What Are You Known For?

A few years ago, someone wrote to me, “Brother Bo, whenever I hear you preach at The Feast, you don’t preach against abortion, homosexuality, and other grievous sins. Especially now that congress is passing the RH Bill, you need to make a stand.”

I wrote back, “I am Catholic. So I stand by what my Church believes in all these matters. And yes, I’ve taught about these things at different times, but I don’t talk about them every time I open my mouth. Why? Because God gave me a special assignment. My call is to reach out to people who are no longer attending church, who are no longer religious, who don’t find Church relevant in their lives, who feel angry at the Church, who feel uncomfortable in a church, and especially those who feel rejected by the Church.”

I was surprised when Pope Francis was asked the same question.

Pope Francis was asked, “Why don’t you speak against abortion and gay marriage more often?”

His answer was profound. He said:

“It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time… The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently. We have to find a new balance, otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.”

Sad Fact: When secular people were surveyed about the Church, they said, “The Church is more known for what it is against rather than what it is for.”

We’re known for being against this, and that, and this, and that… This is not the Forgiving Father in the story of The Prodigal Son. This is the Elder Brother, telling the world, “I’m better than you are!”

I want to be the Forgiving Father, not the Elder Brother.

If there was one thing that Jesus was against, it was the self-righteousness of the Pharisees.

But to the sinners, Jesus was their friend. He ate with prostitutes, adulterers, tax collectors, and drunkards.

He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come not to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

This Is What the Light of Jesus Family Is All About

This is our mission at The Feast.

This is our mission in the Light of Jesus Family.

We want to welcome everyone.

Just come as you are. With your sins. Mistakes. Wounds. Failures. Brokenness.

Our role isn’t to change you (Only God can do that).

Our role is to love you.

One day, a young woman came up to me. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she said, “Brother Bo, I’m a sinner. I’m in a relationship with a married man. And I don’t have the strength to give him up yet. Will you accept me in your community?”

I embraced her and said, “You’re welcome. Don’t just join us. Serve in a ministry. Be part of our small groups.”

One year and a half later, she came up to me again. With a big smile, she said, “I did it! I was able to leave him.”

Imagine if I rejected her the first time I met her. Imagine if I was like the older brother to her —and not the Forgiving Father— when she told me she was in a relationship with a married man.

“Yuck. You’re in adultery. Please leave now. We’re a prayer meeting. A holy place. When you’ve gotten rid of that sin in your life, come back…”

If I did that, where would she go?

Let me end with two big questions…

First Big Question

Friend, ask yourself: How do you deal with people who are sinners —like yourself?

When you deal with your uncle who has two wives, or your officemate who is “living in” with her boyfriend, or that guy in the gym who is a practicing homosexual—how do you relate with them? Are you more like the Better Brother or are you like the Forgiving Father? Are you like Pope Francis, who offers friendship and a hug?

Don’t stand outside the party, with your arms crossed, shaking your head, angry.

Join the party.