I just read this brief article “Ohio pastor charged for opening church to homeless people in freezing weather” by Julia Conley from Common Dreams, 20 January 2024, on Alternet. www.alternet.org/…
Full disclosure: I am an atheist. I was raised Nazarene as a young child, but, by adulthood I recognized myself as an atheist.
The article is about Chris Avell, the pastor of Dad's Place in Bryan, Ohio.
And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.’
I must state unequivocally that Pastor Avell is doing it correctly. I am one to stand 100% behind this man. It is a religious persecution, and it is wrong. Perhaps, I chose my words incorrectly. So, I issue this correction. At least one person in the comments stated that it is not religious persecution. I think that person is correct. Still, the laws need to be changed. If one wants to live a Jesus-y life, one must take care of their brethren. Laws such as those in the small Ohio town are anethema to most of the teachings of Jesus, according to the Bible. Generally speaking, Jesus said to take care of the poor, the ill, and those in more difficult situations. He hung around prostitutes, lepers, and the poor. It is righteous to take care of the unfortunate on deadly cold days. So it may not necessarily be religious persecution, but it is at least persecution of a different sort. It is wrong-headed.
Even if he was not motivated by religion — just humanity should serve well enough — it is encumbent upon us to take pity upon our fellow human beings.
The city, the government, of Bryan, Ohio, is horribly wrong on this.
Note: I do not like Faux News in the least. Still…
"Many of these people have been rejected by their families and cast aside by their communities. So, if the church isn't willing to lay down its life for them, then who will? This is what we're called to do," Avell told Fox News.
Pastor Avell is doing it right!