Guest Starsky Posted March 15, 2004 Report Posted March 15, 2004 OLD COWBOY GOES TO CHURCH One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out bible. The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories. As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it. The preacher gave a long sermon about hellfire and brimstone and a stern lecture on how much money the church needed to do God's work. As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. "Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what He thinks would be appropriate attire for worship here." The old cowboy assured the preacher he would. The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots,and hat. Once again he was completely shunned and ignored. The preacher approached the man and said, "I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church." "I did," replied the old cowboy. "If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should before worshiping in here?" asked the preacher. "Well, sir, God told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear. He said He's never been in this church before. Quote
Snow Posted March 15, 2004 Report Posted March 15, 2004 First, Do you really think that the cowboy spoke with God and God answered him that way? I say the cowboy is a liar. Second, Do you really think that God would/could say that he had never been in the Church and therefore had no idea what to wear. Do you not believe that God is all-knowing, if not all-present, at least through the Spirit? Bunch of garbage is what it is. Quote
Guest curvette Posted March 15, 2004 Report Posted March 15, 2004 Sheesh Snow. Go eat lunch, your blood sugar is low. This story reminds me very much of a story I heard from a General Authority (I can't even remember which one, but the story stayed with me.) This man visited a ward in Utah. He said he entered the church and no one said "hello." No one asked him if he was new or visiting. No one acknowleged him at all. He sat by himself. During Sacrament meeting, the Bishop spotted him and invited him up onto the stand. After the meeting, people rushed up to shake his hand and welcome him. This troubled him greatly, and he focused his talk on treating everyone kindly without regard for their title. God is no respector of persons. Quote
AFDaw Posted March 15, 2004 Report Posted March 15, 2004 This reminds me of a commercial that's being aired around here. Not sure if it's a national commercial or what. But it's set up like the church is a club and there are bouncers outside saying "You can come in" and then 'No...you're not allowed" and then the message was "God doesn't turn people away....and neither do we" and I keep complaining about it. I've honestly never treated someone different because their clothes or shoes or accessories or anything wasn't "churchy" so this whole commercial baffles me. But I guess there are people out there who do judge a book by its cover. Though once at a Ward Christmas party I thought a guy wore a shirt that was distasteful. I can't remember what it was, but it had a sexual tone to it. Quote
Guest Starsky Posted March 15, 2004 Report Posted March 15, 2004 LOL...snow...it was meant to cause people to become more aware of how they judge people and what is truly important...LOL i think it was cool because it did make me think of how I judge...I judge by how people make me feel....if they reject me...they must be bad people...right? Also...if you know about the parable of the wedding and the man who was inappropriately dressed to enter there and realize that 'charity' is what we should be clothed in in order to gain access to the Lord's wedding feast... and charity is the pure love of Christ which one who is born again receives...and must continually ask to be filled with it....through repentence daily...then you understand why I posted this about being dressed correctly IN GOD'S EYES..... Quote
Cal Posted March 17, 2004 Report Posted March 17, 2004 Originally posted by Peace@Mar 15 2004, 01:23 PM LOL...snow...it was meant to cause people to become more aware of how they judge people and what is truly important...LOLi think it was cool because it did make me think of how I judge...I judge by how people make me feel....if they reject me...they must be bad people...right?Also...if you know about the parable of the wedding and the man who was inappropriately dressed to enter there and realize that 'charity' is what we should be clothed in in order to gain access to the Lord's wedding feast... and charity is the pure love of Christ which one who is born again receives...and must continually ask to be filled with it....through repentence daily...then you understand why I posted this about being dressed correctly IN GOD'S EYES..... Has anyone ever seen God in ANY church before? Just curious.I seem to remember that when anyone ever sees him, it's either in the mountains, in the forest or out on some deserted road to Damascus. Quote
Outshined Posted March 17, 2004 Report Posted March 17, 2004 Originally posted by Cal@Mar 16 2004, 07:56 PM Has anyone ever seen God in ANY church before? Just curious. I think I saw Him on 'Jeopardy' once....... or maybe that was a "Far Side" cartoon. Quote
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