Mark 3:1-6; Updated Version

These are my thoughts on what this story would look like if / when it happens today.

One Sunday morning at the local church, a homeless man who smelled absolutely horrible came in. He was dressed in dirty jeans, his hair was matted and he was sniffling from a head cold. Half of the church just stared at him and some who were sitting near him moved to another section. No one liked him being there; it goes without saying that no one initiated a conversation with him.

Then Jesus stood up to preach. He could see the looks being cast towards the stranger, the negative expressions on their faces and the ten foot circle of empty space around the man. So Jesus called the man into the pulpit with him. Everyone was shocked and waited to see how Jesus would treat him. Jesus placed his arm around the stranger and began to talk about his pure heart. He explained how the young man had fallen on hard times that were not all his fault and how he was just as loved by God as anyone else in the building. Then Jesus pulled out the church checkbook and wrote the man a check for $500.oo in the presence of everyone. He gave it to the young man with no strings attached.

This upset many of the long term members of the congregation. Many of the older members who were among the primary financial supporters of the church went out to lunch with a group of deacons to discuss what should be done about Jesus and his actions.