January 20,1998
Dear Br. Clyde:
Sevilla and I have a daughter and son in law who live in Michigan. Perhaps you met her several years ago when she stayed with Sevilla while my sister and I went hiking.
She and her husband are mentally dull. I am not insulting them
when I make this statement for they recognize their own condition.
It is not for lack of education that they cannot read, but rather
they both suffer from some type of congenital birth defect. While
they can drive and maintain their home, they project a certain
lack of intelligence that is readily discernible to others in
their demeanor and conversation.
They are both sociable, although they can’t intelligently
discuss current events, or other involved subjects and they have
difficulty with translating concepts and principals into something
they can understand.
They have faithfully attended church for most of their adult life.
They try to understand the sermon and religious instruction, but
it rarely penetrates their understanding beyond a very simple
childish level.
On several occasions, however, they have commented that no one
sits with them in the same pew in church. No matter which pew
they choose, they are avoided by the other worshipers. They have
few friends and seldom does anyone at church make an attempt to
converse with them. (While they are both friendly, their conversational
abilities are limited.)
While they may be dull of understanding, they are not insensitive
to slights or insults. They are deeply bothered by those who avoid
them both in church and out of church.
Sevilla and I have experienced the same thing in church, that
is why I call this the empty pew syndrome. Wherever we sit, the
pew is usually empty, although the one in front of us and behind
us may be full.
Berniece, our daughter, made an interesting comment to Sevilla
the other day. Several months ago, a missionary from a foreign
country visited her church requesting donations for his impoverished
mission. He made an eloquent appeal for funds with which to spread
the gospel to the people in his region. Missionary work isn’t
cheap but often requires a large expenditure of funds to finish
the Lord’s work.
His appeal met with very little success and he went away, from
that church, empty handed and probably frustrated.
Several weeks later, a proposal was made to purchase a satellite
dish for the church so they could view religious programing. This
dish was estimated to coast $1500.00. The project was accepted
and the funds were readily available. Consider how many natives
could have learned of Christ if the church had donated this money
to the missionary instead of selfishly using it for their own
gratification.
It doesn’t take a lot of intelligence to draw the appropriate
conclusion between these two incidents, and she was not slow to
make the obvious inference.
How sad that Christians, of all people, should display such selfishness
in the matter of the missionary vs the satellite dish.
It is a truism that churches are hospitals for sinners. One expects
to find sick people in hospitals, and so one finds sinners in
church. What better place to find them then in the Lord’s
house.
Speaking of sinners, I have often heard the excuse made for not
attending worship services that there are hypocrites in church.
One man made this observation to me while we were attending a
picnic at a friend’s house. When I reminded him that hypocrite
were everywhere, in the grocery stores, the barber shops, restaurants,
but he didn’t avoid patronizing these places, therefore,
he should not use this as an excuse to avoid attending church,
he mumbled something unintelligible and went in search of some
more watermelon.
Berniece and Don may lack sophistication, social manners, a cultured
attitude, the ability to read or hold an intelligent conversation,
yet they think and observe and draw conclusions.
It is a sad commentary on churches and Christians, in general,
that believers, above all people, should act in such selfish,
insensitive ways. Certainly, the world has a right to criticize
Christians for acting in the way we do. God expects better of
us then He does of those who do not attend church or make any
profession of faith.
I have never discovered the reasons why people avoid handicapped
or dull individuals. Do they think these problems will rub off
on them like mud on a nice white shirt or blouse? I don’t
know.
I am heartened, however, to observe that some people, such as
Debby and yourself, do not act in such a crude and crass manner
as those I just described. Some people seem to forget that we
are all equal, for there is no difference between those with high
IQs or low IQs, we are all sinners and we all have the same Father,
and older brother, Jesus Christ, and the same need for salvation.
There is no difference between you or me, Berniece, or those snobbish
people who refuse to soil their garments by sitting in the same
pew with them and conversing on their level. Absolutely no difference,
except as we create differences which only separate us from each
other, creating barriers.
I am glad that neither you or Debby feel this way. I have often
counted it a privilege to make your acquaintance and to get to
know you as neighbors.
I trust that the Lord is blessing you and your wife with health,
prosperity, and a knowledge of himself and his love. May the Lord
bless you, your brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson