Yelling the Gospel

Yelling the Gospel

It's important that a church leader,

responsible for the affairs of God's house,

be looked up to - not pushy, not short-tempered,

not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry.

He{she} must welcome people, be helpful, wise,

fair, reverent, have a good grip on him{her}self,

and have a good grip on the Message...

Titus 1:7-9a 

Several years ago, after spending some quality photo time at the Bronx Zoo, I made my way to the subway and boarded the 2 to Manhattan.  At the 108th Street station, two women entered the car and took up center positions facing each other.  The one closest to me began to yell in Spanish, every hollared phrase translated into English (yelled, of course) by the other woman.  They informed the passengers that they were sinners, terrible sinners, who turned to drugs, alcohol, women, sex, and power to bring joy to their miserable lives.  But these things would not bring happiness to them - only Jesus Christ could do that.

The Spanish-speaking woman had a plastic smile on her face.  The English speaker was more serious, and appeared a bit uncomfortable.  The style of preaching was unique and irritating.  They yelled back and forth, back and forth, all the way to 72nd Street, where they exited the car and ran to another train, another car, another audience.  They did not ask for money; they simply screamed their version of the Gospel message for 10 long minutes, then sprinted off to a new congregation.

Living the Gospel is far preferable to bellowing it: smiling when your neighbor jostles/bumps you; apologizing when you do the same; giving up your seat to an elderly traveler or mother with small children - being a living example of what Christ would be if He were riding that train.  Indifference is the common code of the people riding the New York subway.  Simple, compassionate actions are unexpected in that atmosphere and speak far louder than words.

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Will you come and follow me if I but call Your name?

Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?

Will you let My love be shown?

Will you let My name be known?

Will you let my life be grown in you and you in Me?

The Faith We Sing No. 2130