4 Pastor's Wives Invited Their Pregnant Friend To A Strip Club
Mel Johnson
Christian Blogger Joins In A Strip Club Visit
Anna McCarthy is a Christian author, speaker and, as the name of her blog suggests,
Just a Jesus Follower. So, it's shocking, to say the least, to see a post on her Christian blog titled "
I Went To A Strip Club." It's even more shocking to learn Anna was invited by 4 pastors' wives! But that's only the beginning of the impact her strip club visit is having. Anna's explanation as to
why they went and
what they found is even more powerful than the title itself!
Anna McCarthy Credit: Facebook
It's difficult to imagine this cheery mom of four, who was pregnant at the time of the visit, casually strolling through the front doors of a seedy strip club with 4 pastors' wives by her side. I mean, it's the last place these "upstanding Christian" women belong, right?
Wrong.
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Following God's Call
Anna admits in her post that:
"I was raised to believe that no good comes from places like that. Which is probably true on many levels. (I wouldn’t suggest making it your go-to for date nights)
But, I was filled (as were many Christian kids) with fear about 'places like that.' That 'those people' were heathens and doing all kinds of sinful, shameful things.
Which, again, is true of strip clubs.
And bars.
And many other places."
This mindset left Anna anxiously unsure of what to expect from the strip club visit, as she and her 4 friends showed up to deliver a meal and gift baskets.
Credit: ThinkStock
After being ushered back to the dressing room, she was completely caught off guard. Not by the lack of appropriate clothing. No -- what surprised Anna was that the dancers were so
normal! She writes:
"They showed pictures of their children, talked of pregnancy (I was pregnant at the time) chatted about trying to get back in shape after having a baby, etc. It was SO NORMAL.
But, as we talked, and I looked into their eyes, I saw women – young, broken women. Who had stories, probably much like mine or yours.
We didn’t stay long. They had a shift to work, and we didn’t want to overstay our welcome.
But, as we left, they thanked us.
More than once."
There's much more to the story, and I'd encourage you to read Anna's full blog post in her own, beautiful words
HERE.
The Sad Truth
But there's another startling discovery Anna and her crew made during their strip club visit. Until then, the dancers had only ever experienced shame and humiliation through the hate mail they regularly received from other churches. This was the first time a church had shown these women what they so desperately needed...what we all so desperately need:
the love of Jesus.
RELATED:
This former porn star felt unworthy until Jesus saved her
It's a shattering realization that left Anna in tears. And she had a powerful plea for all Christians:
"Did we forget (or do we just sing it songs) that Jesus was a friend of sinners?
Did we forget that it’s his kindness that leads us to repentance?
Did we forget that it is ONLY the blood of Jesus that makes us holy?
That ALL OF OUR GOOD BIBLE LOVING STUFF is like filthy rags without Him?
Jesus was UNAFRAID of walking in love to the least of the least.
Like the scum of the scum.
He walked right in, sat down and ate with sinners.
Gross, ugly sinners.
And the religious HATED HIM FOR IT."
Showing Grace
We're not all called to go into strip clubs like Anna. But we do encounter sinners everyday. Rather than jumping to judge or condemn, let's keep our hearts open to the call of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide our interactions. Because we are all sinners, saved only by the grace and love of our Savior!
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13: 34-35
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Credit:
Just A Jesus Follower
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