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Go Confuse Children

by Alex Willmott - September 3, 2010 in Alex Willmott with 22 Comments

The two polite children could not work out why Miriam and I were feeding Peter and his dog Romeo on Preston High Street. In a brief glance I noticed the primary school boys re-thinking the word “normal” as we embarked on a normal conversation with the homeless man and his wonderful canine friend. The saddest thing of all was not that their parents hurried them away from our attempts at being kind, but the fact that the confused looks which were painted across their perfectly formed faces was one which I have seen on my chops many times…this year.

Before you ordain me for my humility, I am the biggest sceptic to acts of kindness. I become more of a sceptic when I see Christians thinking they can “change the world” by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and caring for the sick. My default reaction is usually: ”What’s the point?” I know that Jesus talked a lot about doing these three things, but isn’t it enough that I just have any faith at all in this country which is looking to delete the bible from its shores?

At this point in my blog I usually cannot resist pampering everything up in a bid to draw you in with analogies, metaphors and a noteworthy flair. But loving the poor is one of the most stark commands the Lord Jesus gave to each of his followers for this day and age.

Awkwardly, you will find in Matthew 25 Jesus going on about it. He said: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you cam to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Men of Britain, there are some really decent lads on our streets who need us to step up and give them a cheese salad baguette every now and then. And we should do this not just because our Lord commands us to, but because it’s a great laugh when two posh kids have to re-think what their champagne-parents have told them. Go confuse people with the things of Jesus and post them on here to encourage us.

Peace

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About Alex Willmott: Alex Willmott is a very Welsh 25-year-old who has the potential to grow an afro. His passions include cheering for Blackburn Rovers, reading Science Fiction books and dipping his toast into his tea. He loves reading the New Testament and is quite sad that so many churches in the UK have a serious lack of twenty somethings in their congregations. He believes the message of Jesus is more relevant now than its ever been. On a lesser note, it is rumoured that Alex is offended by wasps, golf and the taste of jam.

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  • http://www.g2york.org Luke Smith

    Bang on.

  • Darren Dockings

    Yep, nice one! food and clothes a good idea, but money not a good idea!

  • Martin Ayton

    ‎”…when two posh kids have to re-think what their champagne-parents have told them.”
    Oh, you were there and you heard what they told them? And you have evidence to back up the ‘champagne’ slur (because you surely didn’t mean it as a compliment)? Or are you making judgements based on your prejudices? I think Jesus had a bit to say about that sort of behaviour too.

  • Dave Magill

    Alex. Cheers for this. A good challenge. Like the fact that you recognise the minute impact our sandwich buying and chats have on the problem but that at the same time a lot of little drops cause a flood.

    Martin, well done on reading an article about the poor and getting offended on behalf of the rich. You’re like an inside out Robin Hood. Also, for my own education which bits of Jesus are you referring to?

  • Martin Ayton

    Dave. You don’t know me and yet you, too, are happy to leap to judgement, referring to me as an ‘inside out Robin Hood.’ What is this blog, a place where we can feel comfortable about insulting and judging others? I support Alex’s actions, but not his jumping to conclusions about people he doesn’t know. It would have been wrong to refer to Peter in derogatory terms, and not just because the poor guy is homeless, but because he is made in the image of God. It’s just as wrong to be derogatory about people simply because you perceive them to be rich – those people are also made in the image of God.

    And for your education, try Matt 7 v1-5:
    “Judge not, that you be not judged.
    2 For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
    3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
    4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
    5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
    NKJV

    (Oh, and I’m well aware that this verse refers to me as well). I think Alex’s article is apposite and challenging, it’s just spoiled by some ill-considered comments at the end.

  • http://www.cvmen.org.uk/blog Jonathan Sherwin

    You had me looking up what ‘apposite’ meant Martin! (very apt usage ;)

    Thanks for the comments guys. As for what this blog can be – well, it’s up to readers and contributors. CVM-style is not to get too precious about stuff really … banter etc. welcome with all due civility.

    Bashing ideas around for Jesus’ sake always worth it when we keep our eyes on the prize.

  • Dave Magill

    Martin. Thanks, for the verse. Will look into the context etc. and take a view.

    ….

    I’m back.

    From what I read, Jesus goes on to say, “don’t give pearls to pigs, don’t give dogs what is sacred.” How do we know the difference? Surely the passage in full is actually not a call not to judge but to judge well with a judgement you are willing to be judged by.

    I would hope that my action and inaction would be a reflection of my heritage. I would hope that my action and inaction would be held to some sort of judgement by those around me. I know Alex, I don’t know you. Alex, like the passage says is willing to be judged by the same rule by which he judges others. He suffers it well.

    I was only bantering as Jonathan said. I guess the internet is devoid of tone when we type. Obviously misjudged how you would react. I am sorry to insult you.

    Every comment, reply, statement is made from judgement and misjudgement. We speak from our context and experience into and about others. Whether that be positive or negative.

  • Martin Ayton

    Dave, I agree with you: We must make judgments, but carefully. Also, there is a difference between making judgments, and standing in judgment. The latter is definitely the Father’s role, and I – for one – am not in a hurry to try to usurp Him! (And I’m not implying that you, Alex or anyone is trying to do that either). I heard Billy Graham being quoted as saying something like
    “It’s the Father’s job to judge, the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, and my job – as a follower of Jesus – is to love.” Let’s love. Let’s love regardless of the income, background, education, circumstances or even body odour(!), of the people we are called to love. Let’s let our speech and our writing be suffused with that grace and love. That’s absolutely what Alex was doing when he fed, and showed some respect, to Peter and his dog.

  • http://nwelford.wordpress.com Nick Welford

    Anyone fancy a pint?

    It’s good to see some passionate debate on here, a reminder that Christian men are not dead! But also a reminder that the written word can be misunderstood especially when trying to challenge our brothers.

    So to be fair – Martin I am not sure that your intended meaning came through your first reply, and I certainly didn’t realise that you liked any of the blog as you only commented on the bit that ticked you off.

    Dave, when I read your reply I spat tea out of my mouth. Again it came across a little harsher than mere banter which would have kept the tea in my mouth and raised a wry grin instead.

    Jonathan I had to look it up too – apt indeed!

    Willmott thanks for the blog, I enjoyed it, after all we all know you’ve said worse before and probably will again!!

  • Carl Beech

    Nick, please pray for the bloke who just gave Alex a job! ;)

  • http://nwelford.wordpress.com Nick Welford

    I’m sure the blessings with far outweigh the … other stuff! I’d certainly give him a job if I was in a position too!

    I’m eagerly awaiting what the future of CVM will bring.

  • Alex Willmott

    Hello brothers.
    Though I do not solely write to spark debate but to honour the Lord Jesus, it encourages me to see brothers sharpening brothers in a bid to love more. Martin, I can assure you I did not mean to slur for the sake of effect. I should have emphasised my own “champagne” ways as I continue to ignore the poor and needy in this world. But if I offend anyone who has money to feed the homeless, and the result would be that one hungry fella would get fed, then I will gladly take the flack for my slurs. Jesus was in the habit of offending those who disregarded the poor. And that is what I saw on the street. And that is what I see in my own heart. So though I offend strangers wearing Jack Wills, I also offend my myself. For in every middle class stare at the needs of the poor, I see my own sin. I just wanna see people with cash like me pay £1.40 now and then for the starving, because Jesus says he likes that.
    Anyway, hope we can all have a beer soon and pray for the lost.
    Alex Willmott.

  • Phil

    Fascinating to see love expressed in so many ways in the discussion and blog that prompted it. “Love your neighbout as yourself” “Speak the truth in love”

    Love for the homeless man… correcting wrong comments in love … defending the truth of Christ’s teaching in love…

    I feel we can judge a situation but not pass judgement. When we’ve judged the situation we need to decide with wisdom what the most loving course of action is.

  • http://popthycollar.blogspot.com Pop Thy Collar

    My last two incidents involving conversation and food with a homeless person were as opposite as one could get.

    The first gratefully accepted my proffering of a honeycomb special edition Yorkie bar with a “cor – thanks mate!”. This was a shame as I wanted to eat it myself!! The second rejected my offer of a chicken salad baguette with a “why the f*** would I want that?!”.

    All we are called to do is obey.

    And for the record, I’m partial to a bit of Jack Wills ;o)

    Keep it real fellas, it shows we all care.

  • Alex Willmott

    Phil, that is exactly right. If I could master that sort of wisdom which would see me judge a situation without allowing my selfish ambition creeping in, I think my character would be all the better for it.
    Pop Thy Collar, though I would rather eat my bottom lip than wear Jack Wills, I too spend money on clothes in fancy shops, and in all honesty, for stuff I don’t really need. Like cowboy boots. Its so encouraging that you gave your Yorkie bar away though. How good are Yorkie bars lads? Its like the wild boar of the chocolate world. I feel like a hunter when I’ve finished one. Hallelujah. (Oh gents, on a completely different note, you may remember I asked a girl out a few weeks ago as mentioned in the Male of the Species blog. She told me that “we would have to wait”…..but now the waiting is over and we are going out! The drinks are on me lads, happy days;)

  • http://popthycollar.blogspot.com Pop Thy Collar

    Nice work! Hope she’s hot (spiritually of course)! ;o)

  • Darren Dockings

    Fair play to you mate asking a girl out in cowboy boots!!!!!! fair play to you

  • Martin Ayton

    Nick, fair point: My first comment was unbalanced. I hope I corrected that later on, but your point remains.

    Alex, all the very best in the new job :o )

  • Martin Ayton

    Ack – the HTML parser saw my big-nosed smiley as a shocked smiley and a bracket. I just meant a pleasant smile…

  • http://nwelford.wordpress.com Nick Welford

    You certainly did! And much respect for not being too proud! Lessons for us all there, well definitely me – I’m not sure I would have been quick to admit or even have admitted. Nice work!

  • You too are the source of all that’s going to be born

    A very interesting piece. And some impressive concepts Dave in particular, along with Alex’s very good replies. Not sure I’d agree with Martin’s ” Ill considered comments ” view, it seems quite obvious to me that Alex referring to the kids as ” Posh ” is clearly a comparrisson with the poor homeless guy. I mean come on Martin, you ask for evidence in regards to a champaigne slur? Would you deny sociological attitudes have deteriated on our streets, where fights no longer get broken up? Or the elderly helped across the road? Or a youngster offering his bus seat to a pregnant woman? There evidence you ask for is surely all around you my friend . Though I agree, giving homeless people money is probably not always a good idea.

    Even now in Heaven there are angels carrying savage weapons

  • Alex Willmott

    Welcome to the CVM world mate. Good point well made. This blog did get a phenomenal debate going, more than any of my others. I agree with you, we have become numb to the things which should really be breaking our hearts. Martin was also right that our attitudes to encourage, support and love the homeless should overflow to those in all walks of life as well. I do long for more of a society where the poor, vulnerable and needy get the first seats on the bus though. I long for a time when we go out of our way to meet the needs of others. And the truth is I think that world first has to be built in my own heart and head. I have to win the battle of selfishness before I become selfless. In Jesus I have that perfect source who gave everything he had for the sake of everyone here. And his Spirit, which is Living and Active, helps me in that battle.
    It would be great if you subscribed to our newsletter/blog/podcast and continued sharing in our always entertaining, sometimes angry and often hilarious discussions.
    Cheers.
    Alex