A great article by Will Braun from Geez Magazine covers some of the points I have been pondering of late. I often wondered - in light of recent political debates, activist acts, and mega-church programs - what happened to "love thy neighbor as thyself?"
Braun makes a very good point, "If my involvement in a conflict makes me a more bitter and caustic person – rather than a more humble and creative person – my approach is probably askew. As another test, I like to consider whether the way I treat my adversaries would make them likely to feel comfortable approaching me if they were ever to jump ship."
How often are we keen to note that about ourselves?And we wonder why there aren't more Christians.
As Brennan Manning said, "The Greatest single cause of Atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is simply what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
Are we loving our neighbor? Are we loving our enemy? We say hi to the Jones next to us and ask them to tea and thats it? Of course not.
I'm writing this, not because I think Christians don't know it, but because we may need encouragement to get out and do it. Let us truly fear the Lord!
Visit the inmate, feed the hungry, clothe the poor. *
By the way, if there is a comfortable distance between you and "the poor," or you and your rainforest-cutting-fossil-fuel-burning-arch-nemesis, then lose it. Either saddle up right next to them or get off your high-horse and wallow in the mud together (its great for your complexion) - And I gotta practice what I preach, myself!
Let us be Christians or die trying.
*We are accepting donations for Myanmar cyclone victims - boxes of clothes and (food if we can get it in the country) and any other supplies the Lord puts on your heart. Please email me if you have anything.
2 comments:
I think I'm gonna have to take issue with Shane Claiborne's comments re the Pearly Gates. If what he says is true, then my giving at church towards their mission work doesn't count because "You didn't build the orphanage, your church did!" Somehow I don't think that will be God's comment. Besides, when we read about the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness we see that those "whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing" (Ex 35:20) gave freely. None were compelled, they gave as their heart led them. Fast forward 2000 years to Paul (Rom 12: 3-8) and we find that we are different members of one body. Some have the gift of giving, some exhorting. Getting alongside the poor may not be my gift. My gift may be in business, making a million dollars to give to those whose gifts ARE getting alongside the poor. We need to do OUR part, the part God has laid aside for us, not all play the SAME part! After all, "we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function" (Rom 12: 4). 'Nuff said.
What he meant was, if that is all you ever do, just casually take stuff to a drop off point, but no real heart for the issue. Giving isn't bad, but the nameless multitude of homeless remain the nameless multitude. That is not good. Get to know people, break the castes, feel uncomfortable.
He wasn't saying try to use gifts that aren't yours, but remember that all those gifts of the spirit are also commands. We are told to give, we are told to be hospitable, we are commanded to love.
Business, however, is not a gift of the spirit.
Community was and is one of the points of the church. Relationships. Knocking down those comfortable barriers that keep the rich in towers of ivory and poor on the streets.
Yes, give and do as the spirit leads you, but many people do very little and say, oh, well I was never moved. -No, they just never learned how to listen.
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