Jesus Would Have Done The Same Thing

How often do we think we know exactly what God wants? How often do we think we know what Jesus would do? The love of God can accomplish wonderful things, but what is done in the name of religion so often breaks my heart.

There is a story in my local paper, The Raleigh News & Observer, subtitled "Jesus Would Have Done The Same Thing." The minister-director of a homeless shelter evicted a pregnant woman and her children three days before Christmas because the Rev. Oliver S. Robinson said she broke the rules. She had a man in her room.

The man was the children's uncle. He and his wife came to visit the children, doubtless they brought Christmas presents. When he was told that he was breaking the rules by being in the room, the aunt and uncle continued their visit outside. But the rules had been broken and that was enough for the director. The next morning, the woman, eight months pregnant, and her three children were asked to leave the shelter immediately. Crying, she put her children--still wearing their pajamas--into their car seats and drove off. She had been living in the shelter for 4 months while waiting for an income-based apartment to open. She paid $50.00 a month to the shelter.

"She herself created this situation. She is a young woman who does not want to listen to anybody. And it don't matter what time of year it is, winter time, Christmas time, cold time or whatever." The Rev. Robinson, director of the Tabernacle of Faith Church Outreach Center, added that his shelter is a credit to the community. "These people need tough love. I don't feel comfortable with it. God don't get no pleasure punishing us. But he does it. Jesus would have done the same thing."