
Pastor Jeremiah Steepek (pictured) transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service….only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food….NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit n the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.
As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation……..”We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek”…. The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation…..The homeless man sitting in the back stood up….. and started walking down the aisle…..the clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him….he walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment….then he recited
“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 came 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, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning…many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame…. he then said….Today I see a gathering of people…… not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples…when will YOU decide to become disciples? He then dismissed service until next week……. Being a Christian is more than something you claim. I’ts something you live by and share with others.
The story and picture above is from a Facebook post. Thousands of people had shared this. The facts are not verifiable, and the story is suspicious. It’s probably made up, like the one about the guys with guns coming into a service and scaring off all the “pretenders.” But people will share stuff like this because it slams Christianity. Or it evokes an emotional response, and that’s all people want to give. Cluck the tongue, shake the head, feel sad, maybe feel a little superior then move on to the next post with the joke picture.
Even if it’s true, it’s still a scam and it still makes me mad. Number one, how did this guy “transform himself into a homeless person?” How in the world would anyone know he didn’t have a home? Are all “homeless people” dirty, unkempt, ragged and unwashed? No. All the church people knew was that a guy who didn’t take care of himself was bumming around asking for money. Number two, most homeless people I know of want it that way. The bums like being bums. They have no responsibilities, no taxes, and complete freedom. There are some who are just mentally off too.
Back when I had a company of 15 to 20 people I tried to hire the “homeless.” Most just wanted to be left alone after being given some cash. None accepted employment. Much of the cash went to buy alcohol. We offered to let people use our shower facilities to clean up, our office to sleep in, and free computer help with a resume if they didn’t want to work for us or we didn’t have a position open. Uniformly we were turned down. We tried to hire some work release inmates – same thing. They wanted to continue in their sinful lifestyle and just have people hand them cash. We were NEVER able to really help such people. There are some “homeless” who have been helped who truly fell on temporary hard times, but they are few and far between.
We have a phone number in the book for our ministry. We don’t have a building or a huge congregation, or a huge budget. But we routinely get calls for help from traveling people who “broke down” and just need a few bucks for repairs. In my opinion these people are not truly in need. They simply move around sponging off of churches because churches are soft touches for a sucker story. The people we know in trouble, who are part of our community, we help without question. They don’t always need cash. Sometimes they need counseling, or help learning how to budget. Sometimes they need help getting a job or making rent temporarily. Because we know them we can help them more effectively, to the point that they can recover and live godly, responsible lives. The guy on the street corner with the sign probably makes more than I do when you factor in fees, taxes, and charitable giving (which I’m sure he’s not doing unless the charity is himself).
I’m one of the first to criticize the church for hypocrisy. Maybe some of these people were in fact hypocrites. But not because they had a hard time with a smelly freeloader. It is because they do not follow God’s book of instructions. If I was in that church, I might’ve helped the “homeless” guy to the nearest one of dozens and dozens of Christian programs for helping those in need. However, I would screen those who really need help from those who merely want to be helped to stay the way they are. I also would consider firing this new senior pastor because he is more into sentiment than teaching the Word. I might fire some elders too, because the congregation isn’t getting taught the Word either.
And another thing. Why in the heck were they hiring a senior pastor from outside the flock? With 10,000 people, none were qualified to step up? How come they weren’t training disciples to take on the task? Was their discipling so pitiful that not one of 10,000 could handle the simple job of pastor?
I wish people would shut up with false sympathy, false criticism, and false accusations of hypocrisy. Read and follow the Word instead of posting moronic pictures and stories. Get a brain. Think.