A homeless man showed up outside a growing church in a nice location in the city. He hung around the front entrance while it filled with nicely dressed people for Sunday service. Only three people said hello to him, most looked the other way. He asked people for change to buy food because he was hungry. No one gave him anything. It was a cold, windy day, but no one invited him inside. When the service began, he entered the sanctuary and found a seat toward the front, but was quickly told by the ushers he would need to go sit in the back. As people entered he greeted them, but all he got were cold stares and dirty looks as they passed by.

Soon it was time to begin the service. He listened as new visitors were welcomed, but no one acknowledged him. People kept turning around looking his way with stares that said you are not welcome here. Then the associate pastor walked to the podium with a special announcement they were all waiting for. He said: “We are excited to welcome our new Senior Pastor this morning.” The congregation rose as they looked around clapping with joy and anticipation.

The homeless man stepped out into the aisle and started walking to the front. That’s when all the clapping stopped and the church became silent. With all eyes on him, he walked up on the platform and took the microphone. He stood there for a moment and then elegantly recited a verse from the Bible. “Then the king said to those on the left hand…I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in; I needed some clothes but you gave me nothing to wear; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.”