I have been reading Richard Stearns's "The Hole in our Gospel". The hole to which the title refers is our responsibility as Christians to care for the weak, the poor, and the defenseless. I have been challenged.
Mr. Stearns is the president of World Vision, a huge non-profit organization that does all kinds of good for all kinds of people in need all over the world. For example, they help AIDS orphans in Africa with schools, food, and other care. When I first heard about the book I though it would be an encouragement to me. Perhaps I would receive kudos and encouragement for the work I do in Honduras. Yea for me, that kind of thing.
But this book has been "in my face" and "in my business" more than I expected! It's challenging. As a taste, let me quote a bit of it here. As if the story of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25) wasn't challenging enough, Mr. Stearns has paraphrased it taking aim at the modern American church (and me):
"For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes. I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness. I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved."
Ouch.
2 comments:
Ouch is right. Give a person LOTS to think about. Health care reform as being part of Christianity? Every one should have a right to healthcare, but at our expense? Something to ponder.......and pray about......
Carrie
I am going to write down the name of this book. I have an older book by a former president of World Vision that I read through occasionally. It's titled Rich Thinking about the World's Poor by Peter Meadows. However, since it's old and published in England, it's too expensive to give as gifts which I really would like to do. Great post.
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