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 Two men once lived in the same town. Man #1 was very religious. He went to church three times a week. He served as a (Deacon, Elder, Church Council member, whatever your tradition calls them). In many respects, he was a very moral person. He followed the rules of his congregation very rigorously and kept his eye on fellow members to ensure that they did also. He even voted for the right political party that supported laws that reflected his religious beliefs. He often told people they needed to “get saved”. He avoided people he did not consider good Christians or people he considered to be “lost”.

Man #2 was not religious. He had been active in church in the past but after some disappointments and some differences with some members and a pastor, he dropped out feeling as if he just didn’t fit in anymore. He felt his value system was different from theirs. After he dropped out his language became what many would call a “little salty”. Several years before as an investment, he bought an old-fashioned coffee shop, The Coffee Pot. Customers were mostly retired men who came to have a cup of coffee, maybe a donut, but mainly to catch up on all the news and gossip. It never made much money. He was just glad if it broke even. Later, he hired a new manager. He seldom went in the place but the revenues began to climb. When he dropped in one day to see what was going on, he discovered it was a very different place. There were pictures and poems on the walls signed by local people. There must have been 15 different kinds of coffee on the menu and the clientele were very young. It was considered a little of an “artsy” store and a lot of lesbians and gays hung out there. He enjoyed the coffee, the art and the atmosphere.  When he retired he began hanging out there himself.

He was a major topic of conversation with all of his former religious organization members. Man #1 dropped by his house one night to talk to him about what it looked like for him to own a coffee shop where “those kinds of people” hung out.

Man #2 made friends with many of the people that came into The Coffee Pot. They found that he would listen to their problems with genuine interest and compassion. Regardless of what they told him, he never seemed to judge them. He only gave advice when asked. He just listened. For many, he was the one person they could be honest and open with – knowing that he would not be judgmental.  Even though he never talked religion, he often spoke of Jesus. Conversations about Jesus would often draw a crowd that lasted beyond closing.  He never lectured or argued.  He asked a lot of questions and allowed people to have different ideas. 

Man #1 became very upset about changes in society. It seemed to him that values were being forgotten. He began a campaign to “restore good Christian values”. He argued loud and forcefully about what “they” were doing to our country. When a group of Muslim immigrants were looking for property to establish a Mosque, he went to the city council to try to block it. He also attempted to have The Coffee Pot closed down for being a haven for perverts.

Man #2 heard that Man #1 and a number of his friends were going to the local Planned Parenthood to demonstrate. Man #2 went and watched. The demonstrations got ugly. Tremendous amounts of anger were displayed. People going in were abused verbally and called all sorts of terrible things. Young women, obviously very frightened, were humiliated by the jeering crowds.  They were informed they were sinning and breaking God’s Laws, and they would end up in hell. Workers were called murderers and several had their cars keyed.

 After a short time, Man #2 went back to the Coffee Pot. Later that day some of the young women who had been going into the Clinic came in obviously shaken by their ordeal. Soon a conversation developed between Man #2 and one of the girls. She confessed to him that she simply did not know what to do. She did not want an abortion.  The father, who was Man #1’s son, had told her she was on her own that she should have “used something”. She was broke. She stopped going to religious meetings after several people had commented on her pregnancy and then avoided her. The pastor had a sermon on immorality and its consequences. She had gone to a government agency and they offered no help. She could not afford to have the baby or support it once it was born. Man #2 made a call to his wife. When finished he told the young lady that his wife said they had a spare bedroom she could stay in until the baby was born. Then she could stay as long as she needed. They had some savings and would take care of the medical expenses.  When he left work that day she went home with him.  That night he and his wife talked. They decided they would commit all the revenue from the Coffee Pot to helping young women such as the one that moved in with them.

Man #1 began to plan the next demonstration. If they could attract more demonstrators maybe they could intimidate and shame more of of the women and shut the place down. He had several other places in town that were immoral that he would like to close down also including the Coffee Pot.

Two men. What was the difference? Both had expressed faith in Jesus. Both wanted what was best for their world. Both had good intentions wanting their world to be a better place. What was the difference?

Matthew 9 is a chapter where Jesus heals a great many people. It concludes: Matthew 9:36 NLT When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.”

Two men saw the same situations. When Man #1 looked he saw people that needed correction. When Man #2 looked at people he saw people that needed compassion, empathy and love (as Jesus did).

Jesus went on to say, that this world needed His workers. I think the context of this statement means the workers Jesus sends out should approach people with compassion.