In a small church on the Oregon Coast, this was very much the case. There was a Head Elder who knew what was right an proper. The church was very proper. The men wore ties to church and all of the women wore hats. Everyone not only knew what was right and proper, their actions were right and proper.
One Sunday morning, the minister had finished his first point and was starting into his second point. A young man walked in. He was wearing a T-shirt. It may have been dirty or it may have been gray from the way it was washed. His jeans were ragged. He had long hair and an ear ring.
He obviously was uncomfortable. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what was right and proper. He walked in and looked at each pew. Not sure what to do, he walked past each pew. There were only three rows. This was a small church. When he got to the front, he sat down on the floor in front of the pews.
This wasn't right or proper. Everyone in the church knew it wasn't right or proper, but they didn't know what to do. Slowly, the head Elder came around the pews to the and slowly walked down the center isle. When he got to the front, be bent over. Everyone was sure he was going to set this young man strait. Instead he sat down beside the young man.
With this simple gesture, he showed the young man he was accepted in the church. Accepted with his long hair and all. The people soon forgot the sermon the minister was preaching. But, none of them forgot the sermon by the Head Elder.
This story was told by Dr. Jim Petersen and recorded from memory by Rick Clements