The One True Emergency Room
By Dave Havir

BIG SANDY, Texas--Do you remember when you attended a church that had a
closed-door policy? Back then I thought such behavior was biblical. It seems
so ridiculous now.

Jesus told the Pharisees He did not come to call the righteous but to call
sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13).

A church service should not be a gathering of people who think they are more
righteous than everybody else. It should be a place where sinners feel
welcome. (Is anyone reading this article not a sinner?)

A church service should not be a weekly meeting of a social club that keeps
out the riffraff. It should be a place where sinners can receive help.

(For the record: Congregations have the authority to restrict disruptive
people from participating. In practice, however, such an action should be
rare rather than the rule.)

A church service should not be a weekly motivational session to rally
supporters around physical leaders and their advertising projects. It should
be a place that helps sinners hear God's Word and become closer to God.

In Matthew 9:12 Jesus draws an analogy: They who are healthy do not need a
doctor, but those who are sick do need a doctor.

Consider a modern-day parable.

Emergency-room visit

Once upon a time there was a kingdom with many emergency rooms. The
administrators of each room viewed theirs as the one true emergency room.
Each was so exclusive that the administrators placed bouncers at the doors
to screen people before they could enter.

One day Joe Saint saw some advertisements (magazine, radio and television)
about a few of the emergency rooms. Because his wife, Jane, was having heart
problems, the Saints decided to visit.

When they arrived at the first emergency room, they were stopped at the door
by a friendly doorkeeper.

"Excuse me," said the doorkeeper, "but this is a private emergency room. May
I help you?"

"Yes," replied Joe. "My wife has been having heart problems. I saw your
advertisements, so we came over here to visit your emergency room."

"Just a minute," responded the doorkeeper. "We have a closed-door policy at
our emergency room. You see, we can't let just anyone in."

Puzzled, Joe asked: "Is it not your purpose to help people? That's what your
advertisements state. Your advertisements are so professionally done. They
attracted us to come for help."

"Thank you for the compliment about our advertisements," answered the
doorkeeper. "If you would like to make a donation, we will use the money for
paying our executives and for increasing our advertising projects."

"May my wife and I please come in?" asked Joe.

"We want you to talk to one of our staff members this week," answered the
doorkeeper. "After he interviews you two or three times, he will determine
when to invite you. We want you to come to the one true emergency room."

Joe was discouraged and said: "We were hoping to get some help sooner than
that. I guess we'll try somewhere else."

"Okay, good-bye," said the doorkeeper. "I hope your wife's heart trouble
clears up soon."

Another visit

Joe and Jane were discouraged, and her heart was indeed feeling worse. Then
he remembered other advertisements (magazine, radio and television) that
looked quite similar to those promoting the previous place.

The other places also called themselves the one true emergency room. It was
almost as if they had the same background and heritage.

Jane started having severe problems as they headed toward a new emergency
facility.

As they arrived, Jane was in need of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

As Joe approached the door, he was stopped by a friendly doorkeeper.

"Excuse me," said the doorkeeper, "but this is a private emergency room. May
I help you?"

"Yes," replied Joe. "My wife has been having heart problems, and I saw your
advertisements--"

Before Joe could explain the extent of Jane's problems, the doorkeeper
interrupted.

"We have a closed-door policy at our emergency room," he said. "You see, we
can't let just anyone in."

Joe quickly interjected, "But my wife needs immediate care for her heart."

"We have a booklet about heart troubles," answered the doorkeeper. "We would
be happy to send one to you if you give us your address."

"I am interested in CPR," blurted out Joe.

"You are in luck," mentioned the doorkeeper. "We have a booklet about CPR,
and it is one of our most popular."

"I am interested in CPR now," snapped Joe. "Will you help me?"

"As I told you, this is a private emergency room," said the doorkeeper.
"But, since you are so enthusiastic about visiting here, you might need only
one interview before we invite you in. We will get to you this week and
hopefully you will be invited soon."

Joe turned to leave, seeking to find someone to give his wife the help she
desperately needed.

"I hope your wife begins to feel better," said the doorkeeper as Joe
scurried away.

God heals

Rest easy because this parable has a happy ending.

The Great Physician in heaven looked down and saw the problems Joe and Jane
were having trying to find help from any of the one true emergency rooms. So
He healed her.

Joe and Jane did not hold grudges against the people at the one true
emergency rooms. They realized that the doorkeepers were only following
traditions of men as they had been taught.

Besides, Mr. and Mrs. Saint were thrilled to develop a personal relationship
with the Great Physician in heaven.

Here is a moral to the parable: When the Saints are disappointed by the
various one true emergency rooms, they learn how effectively God heals
broken hearts.

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The Journal: News of the Churches of God is available from P.O. Box 1020,
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info@thejournal.org. The preceding article or feature is from The Journal,
March 3o, 2001.