Spirituality of the streets.

Luke 18:9-14
18:9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:

18:10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

18:12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'

18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.

Street ministers like myself soon realize that the street has it's own culture, it's own community that often is very much different from the "mainstream culture" including the Christian Evangelical culture. what we find is that for those who have been on the streets for a long time, are part of that culture, it is very deeply rooted in who they are.

Some who come to Christ can and will get off the street and into mainstream culture again, but the reality is that most will not. They just don't fit in culturally with the mainstream anymore. But that in no wise mean that real solid conversions and spirituality does not take place on the street, it just means it looks different.

The above scripture, Jesus told a parable about who was justified and who was not. the street folk whom we minister too, those who say they are followers of Jesus, know who they are. They know they are sinners, losers, addicts, and they know they do not "measure up" to societies standards. But they are quick to be the ones who say, God have mercy on me a sinner.

I remember a time when we did a Good Friday devotion in an alley and a bunch of homeless people came out to worship. One of the long time alcoholics had tears in his eyes, and shared this with the group, it was the sermon for that day. "All of us here are losers, we are sinners, we are not good people. But this Jesus, the Son of the Living God, He was perfect, he loved us so much, and he knew that we are not able to clean ourselves up, but that is exactly why he came for people like us. I am not worthy to be here, but He calls us anyway, and I love Him, and will be forever grateful for what He did for me".

After the service was over, I thought to myself that this man, this long time street person, this man who has been into treatment for addiction over 60 times in his 66 years, this man who fought for our country in Viet Nam, who came back from the war damaged forever, he understood the above scripture. He understood the finished work of Christ on Calvary. He had a spirituality and a faith that is strong, and living, and helps him in his very difficult life on the street.

But I can hear some say, "if he was really converted he would be clean, sober, off the street and working a real job, in a good church and paying his tithe". All I can say is perhaps, but after 36 years on the street ministering to all kinds of people, I have seen real faith and real love among the homeless, even in the midst of all of the addiction and the ugliness that the street dishes out.