The Poor Among Us

The road to doing what is right is most often narrow and steep, and certainly not crowded.

One nice thing about having a blog is that it gives you a place to say what's on your mind. To once in a while move beyond the cooking, sewing and day to day things in your life and address things that weigh heavy on your heart.
Maybe it was Saturday night that I was flipping through the television stations trying to find something that was not about murder or some other form of violence. I happened upon one of those news type shows and what I heard shocked me, not because it was a sensational news item but because it was so filled with truth, and it was a truth I had not thought of and that made it all the worse in my mind. You see there was some fundamental Christian man on there that had worked in Washington and he shared something that has had me thinking all weekend. No it wasn't about some sex scandal in high places or an embezzlement scheme. It was about how political agenda has determined the path of Christianity in modern times. He took the reporter through a Evangelical Conference and showed her all brochures at the booths, they were about Abortion, Same Sex Marriages, Patriotism, Right to Prayer in School, and things like that. All subjects that have hot ties to politics. I am not saying they are bad subjects, just bear with me here until I drop something on you that is shocking, shocking indeed.
There was not one mention of helping the poor in this whole place. Think about it. Christianity is all about loving our fellow man and helping the poor and needy. So here we are, modern times, plenty of money in the world to go around, and we are forgetting one of the most important aspects of Christianity in action.
Why wouldn't this subject share equal time at least with the other subjects mentioned ?
How often have you heard the subject of passing laws to help the poor and needy preached from your pastors lips ? Or a preacher or groud asked you form a line through town to fight hunger and poverty ? When has the poor and needy been part of the campaign jargon from a fundamentalist politician ? Yet think about it, Christ spoke more about helping the poor than about any other group.
Even now, you would think the politicians would be working harder on health care for all people, that would be the compassionate thing to do, but we hear more about other issues. Prayer in school for some is a huge issue, but really if we teach our children to pray at home, that's powerful enough and for the other kids that don't know how to pray because they were not taught at home, well how about we feed families and show compassion, making Christianity admirable and not confrontational. Much like Mother Teresa's impacted India and the world, not with sermons or trying to constantly push things on people, but by a gentle and giving hand. That is attractive Christianity.
Maybe by being that sort of example, some of the other things would fall into place. Christ's compassion is what drew his crowds, his healing and his love, then he could share to them about doing right.
Seems like we have missed that part of the story lately. Churches have gotten into politics mixing it with religion and are buying into the "get votes" agenda. How about equal time at least for the subject of compassion and teaching our children compassion. Most young adults today are extremely self centered. Maybe the sermons should address that, after all they are going to be the ones looking after us in our old age. Ouch !
We need to ask our pastors why they are not preaching whole sermons about helping those in need, becoming action of compassion people.
Some do I am sure, but most don't. You can tell by the amount of families living pay check to pay check without food in their pantry, or seeing the elderly skip getting a prescription filled so they can buy some food or pay the electric bill.
Christ's doesn't ask us to determine who is needy and how they got there. Jesus said in John 13:34" A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

When the young man asked what he needed to do to get into heaven, Christ told him
Matt 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Luke 14:13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind

Personal note here, I have never invited the poor to one of my tea parties, so I am preaching to myself here too.
I believe in all my heart that it is compassion that wins souls far more than getting folks to vote a certain way. Lets put Christ back in the sermons and leave political agendas out. We have lost our way. Lets have conferences filled with brochures that show ways to reach out to those in need on a day to day basis, in our own neighborhoods, in our own schools. I know we have food share programs and such, but how about we look right next to us and help on a really presoanl level.


Has not our Christianity take on the turn of this verse below ? Sounds like most of the politicians and famous preachers of our day. Fine clothes and gold rings.

James 2: 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?