Owen and the Gurdwara

Read: Matthew 9:10-13

“Singur invited me to his birthday party next Saturday,” Owen told his mom and older sister, Chloe. “He’s an awesome soccer player.” Owen pretended to headbutt a soccer ball into a goal, then raised his arms in victory.

“You could get him a hat with his favorite team’s logo on it,” Mom said.

Owen shook his head. “Singur always wears a turban. It’s part of his religion. He’s a sick.”

“He means Sikh, Mom.” Chloe slipped off the bandana that had been tied in her hair.

“Singur’s mom said I can spend the night after the party,” Owen said.

“What about church on Sunday?” Mom asked.

“I could go with Singur to his gurdwara. It’s like church.”

“A gurdwara is not a church,” Mom said. “Sikhism is a different religion from Christianity.”

“But that doesn’t mean Owen shouldn’t be friends with Singur, does it?” Chloe asked. “Didn’t Jesus make friends with all kinds of people?”

“He did,” Mom said, “and He shared God’s love with them. But He never participated in things they did that went against who He was. Sikhs don’t worship Jesus, so a gurdwara is not a place of worship for Christians. We need to be careful that the things we do with our friends are in step with our faith in Jesus. He saved us and made us His people, and we need to follow Him.”

“Give me your leg, Owen,” Chloe said. “I want to show you something.” She put her own leg next to Owen’s and tied their ankles together with her bandana. “You go left. I’ll go right.” When Owen tried to walk away from his sister, he fell. “You’re tied to Jesus, and you need to go in the same direction as Him,” Chloe said. “Otherwise you won’t go anywhere.”

Owen got to his feet. “Mom, I think I should go to Singur’s party and spend the night, but I’ll tell him I can’t go to his gurdwara because I have my own church to be part of.”

“Good thinking,” Mom said. “You might even get a chance to tell him about Jesus and what He’s done for you.”

Owen nodded. “And for his gift, I think I’ll get him a bandana with his favorite soccer team. It’ll work great for winning a three-legged race!”

–Holland Webb

How about you? Do you have friends who don’t know Jesus? How can you be a friend to them without going against who you are as a Christian? Jesus was friends with all kinds of people, but that doesn’t mean He went along with everything they did. Trust Him to give you wisdom in knowing how to be a good friend to others while remaining true to Him.

Today’s key verse: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Be a friend like Jesus