The purist of motives

There is a blog called "Single Dad Laughing" that I sometimes read. Spiritually, Dan identifies himself as an agnostic [he was raised in the Mormon Church]. There are times, like today, when I read his blog and pray that he will make a connection between his experiences and the Amazing God that I know.

Today's SDL blog challenged me to think about my faith and how it is represented in the world. I'm going to share a few paragraphs and you can read the entire blog here. Just to give you a little background, Dan recently went hiking with some friends and ended up in a crisis that required a Search and Rescue Team to come to his aid [His 5 part blog about his experience can also be found in his blog page... in this particular blog he is sharing his decision to begin training to become a Search and Rescue Team member.]

 Here are Dan's thoughts as the response team comes to his aid:

"...never did any of them ask how I got into that situation. They only asked themselves how they were going to get me out. They worked as a team and a brotherhood to get me the immediate medical care I needed, and nobody complained about any task they were given, no matter how big or how small. Nobody complained of the timing. Nobody complained of lost wages or time. Nobody complained about my inexperience or my stupidity.

As humans, I think we tend to look at others who are in trouble (whatever the trouble may be) and base our willingness to help on our own judgments of what got them into that situation. If the path that led them to where they are was one of stupidity, laziness, lack of education, or addiction, we often refuse our services.

I don’t know what I was expecting at the top of that mountain. I think I was expecting to have to explain myself and why my situation really did warrant help. I think I was expecting to have to explain how none of it was really my fault and how I was the victim of unknown forces. I think I was expecting to deal with Search and Rescue the same way people deal with others every single day… Fearful of judgmental response.

What I got instead was a glimpse at real love for one’s fellow man. It has been a long time since I’ve seen such a cooperative effort done from the purist of motives."

As I read this, I couldn't help but wonder... Has Dan, who is representative of a number of people, rejected Christ because those who claim to serve Him are doing so with a "judgmental response"? Did one too many people proclaim Jesus' name and then spout forth their own personal criteria to determine whether the individual's situation warranted help?

There are many people in the world today who are waiting for help from a Search and Rescue Team. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10)... He wants us to help him with this mission. People are hurt, lost, thirsty... and we Christians are equipped to come to their aid. The question is, are we willing? and will we come to another person's aid with pure motives and without judgement? It may be that a life is depending upon it.