Dogtown, the focus of a television show by the same title, is part of a 33,000-acre animal sanctuary in southern Utah. It’s a “no kill shelter” where dogs that might otherwise be put down, find hope.
A devoted staff of trainers, veterinarians, and volunteers take in unwanted, unruly, damaged canines with the goal of transforming each one into a loving pet. Many of the dogs that end up at the shelter exhibit bad or aggressive behavior because they’re wounded and scared. The staff at Dogtown believe that even dogs who have faced harsh difficulties in life can be turned around for the better.
Wouldn’t it be great if our churches and Christian communities were more like Dogtown—places where scared, damaged, and messed-up people could come and find hope, love, and wholeness? In many ways, the community of faith is meant to be like “no kill shelters” for people who are broken or struggling with sin (Galatians 6:1). Too often, however, we tend to “shoot” our wounded. And the ones who want to pull the trigger first are often hiding deep struggles of their own behind a wall of self-righteousness.
Speaking of self-righteous, when the religious leaders of Jesus’ day questioned His disciples as to why He was socializing with sinners, Jesus said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. . . . For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (Matthew 9:13).
People who follow the example of Jesus will show care and concern regardless of a person’s struggles. Jesus was never soft on moral failure (John 8:11), but He always met people where they were with the intention of speaking life-changing truth into their broken and wayward hearts (John 4:25-26).
More:
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
Next:
How can you be a living “no kill shelter” for those around you? What have you learned from Jesus about how to care for those who are struggling with sin?
daisymarygoldr on November 1, 2009 at 1:51 am
Awesome post! The Bible says we were all “shaped in iniquity” and “conceived in sin”. All of us have sinned and there is none righteous no, not one. The Church therefore is like a no kill shelter— a “city of refuge” (Num 35:15) and it protects all of us from condemnation.
The city of refuge is a place for those who “unintentionally” killed another and is guilty. And as sinners, each one of us is guilty. No matter how badly broken, any sinner is welcomed to walk in through the doors of the Church and find refuge, love, grace and mercy in the body of Christ.
Just like the staff at Dogtown, members of the body of Christ also believe that when shown care and concern, even the worst sinners who have faced harsh difficulties in life can be turned around for the better by the life-changing truth of Jesus Christ.
When we, the sick and broken accept Christ, we are born again of God and are healed to be made whole. We take after the righteous nature of God our Father and practice righteousness.
“No one born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin”. 1 Jn 3:9. If a sinner like me sits inside the Church and continues to sin for 10, 30, 60 years, my sin affects the entire body. The body is not just me-one member and no one sins alone in the body.
When such sins of a turned around sinner are not addressed (I Cor. 5:1-5), many brothers and sisters in Church get hurt. And the city of refuge unfortunately does not protect those who “deliberately” kill their own brothers.
BTW, those sick sinners with whom Jesus had socialized turned around within 4 years of His ministry. Each one of those sinners was killed in turn because they stood up for the truth of Christ. It was the self-righteous Cain that had killed his righteous brother Abel.
So according to the Bible, always we tend to “shoot” our righteous (James 5:6). You are right, “And the ones who want to pull the trigger first are often hiding deep struggles of their own behind a wall of self-righteousness”!
raptureready on November 1, 2009 at 7:02 am
Our churches should be refuges however, in my opinion, most churches have become “refuses”. We seem to have lost the purose of the church-to reach out to those who do not know Christ and instead allowed ourselves to develop Sunday morning cliques.
Maybe the best thing that can happen is for our freedom to proclaim that Christ is the ONLY way be threatened by the current “tolerance only” movement in America. When we are told, and this is coming, that we, as Christians, are a threat to the “peace” of society, then our churches, your church, my church will be tested.
God said this was coming and the sheep and goats will be separated. The question will be are you and me ready?
Lightweaver on November 1, 2009 at 12:35 pm
How wonderful a story. I lead a prayer group of about 73 members. Posting from our “ODJ” to inspire them as well as devotions, doesn’t always do the job. However, I have found by using biblical and other forms of information and presenting it in an allegorical sense, or even using an analogy, has more impact on how others receive and digest the information. This is just the kind of example I’m speaking about. Many Christians have pet dogs, and many view shows (long commercials) about puppy mills and the horrorible mistreatment to animals. Most of us are also aware what happens when you take a pet to the SPCA or the Humane Society and how our pets have their lives ended.
Christ could have been heartless and looked at degenerates, homeless, handicapped, addicted, and more not perfect, and felt why waste my time, and moved on to bigger and better things. But thanks be to God that He loves all of us equally despite our hurts, scars, blemishes, etc., and He does so unconditionally vs. man who puts limitations and conditions on citizens who aren’t perfect in looks, mentality, or otherwise.
Because Christ saw the inwardness of man, looking further to glimpse the spirit and grasp the soul, He was able to further His ministry by perfecting His love within us. We are all sinners separated by God until we come to the foot of the cross.
This story is wonderful because it demonstrates how animals and people alike can be abused and left for dead in our society, but how through God’s love, all can be saved and shown love through that gift of salvation.