It’s no wonder that many people turn away from Christianity when they get treated the way that some people who claim to be Christians treat people.

Foodbarn in Warrawong in New South Wales Australia was set up for people who need help because they are struggling to afford food. Sure, the people running it have good intentions, but if you want to go along to their church and you don’t fit in EXACTLY to what they think a Christian should be, they oust you. I don’t think that Jesus would have done that. Nope, not in the slightest.

So, for those people running Foodbarn (Lizzie, Galley, and Anne), do you consider yourselves to be good Christians? If so, why aren’t you walking your talk? Why do you demonstrate so often that you don’t put into practice the things that Jesus taught?

When you tell people that they don’t ‘fit in’, what does that say about you? Does that say that you are loving and accepting? No, not in the slightest. Has it ever occurred to you that people’s names change due to marriage or other reasons, but does that mean that they are doing something they shouldn’t? Do you know the facts about people’s lives? Do you know or do you assume? That’s a rhetorical question, by the way.

Quote: “You don’t fit in.” Anne at Foodbarn when she failed to meet with the one who “didn’t fit in” at the agreed time for dinner, and at which time money lent would have been given back had there been the chance to do so.

Quote: “We can’t help you.” Lizzie at Foodbarn when the individual truly needed assistance to feed their animals, but said in a way that wasn’t speaking only about the animals. It was said in a way that was meant to ostracize the person involved.

When you assume that a decision has been made that hasn’t,  and you ostracize that person because they don’t ‘fit’ what your idea of a Christian is, then you aren’t very good Christians. You’re religious and full of dogma yes, but Christian you are not. You are very fast to judge, and very fast to exclude. Did you ever think to ask, or did you use the excuse that you can’t help people in order to push them away and make them feel unwelcome? That’s another rhetorical question that doesn’t need answering because the answer lies within the question itself.

Before you go patting yourselves on the back for all your good deeds, look at what you’re doing when you judge people and exclude them from your little club. You act like you’re the chosen ones and you push people away.  No amount of feeding the poor will make up for having cold and judgmental hearts. No amount of strutting around thinking that you’re good people because you run the Foodbarn will compensate for your attitude of exclusivity.

When information was mentioned to neighbours and friends about what had gone on in that particular situation, many spoke about how the Foodbarn has a very bad reputation for picking and choosing who they will include and who they won’t include. There were many stories of people being treated badly by the staff and owners of Foodbarn.

One man said that Jeff had told others that he couldn’t be trusted and that he was a drug addict. This man who was talking has epilepsy and is on prescribed medication. Sure, he’s got a few tattoos, but he’s certainly not a drug addict and his hands shake because of the medication he’s taking for his epilepsy. Get your facts straight before you go accusing people of things that aren’t true Jeff.

Yes, those who run Foodbarn have their side of the story when talking about the people who visit the Foodbarn in that they experience all the normal problems that are associated with dealing with the public, but there’s plenty being said about the Foodbarn and Hope Centre Church that isn’t very positive in exchange.

A benefactor had planned to make some very large donations to you that you will now miss out on because you were so quick to assume what was supposedly going on. Your assumptions were incorrect, and Lizzie lied to Anne about what had gone on between herself and the individual who was ostracized, causing Anne to misunderstand the situation. And yet, Anne collaborated anyway – she didn’t think to ask the individual who was being ostracized what the facts of the story were, so she too is guilty of the crime of judgment and piety. Religious snobbery, lies and gossip are a far cry from what Christ would want from each of us.

My teacher always said that it’s people’s Karma to go the wrong way, and he’s right.

Hebrews 13:1-2  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Matthew 7:21-23   Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.  Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’  And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.

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