LIFE IN THE HIGHAM HOUSE
  • FAMILY HOME
    • MEET THE FAMILY >
      • About Jay
      • About Amy
    • About this Blog
    • Contact us
    • Link Tree
  • THE BLOG
    • Kids Talk
    • FAMILY >
      • FOR YOUR MARRIAGE >
        • Books We Love
      • FOR PARENTS
      • FOR THE KIDS
      • Christmas >
        • The Christmas Door Challenge
        • 12 Days Till Christmas 2015
        • Advent Time >
          • LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2021
        • Vlogmas 2018
        • Vlogmas 2020
    • HOME >
      • HOME DECOR
      • DIY PROJECTS
      • GET ORGANIZED
    • KITCHEN
  • YOUTUBE
  • THE SHIRT SHOP
    • Life in the Higham House
    • In A Word
    • MORE THAN WORDS
    • SWEATHIRTS
    • Fall Tees
    • Halloween Tees
    • Thanksgiving Tees
    • Christmas
    • Easter Tees
    • Kids Tees
  • THE BOOK STORE
    • Christmas is the Best
    • Mommy, There's A Dragon in my Room!

When you treat the person

8/12/2014

0 Comments

 
Along with a great many, I was deeply affected when I heard of the passing of Robin Williams. I sat up last night for a while, reading tweets and Facebook posts, looking at Instagram memorials, and watching video clips being shared from all over the country. I was amazed by the number of people talking about Robin and what his profession as an actor has meant to them. In so many ways, he reached out and touched a great number of people through his humor and talent.

I woke this morning still thinking about this lose, and the impact it is having on so many people. The reports are suggesting that Williams death was suicide by asphyxiation, possibily linked to the depression he was struggling with. One of the posts I read last night went something like, you can't tell whats happening on the inside by simply looking on what's happening on the outside. In Robins case, and for a great many others who suffer with a mental illness, this is true.

To be honest, I have been blessed in that, no one  in my family (as far as I know) has ever struggled with depression. And while many whom I know struggle with dression, in 20+ years of ministry, I have never had to counsel or care for someone directly. So depression has always been a bit of a mystery to me. I mean, as a pastor and even a youth pastor, I have had some training and education on the matter, but the why, the what, and the how, have always eluded me.

But this morning as I reflect on the passing of this Hollywood mega-star who has left such an impression on so many people, I wonder if the church is as effective when we think about the impact we are hoping to make in peoples lives. I mean, here the actor dies, and hundreds of thousands are sharing the impact it's leaving in their lives.

But what about the work of church, where are the thousands upon hundreds of thousands sharing testimonies of what the church has done for them? Where are those who have felt the love and support of the church reachinging into their lives when they needed help the most.

Now I am not belittling Williams impact, just wondering where the church is leaving it's impact.

In Patch Adams, a great Robin Williams movie, Robin's character gives a moving monologue as he stands before an examine board who questions his practice of care as a "doctor." Watch this clip.
Right at the end of the clip, he says, "You treat a disease you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you'll win, no matter what." Consider this in the perspective of the church and how we relate with people, particularly those we would say are "outside of the church." How do we reach them? What methodology do we imposs as we attempt to "witnessness" them? Do we simply treat the disease, you are a sinner and must repent? Or do we treat the person and build a relationship with them that leads to real concern and affection?

I mean, we have the cure for the disease of sin; Christ's atoning death and glorious resurrection. So in our case, the win or lose is different. But if we are only out to proclaim the gospel and and get people saved, are we really making an impact.

As a pastor, it might be easier to get up every Sunday before a group a church goers, and preach something that is thought provoking, intelligent, persuasive, and even encouraging. But to go beyond the pulpit and in the community where it is dirty and messy, where our integrity is questioned and our efforts critized, well, now we're getting into something that's a little more difficult. As a Christian, attending church on Sunday morning is easy; you get up, you get dressed, you go to church, then you get on with your day/your week. But to invest in relationships with the people who live around you, who think different from you, who live their lives different from you, who choose lifestyles different from you; that's hard.

But isn't this what Christ does? Doesn't he hang out with the marginalized? Doesn't he cause controversy? Doesn't he pit a Samaritan against a Priest and a Levite and say, the Samaritan was more loving and caring to half-dead man left on the side of the road?

When will we as the church, stop worrying so much about what we look like as the church and begin loving our neighbors as we love ourselves? When we will stop seeing the disease of sin in peoples lives, wondering if it's safe to get involved, and start seeing the person within who simply needs to hear that they are loved first? I mean, what would it look like if we started treating those who are lost, sick, and dying.

What if the church was able to leave the type of impact on society as is now being felt with this passing of Robin Williams? What if we, Christians, even better, DISCIPLES of Jesus, start really living as disciples? What hope would we offer? What life change would come? What would we be able to do? I think it's time to get our hands dirty.

- jay

PS - Was this post helpful, insightful, encouraging, or thought provoking? Do you agree or disagree? Great! I'd love to hear from you! Share your reactions, thoughts, and/or comments in the comment section! And thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Thanks for taking the time to read The Higham Family Blog. Each week we try to share new content about something we are learning, something we love, or something to offer encouragement to the family. We love to hear from our readers, so please share your thought in the comment section of each post.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    DISCLOSURE
Copyright
The content, pictures, and graphics, unless otherwise noted, are the sole property of LifeintheHighamHouse.com. You are free to use a graphic as long as it links back to the original post. You may not edit, crop, in anyway modify or change, remove watermarks or logos, without written permission from LifeintheHighamHouse.com.  Materials that are offered as free resources are made available for you to download for personal use only. Please see to the specific requirements of the individual item. 
DISCLOSURE
LifeintheHighamHouse.com
Copyright © 2013-2022
All rights Reserved.
  • FAMILY HOME
    • MEET THE FAMILY >
      • About Jay
      • About Amy
    • About this Blog
    • Contact us
    • Link Tree
  • THE BLOG
    • Kids Talk
    • FAMILY >
      • FOR YOUR MARRIAGE >
        • Books We Love
      • FOR PARENTS
      • FOR THE KIDS
      • Christmas >
        • The Christmas Door Challenge
        • 12 Days Till Christmas 2015
        • Advent Time >
          • LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2021
        • Vlogmas 2018
        • Vlogmas 2020
    • HOME >
      • HOME DECOR
      • DIY PROJECTS
      • GET ORGANIZED
    • KITCHEN
  • YOUTUBE
  • THE SHIRT SHOP
    • Life in the Higham House
    • In A Word
    • MORE THAN WORDS
    • SWEATHIRTS
    • Fall Tees
    • Halloween Tees
    • Thanksgiving Tees
    • Christmas
    • Easter Tees
    • Kids Tees
  • THE BOOK STORE
    • Christmas is the Best
    • Mommy, There's A Dragon in my Room!