Romans 12:9 says Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
But do we? Do we who claim to be Christians and love Christ REALLY believe this? Think about it.
Can you step out and see closer in to the world around you too? Now a week in a mission field in another country or state or even county is about 2% of our life for the year. That remains 98% of our time in our own country, our own neighborhood, much of that within a fifty mile radius of where we sleep at night, right?
I can't help but think on this. I heard that verse Sunday morning while there was testimony about some kids who went to Nicaragua on a mission trip.
I need to do better too about this myself here at home, but one thought I have always had about foreign trips is, what about those at home? Are we all so caught up in how impoverished other countries are that we overlook the impoverished both physically and spiritually back here in our own backyards?
An example is this video I saw the other day:
That's what's wrong with faith today. Where is the genuine love and compassion? Where is the "not going to give up" at? Is it any wonder that so many are outcasts, despised, in prison, homeless? Because they have never had anyone to genuine love them. They have never felt unconditional love. Why do we who claim to be brothers and sisters in Christ treat each other worse than we would a stranger on the side of the road needing help changing a tire? We show strangers more compassion than we do those within our own towns! Instead of seeing someone who is struggling and just ignoring them or worse, gossiping about then, stand up and see what that person needs, without judgment.
We I would dare say, are one of the most impoverished and dying from starvation spiritually than most of the nations out there in the world! What are we doing about it?
I will point out that this isn't about asking for money, stuff or anything else but simply for people within the church to reach out to those who are spiritually starving and honestly need someone to love on them without barriers, church without walls, church without "I'll do this if you do that" mentality. However the biggest barriers I think are those among economic classes.
As shared by a friend on Facebook, B posted Sunday as well, "The inconvenient reality of compassion: While discussing James 2 this morning in life group, the issue of poverty and "the poor" came up. There was some comparison of the poor here to the poor around the world, and the assertion that many American poor are that way, to some extent, by their own choosing, or purposely as a way to "game the system" (is that a phrase?). It's hard to want to help and show compassion to people who put themselves in a position of need. But if we're going to claim Christianity, and show the love of Christ to the world, then their needs and what we can do to help should be the only two points of interest. How they got where they are, or their attitude towards our help, or their willingness to change their ways don't matter. The love of Jesus is unconditional towards us. We didn't earn what He freely gave us, we often don't show gratitude for our salvation, and we chose, and continue to choose actions (sin) which require Help that we can't provide for ourselves. It's a good thing that when God looks down at us, living our lives marred by sin, and disgusting compared to His holiness, that He doesn't roll His eyes and shake His head, like we're some bum with a cardboard sign. Because we are all about as worthy of Salvation as the bum on the side of the road is entitled to my help. That's Christianity; helping BECAUSE it's needed, and not worrying about WHY it's needed. And that is a very inconvenient idea, especially in our Americanized church" B went on to say in the comments, "I do think the church should be a place and group that transcends the effects of social class, but unfortunately, often you still find the "us" and "them" cliques"
Now I gotta say those cliques go way beyond just money. They go to where you were born, where you went to school, what you wear, what you say, what you believe in, and so much more. High school anyone?
So that brings me to this:
Now I'm going to get a little political here. Bear with me. What about those who say they are "right to life?" How do they treat others around them? Respect is only deserved while an innocent baby in the womb yet we throw all of that out the window after they are born and tell the families "Too bad you are on your own but you are going to hell if you get an abortion."
So wait a minute, aren't most of these against abortion conservative Christian? YES! So then, where's the compassion commanded of us for those "less then us" if we condemn those who also do abortion? (No I am not pro-abortion)
Okay so then let's say you are pregnant with a child who has been just diagnosed in utero with Down Syndrome. (Or insert any other life changing diagnosis) What is that mom likely to hear? "No quality of life. Abort it!" "Iceland eliminated Down Syndrome through abortion you know." "That child will be a burden, abort it." "What? You are thinking of an abortion? How dare you!" "You better not have more kids after this because they may be defective too!" "That child is innocent and abortion is murder!" and more..... Think I'm joking? Go ask any special needs mom and they will tell you all they have been told..... Now, say that child is born and does indeed have Down Syndrome or any other "special need", what will you say now? "You had this child, deal with it! Don't ask for help!" I know people within churches even talk like that because I have heard it. Is that the right attitude?
James 2:1-9 which says:
"My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes, do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?
If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to? But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators."
Okay, Now let's go farther.
What are your genuine thoughts of those on Medicaid? What is Medicaid to you?
Do those who are on any government program like food stamps, welfare, medicaid, social security, medicare, SSI, SSDI, etc. worth less to you than those who are not?
Which is worth less to you? The lower working class in poverty, the single mom of kids with many daddies on welfare or the upper class who are rich and on no aid whatsoever?
Be real with me. Don't sugarcoat to make yourself look good. Be honest.
Now let's get really into this: How should Christians see these people? Do they see and treat people equally or not? Why?
If you don't treat people equally, why not? No BS answers now, I want your heart answers.
I dare you to say what you think. Especially since a good handful of locals here think I'm a leech.
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Did you know everyone who is on any form of aid, despite reason or length get accused of abusing it at some point in it? Or of being leeches? Even the foster parents who's DHS custody kids in their care get it. I know of one mom who fosters kids and got nasty looks because the foster kids get WIC.
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I've been accused of gaming the system and being a leech, even by people in my church because my kids have SSI with Medicaid as secondary insurance.
Little do they know..... Yet when I explain what Medicaid really does for them, I'm blown off. Medicaid pays for therapies (ST, PT, OT) that primary doesn't, and so much more.....
I've even been told that I better not have more children lest they be leeches too. Yes, by those even within the faith that claims to believe in Christ.
By the way, we pretty much get no other help, not by family, not by society and not by the government. Nobody helps us but ourselves. Hubs works full time, I handle almost everything when it comes to school meetings, appointments, travel to said appointments and scheduling for all along with procedures.... Yet I'm just a leech.....
You would be shocked by how rampant Christians proclaim those ideas and how looked down upon one is if they are not middle or upper class.
Now all of that leads to this:
That 98% that you spend within the confines of your community, how are you impacting it? Are you truly helping others or are you out for yourself? Are you snickering and sneering at others with your buddies over how someone looks or because they are on food stamps yet pretend to show love like Christ on Sunday mornings?
Are you one to sit there in the pew and say "I am like Christ because I do this, this and this! I'm doing fine!" yet condemn those who are not as well off as you for whatever reason it is?
What do people want in a church then?
They want to see compassion, friendship, commitment, love from the heart. Real love, not the "I love you but..." or the "I love you because I have to but I want nothing to do with any other Christ like requirements." They don't want someone to avoid them because of what they look or dress like. Overlook all of that. Overlook that they talk funny, overlook that they are not from your small town. Overlook that they honestly sin differently than you.
Jesus Christ came for everyone and died for everyone, from the serial rapist and killer of children all the way to the one who tells white lies once a year yet otherwise "does awesome deeds and behaves so well."
So what are you willing to do to break those barriers and REALLY be like Christ?
You know the saying, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar? Though I think for each cup of vinegar, it takes two cups of sugar to sweeten it, so that would make three cups of honey? Dang, no wonder people can't handle me.... I'm too spicy. I'm like a habanero pepper dipped in honey. I'm sweet at first than once people feel the heat, they can't handle it. Okay, so can I then just dump that on some people and just say I was being sweet and tangy while passing on some James wisdom?
Okay so maybe not..... Let's keep praying though for ourselves and those around us, Mmmkay? Let's have less judgment and cliques and just tear down those walls. It's really that simple.
~ Special Momma ~
