"…the great tragedy of the church
is not that rich Christians do not care
about the poor
but that rich Christians do not know the poor."
It couldn't have been more absurd timing for me to have read Shane Clairborne's "The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical
I'm still kind of egg-y.
Years later, with that quote ever-lingering on my shoulder, I'm still trying to figure out how to meet the poor. Doesn't that sound ridiculous? The truth is, as a middle class white person living in Suburbia, attending a mainstream, mostly white church, it requires intent; intent beyond my comfort zone.
And as I'm lamenting my inability to, you know, minister to poor people, I hear "Follow You", a beautiful song by too-wise-and-too-deep-for-their-years Leeland (and featuring Brandon Heath) and it hit me I've gotta stop living in my head and Just Do It.
Who knew Nike was so spiritual?
{Do yourself a favor and at least listen to this song! Leave a tab open while you're blog hopping 🙂 }
We're called to a . I'd love to hear what that looks like to you.
{I've included the lyrics to "Follow You" as a reminder that although the way may not be easy, it is simple.}
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.
All my needs you have supplied.
When I was dead you gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
Use my hands, use my feet
To make your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until your work is done
'Cause Faith without works is dead
And on the cross your blood was she'd
So how could I not give it away so freely?
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
(X2)
I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself… to you.
And I give all myself.
Yes, I give all myself.
And I give all myself… to you.
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
(X2)
As far as I can tell, a demonstrative faith is knowing what the Bible says about a specific situation and actually doing it. The doing is the demonstration. The whole poor people search? You can find them in my church and yours. I personally know some in both!
What a powerful song! It is so true… it may not be easy, but it is simple! Thank you for sharing this today. Nike is right… we just have to do it! 🙂
Reading your words ” I am still trying to figure out how to meet the poor” was so powerful. You didn’t say help you said meet and I think that is crucial. I go to a very affluent church of people eager to help the poor but I am not sure many of us MEET the poor. There is a big difference between writing a check and holding a hand.
I need to hold more hands too, thanks for reminding amd inspiring me to reach out with more than money.
Somedays it’s hard to face all the need in the world while lying in the comfort of your own bed. It aches. It feels impossible. Until we get out of bed, put our sneakers on and start helping whoever is in our reach. Just do it? Yea, that’s about the only way. Every other approach will paralyze you. I assume that’s what the evil one is counting on.
Thanks for the share.
I rarely comment on these posts because I never know exactly what to say. You have a great knack for rendering me (ME of all people) speechless.
such great timing for me to read this. the group that God is laying on my heart is children. i’m currently reading a book by Wess Stafford, president of Compassion International. Oh my word. Why do we (mostly Westerners) treat our children like they are throw aways? Especially poor children. God is forging a lot of new pathways in my heart.
We do things a little differently than most….we don’t go to church. Mostly because I don’t agree with the teachings at any of our loal small town Southern churches. But also because the one church we did love started asking people to sell their houses to finance a new Church building. Uhm, yea.
So….we don’t have a church to tithe to. And in all honesty I’m not even sure I believe tithing is necessary in New Testament times, but that’s a topic for another time. What I do believe is that we are called to help one another. So, we set aside a percentage each week and call it “God’s Fund”. It even has its own separate checking account. We use this for the usual giving,like our Compassion child. But mostly it’s for those times when we stumble upon an opportunity to help someone. When we come across someone with a genuine need, we give. We’ve helped people fix their only family car, we’ve helped pay utility bills, we’ve bought groceries…..we just keep our eyes and ears open (and our hearts!!) and use that money to do God’s work in our corner of the world. 🙂
I’ve had this window open for a couple days, as I read the post (and loved it) I wanted to wait for a quiet moment to listen to the song. See how long it took me? 🙂 But I didn’t forget, I knew I needed to hear it.
I get what you mean by still trying to meet the poor, not that you don’t know where to “find” them, but — and it’s more like the quote says, we need to *know* them — it’s that you’re learning how to see the need, meet it with heart and soul more than just worldly needs.
It’s in the *more*, the pressing further, the deeper love.
And it does challenge a soul.
You are SO right, Lisa-Jo! Paralysis DOES set in when you think about "world hunger" issues! We seem to minimize the benefit of helping ONE person because it's not helping the masses, but that's absurd! If "each" of us helped one person…I think pretty much everyone would be taken care of…. Great thoughts, thanks for sharing.
Children are often marginalized and easily swept to the side without a voice; Compassion does a FANTASTIC job of "speaking up" for them. SO exciting to hear how the Lord is working in you, Heather :).
I guess you don't "go" to church because you're too busy BEING the Church ;). (Though your comment made me really, really sad; and I can't help but hope your family finds a group to worship with corporately, whether it's an informal or formal gathering….)
You sound like me (with the open tab thing….if you only know how often I've had YOUR tabs up wanting to respond…and then allowing distractions to set in (le sigh).
Like many of you I live in sheltered suburbia. Poverty around my neighborhood is measured in 1/2 million dollars foreclosures or downgrades from Mercedes into Acura.
Recently I challenged my Facebook friends with this:
http://thriftyindallas.blogspot.com/2009/10/free-chickens.html
I invited them to purchase a pair of chickens via the critter catalog for Gospel for Asia at $11, that is $9.00 cheaper than Heifer. Sadly, my wealthy friends were blind to the offer and I sit upon pledged money waiting for people to have their hearts of stone turned into flesh upon the clamor of the poor. If you feel like buying a chicken pair and email me evidence of your purchase I will gladly match your gift.
Have a blessed day