maybe we need to throw a few more parties for people who have never been to the party.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
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40 comments:
I've loved this story since first reading it in Campolo's book. It captures what "church" is all about! Thank you for sharing.
Great Story!
Churches rock! I submitted your story to the drudge report : )
If you're a drudge fan: drudgetracker.com
If that isn't timely inspiration...
"Better to sow your seeds in the
belly of a whore than to spill them
on the ground." --Somewhere in
the Bible.
True, very true! :)
Umm ... that jomama comment above is WAY off base.
There is no such quote in the Bible.
Cool story, thanks for sharing.
Great story man. It even made the front-page of reddit (a site well known for it's anti-establishment (be it religious or political) viewers).
Once again the 'Emergent Church' has misinterpred yet another Bible verse. There was never an instance in the Bible where said 'harlots' did not TURN from their sins and put their trust in Jesus Christ.
Remember people, the Church is for BELIEVERS. I'm sure there are many people who would love to be members of a church that accepts your sinful lifestyle, but this is not the Biblical instruction for how a church should operate.
Christians are not instructed to celebrate the sinful lifestyles people live, infact it is that complete opposite. The Bible tells us that we are rather instructed to tell others that they must Repent of their sins and put their trust in Jesus Christ. When a person does this, their good works (fruits) will thus be a statement of their faith to the world, and their love and devotion for God.
Remember, doing good for others does not make you a Christian. If you truly LOVE someone, then you would want to see that they are saved by Gods Grace through repentence and faith.
Seeking Truth, I find it much more satisfying to act like Christ than telling others to do so. Actions speak louder than words.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Luke 6:41-42
These people were seeing clearly enough to give this girl the love that she has lacked. If it is true, as you say, we are "instructed to tell others to repent" then there will be far more success in instructing by example rather than confrontational lecturing.
Are sure this was Campolo? I read this story in Brian McClaren's "Secret Message of Jesus". I don't know if McClaren was speaking from his own experience or perhaps retelling this story.
Perhaps they could use respect without having to be changed through some conversion into a worthy person. Perhaps the reason they are treated as lepers comes the Judeo-Christian-Islamic world in the first place. But it is big of him to descend to the point of acknowledging them as people and a good first step.
To: "seeking Truth".
You are Soooo wrong! THIS is EXACTLY what god, and love should be about. NOT how much money you can raise, not ignoring someone because their lifestyle isn't approved by YOU.
God is about forgiveness and acceptance. It HAS TO START SOMEWHERE.
This story is told by Tony in one of the Christian Audio Podcasts on iTunes.
It's called The Kingdom of God is a Party.
this is exactly where the church has lost its focus:
"Once again the 'Emergent Church' has misinterpred yet another Bible verse. There was never an instance in the Bible where said 'harlots' did not TURN from their sins and put their trust in Jesus Christ.
Remember people, the Church is for BELIEVERS. I'm sure there are many people who would love to be members of a church that accepts your sinful lifestyle, but this is not the Biblical instruction for how a church should operate.
Christians are not instructed to celebrate the sinful lifestyles people live, infact it is that complete opposite. The Bible tells us that we are rather instructed to tell others that they must Repent of their sins and put their trust in Jesus Christ. When a person does this, their good works (fruits) will thus be a statement of their faith to the world, and their love and devotion for God.
Remember, doing good for others does not make you a Christian. If you truly LOVE someone, then you would want to see that they are saved by Gods Grace through repentence and faith."
Remember 1 Cor 13:1-8, Charity (Love)
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
That party was the net, and I bet that though his action of charity and love, he was able to minister to these "sinners" (aren't we all) about the truth of Salvation.
As a Buddhist I sometimes get disgusted and dismayed at the way that a lot Christians treat other people. I went to Georgia Tech where these ridiculous religious zealots paraded around our campus once a year holding up "Homo Sex is Sin" and "Terrorists Attacked because America Allows Faggots" signs. These morons and others who act all high and mighty make me sick to my stomach since I know that they do not truly represent the teachings of Christ. I went to Catholic school for 8 yrs and I know that Jesus taught piety and that we should accept those that are different from us. We should attempt to educate those who are ignorant, not ostracize them and ridicule them. Millsley, amen brother, you have the right idea. As for Campolo, rock on man, too bad more preachers aren't like you. If you lived in my area I probably would have converted already.
This story is RIGHT ON TARGET! Jesus was persecuted BECAUSE He was hanging out with these "bad people". If he was lambasting them with religiousity (as some on here have suggested we should be doing) the religious people of the day would have been fine with what he was doing. Instead, he just loved them. Plain and simple.
Does "Seeking Truth" (keep seeking) think the better answer would have been to approach this girl and tetll her she needed to repent and turn from her sins? Don't you think she's heard that a thousand times in her life? This was about having a birthday party for someone. Not a birthday party for a prostitute.
It's so arrogant of some people to separate themselves from someone like this! Thank God you weren't treated the same way you claim these girls should have been treated.
If you love the thinking of this blog, try Letters from Kamp Krusty (http://branthansen.typepad.com)
...whether the girl was a prostitute or a high profile business' CEO or whatever... does that matter???
I've been out to the streets, as a christian pastor, to minister to prostitutes, and that is EXACTLY where Jesus would be...and where he went when He ministered here in person.
If the Church is supposed to be His Body then we need to go and be and do what He did.
The people of God need to be known as people who love everyone, not just those who act or dress or vote the way we do.
Jesus was radically inclusive, it's time His Church was too.
peas,
keith giles
http://www.keithgiles.com
fong you're absolutely right, and it seems to me that you really kno wut you're talkin about. what I don't understand is why you haven't converted. im not pressuring you or anything like that. just curious. i mean if it's because the church itself has become corrupt like you said in the parades, a church can be when two or more people meet in god's name. it doesn't always have to be with the people that you disgust.
@SeekingTruth -
Celebrating "the sinful lifestyles people live" is NOT what he was doing. Showing someone the love of Christ is what he was doing.
I, for one, think that you can do more for a person by showing them than telling them. Even if they don't fall to their knees and repent on the spot (most don't), it can plant a seed in their mind and hopefully that will take root and grow.
Wow, way to go Seeking Truth... Here I thought the gospel was going to actually be lived out... good thing you came along to set us all straight. Church should be a place where its okay not to be okay. You act as if you're not human... You should know that Christ calls us to be "in the city"... that means engaging your community and loving them, prostitutes or not... beating people over the head doesnt work... or did you forget that if you live by the law you die by the law. We are saved by grace alone. Oh, and no one celebrated anyones sinful nature... they gave her a birthday party and then prayed for her. Its about time we stop telling people that Jesus loves them and leaving... what kind of message does that send?... its about time we got real. And to be honest, it seems like you've been given just enough of Jesus to be numbed to the whole of him.
Why not just… oh I don't know, respect fellow human beings and just drop the dogma and doctrine and fairy tales? What's wrong with humanism?
Touching story, to b sure, but it doesn't have to have anything to do with Christ, if it happened at all.
Rock on! You've been Dugg too!
It's some what refreshing to see a softer side of christianity. After growing up catholic for 20 some odd years, including time as an alter server, i became a militant anti-christian because of people like Seeking. It's nice to see that there are some christians out there that don't care who you are or what you do and won't judge you for it. Seeking, you really should spend some time actually reading your book instead of quoting convenient passages. You want to beat someone over the head with your bible, do it to your self and let people like Campolo who acted as your savior did.
As for me, i've found the peace, acceptance of others and other religions, and the self responsibility of wicca much more to my liking and closer to my spirit. Each to his or her own and keep your hollow quotes to your self until you have actually read the bible Seeking.
@Fong
Dude, you are right in your
feelings, but way off on your
perceptions.
Those Bible thumping hate mongers
do NOT properly represent
Christianity. (IMHO!)
We had those haters on campus at
both UCSD and UCLA. They were
gross....spotting two girls having
a smoke and pointing out that
"if you can get a cigarette in
there then you can get anything in
there" and such shit.
Hell, the first time I heard the term "fisting" described was by a street preacher on campus at UCSD.
Yuck! ....sometimes I wish that
I was free of the ravages of intellect! ;0)
But seriously, those "God Hates Fags"
sign-holders are just about the worst example of Christians you could name.
I completely agree with you and Tony. We should, in all cases, love the person. I hate to use this cliche, but the "hate the sin, love the sinner" attitude should prevail. If this isn't true Christianity, I don't know what is.
Seeking Truth is funny. I wonder if he/she would believe much in God or the bible if no one had ever given them a birthday party but instead celebrated their life by repeated molestations and violent physical abuse before an age of 10? Or maybe if your own father repeatedly molested you as a child and even prostituted you to his friends? You'd probably think, "gee there must not be a god, no one protected me".
holier-than-thou christians are always comical.
'm a non-believer, mostly thanks to individuals like "Seeking Truth", but I must say thanks for the story. It's sad that in the world of today it is better to mock and ridicule than to actually step outside of yourself and help someone.
So I say Kudos to Campolo and to everyone here that supports that kind of behavior. Maybe if there was someone like that in my life sooner, or you know now, then things might have been different in my eyes.
I need to stop myself from rambling, but I really do love what the minister did. Rare thing to see anyone do that kind of work for a random person, especially a prostitute.
It's nice to see someone who lives by the example of Jesus, rather than the judgementalist attitudes of the later writers who filled by bible with their prejudices. We'd all be better off if we spent more time reading what Jesus _actually_ said, and living by his example.
I strongly recommend Campolo's book "Let Me Tell You A Story" for some equally inspiring anecdotes and observations!
Blessings
N
PS I disagree with "Seeking Truth" because in no way did Campolo endorse prostitution or "sinful activity", he just stretched out a hand and demonstrated the love of Christ. It is not the healthy Christ came for... but the sick. If the Church is a lifeboat... we need to stop looking around and continually congratulating people who are on board... and start sticking our hands in the water to pull out the people whoare still drowning!
That's what it's all about.
I really like this story....
What this man did for these prostitutes was something God would be happy with...
The pastor has good skills in caring and reaching out to people.
"“I belong to a church that throws parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning!”"
witty(?) reply, tried not be associated with the authoritative, strict preacher image that scares people away. (a little bit high in the party?) a little words play that's not suppose to be taken literally.
because when he did so, he saw her as a person who needs love of God but not as a prostitute. and surely his church does not do so.
"But it was Harry who told the punch line to this story; he said, “No you don't. There are no churches like that. If there was, I'd join. I’d want to be a part of a church like that!” You know, who wouldn't?"
Harry took it literally. He is right, no church throws parties for prostitutes being prostitutes ... but they do reach out to people regardless of their social status or careers, with the love of God, to spread the Gospel.
i'm not sure about the part of 'Emergent Church' and cannot comment on that. but i agree with other parts of Seeking Truth's comments, which are based on the Bible. i can be wrong, looks like Seeing Truth is firm in belief, and is from an strict, intellectual background. i thought of Paul. i don't see how some of you reprimanded him, while saying yourself is more loving/accepting.
My question is: why did the author saw her as a person in need when he reach out to her, but used "prostitute" in the book/article title?
i would think that the woman did not hear him when he said "I belong to a church that throws parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning!"
"He (Jesus) threw parties for prostitutes (metaphorically if not literally)"
you definition of parties is broad.
First off, I do agree that Christians need to share the love of God to the lost, everywhere they are. However, one thing I do question is, what is true love?
Is true love throwing a party for a prostitute? Maybe.
Would it be true love to JUST throw a party for a prostitute, and not lovingly warn her that if she does not have Christ as her savior that she will spend an eternity in damnation?
No, it wouldn't.
Jesus was a friend to sinners, but as a true friend to sinners, he warned them to turn away from their life of sin to a life that loves and follows Him. If that is missing from the equation, then no party thrown for a prostitute is ever loving, even if it is the first party they have ever had.
While I agree as Christians we should not be afraid to share the love of Christ with anyone because of their lifestyle. I just hope we are not also afraid to share the gospel. We are ALL Adulterers and Murderers at heart and Guilty under God's Law. We are all Sinners and fall short. Without diagnosing the illness (Sin) how can there be a cure (Salvation)? As for the "who would not want to go to a church that throws party's for prostitutes?" claim. I wouldn't. I want the identity of my church to be one that holds the supremacy of Christ above all, is distinct and shows no similarities to the popular culture of a fallen world. As stated in John 15:18-25, If we are doing the work of our Lord people who hate the Lord will hate us. People who Love the Lord will love us. There are more important things than appearing "hip" to the world. A repentant heart will strive to be more like Christ and live and love the way he did. I just hope there was more to this story than cake and icecream.
Kevin, I ask you this one question: When Christ was on Earth, who hated him? Was it the sinner with whom he ate, or the prostitute, the adulteress, or the tax collector? No, it was the Pharisee (religious leader) who believed that he was closer to God because of his station in the synagogue and the company he kept.
Also, who hated his disciples? Who was it that imprisoned, beat and threatened John and Peter in Acts 4? Was it the the sinners who witnessed the healing of the crippled man? No, it was, once again, the priests and captain of the temple guard.
We, as Christians, are to preach the GOOD NEWS of Jesus' redemption to a world that is unaware of it. The best example of how to do that is right there in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and in Acts: by becoming a part of the lives of individuals who do not know Christ, and showing them the love and compassion that Jesus showed, we are able to earn their trust. Then, and only then, will someone be willing to listen to you explain the details of life with Christ.
Peter,
I'm not dissagreeing with you at all.
My point was not that we as the church should not be reaching out,
and being in the world.
I'm just making the point that we make a concious effort be "In the and not OF the world"
When we do reach out, the biblical gospel must shared. For some people a more relational approach may warm them up first, some people just need to see the mirror of the law upfront to make that final gear click, but all in all according to scripture it is the holy spirit that does the saving work.
As Christians we are to follow what we are commanded to do. Share the gospel (even the hard parts to swallow) and allow the Holy Spirit to take over.
I called myself a "Christian" for over 20 years before someone actually was kinda enough to point out that I was infact a Sinner, and guilty (according to God's law) and that Christ's sacrifice was to pay the "fine" and only in true repentance and faith in the redeptive work of Christ would I be saved. It terrifies me to think where I would be if I died before that point, thinking I was already saved. The Law is what makes Gospel "the Gospel". The "Good News" is that a loving God provided a way for his creation to be saved, and for him to be glorified above all things.
We are commanded to feed the hungry and take care of the widows, children and destituite, what I am just saying is you can feed all the soup to all the hungry in the world, but without ALSO sharing the gospel there will just be a bunch of full bellies in hell.
I don't at all mean to sound insensative or unloving, but this message is to Christians to not forget the both sides of the Gospel. We always worry about being "relevent" and Sin is what makes Salvation relevent.
Why, what kind of church was established? Who was added to the church that night? Are there some people that some churches don’t want? There are many who seem too have nothing too offer the group, they are those most in need and most often turned away by the elite few who are too refined and sophisticated too tell a prostitute (who has been told all their lives that they are worthless), “you are loved you are a precious soul, who will not die alone, He does not want you to be used and abused, you who have been alone on the streets. You who have not known love have a Happy Birthday, go to your Heavenly Creator who loves you who knows your every thought, has seen your every minute of every day and night (since before you were born) who knows your every pain and wants you too be safe with Him, Rest in the everlasting arms of your Lord, your savior, and sell your body too no one.” See some good work that needs to be done and do it, stay with Him who is your Heavenly Lawyer, who will plead your case before the Lord of all.”
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