Thank you for this. I'm heartbroken by the vacuous lack in many Christian spaces of an ethic that takes economic justice and the needs of the world seriously, and wondering what could cause this to change, whether repentance and change is possible, or whether the grip on our sense of what we believe will give us control and power is just too strong. I know God can change hearts, but I don't currently sense a hunger for that in the spaces that have long failed to take the work of justice seriously (as in following the logical path of what this would entail, and recognizing when the logic doesn't add up). And this is heartbreaking because I know many people in those traditions long to do good with their lives and to help, but have not been given resources or discipleship to help fuel and sustain that longing beyond lip-service. At the same time, I'm grateful for those strands of Christian tradition that have always taken this call seriously, and am trying to deepen my roots in those resources instead of only lamenting their absence in the spaces I grew up in. I also greatly appreciate your vulnerability here, and recognize this same battle in my own heart: "I’m unnerved by my steady inclination to protect my resources. I like comfort."
I really need to read this a few more times to fully comprehend that with which I agree. Thank you for speaking wisdom and truth and as most do these days, pushing pertinent discussions under the rug!
It is overwhelming for any of us looking at the wide arena of needs...where we live...and world wise and every situation in between. To know God's heart grieves and to still believe He is omniscient and sees the whole picture resolved begs the questions you submit. We look to Him, we look within, we seek to know where best we can place ourselves to be a part of the love the world needs....even though it is but one small spot on the planet...that is where we focus and seek what He would want us to do.
I recently got into an online fight (my first, actually) with a childhood friend--we find ourselves on different sides of political arguments. What I wrote online because her political views seemed repetitive, stupid and irritating were not exactly things to be proud of; but more than that, the feelings evoked from the interaction gutted me. Finally I messaged her personally and said, "Can you help me to understand where you are coming from? Can you be my person on the inside?" It has changed our entire dialogue. She asked me as well to write out where my views have come from. And it is exactly what you pinpointed here: The Kingdom of God at hand and the need to care for "the widow, the orphan, the sojourner in our land."
I agree with whoever above said this sounds like the first chapter to a much needed book. You write about this well, Winn
I’m a missionary, so my work is sustained by donations from the church. But when my daughter got leprosy through us being overseas, you know how God healed her? Free WHO leprosy treatment distributed in Indonesia through the Indonesian national health system. This put us squarely in the middle of the massive medical need of our community. TB, HIV, leprosy, malaria…
A few weeks ago someone my team had been helping passed away, in his 30’s, of HIV and TB. The organizations helping with these things are funded by the WHO and USAid, alongside the Indonesian gov.
Do I personally care about these needs? Yes, deeply. Am I sent by the American church? Yes. Do I want the church to give, and do I intend to help with local needs in light of withdrawn government programs? Yes.
But my capacity to help is so limited. We’ve been trying to recruit a doctor or nurse to serve with us for years and no one will come. And even if by God’s grace someone came, we could never match the research and expertise of those big government organizations.
The WHO was our Good Samaritan. Through the daily pills labeled WHO, my daughter was healed. It’s ridiculous to act as if these things are waste and woke.
So many are wrestling with these questions right now. Are we doing enough? Are we relying on governments too much? Is there a way to not be constantly exhausted by it all? I wonder if decades of hearing that we need to change the world for Jesus has left us unconvinced that ordinary, local faithfulness can make a difference at all.
Grappling along with you.
It's hard to know how to write honestly but not divisively right about now, but I think you've nailed it. Thank you.
Thank you for this. I'm heartbroken by the vacuous lack in many Christian spaces of an ethic that takes economic justice and the needs of the world seriously, and wondering what could cause this to change, whether repentance and change is possible, or whether the grip on our sense of what we believe will give us control and power is just too strong. I know God can change hearts, but I don't currently sense a hunger for that in the spaces that have long failed to take the work of justice seriously (as in following the logical path of what this would entail, and recognizing when the logic doesn't add up). And this is heartbreaking because I know many people in those traditions long to do good with their lives and to help, but have not been given resources or discipleship to help fuel and sustain that longing beyond lip-service. At the same time, I'm grateful for those strands of Christian tradition that have always taken this call seriously, and am trying to deepen my roots in those resources instead of only lamenting their absence in the spaces I grew up in. I also greatly appreciate your vulnerability here, and recognize this same battle in my own heart: "I’m unnerved by my steady inclination to protect my resources. I like comfort."
Heartbreaking is the right word. God, have mercy on us.
I also want to say I could see this being the first chapter in a much needed book.
I really need to read this a few more times to fully comprehend that with which I agree. Thank you for speaking wisdom and truth and as most do these days, pushing pertinent discussions under the rug!
It is overwhelming for any of us looking at the wide arena of needs...where we live...and world wise and every situation in between. To know God's heart grieves and to still believe He is omniscient and sees the whole picture resolved begs the questions you submit. We look to Him, we look within, we seek to know where best we can place ourselves to be a part of the love the world needs....even though it is but one small spot on the planet...that is where we focus and seek what He would want us to do.
grateful for your heart in all this.
I recently got into an online fight (my first, actually) with a childhood friend--we find ourselves on different sides of political arguments. What I wrote online because her political views seemed repetitive, stupid and irritating were not exactly things to be proud of; but more than that, the feelings evoked from the interaction gutted me. Finally I messaged her personally and said, "Can you help me to understand where you are coming from? Can you be my person on the inside?" It has changed our entire dialogue. She asked me as well to write out where my views have come from. And it is exactly what you pinpointed here: The Kingdom of God at hand and the need to care for "the widow, the orphan, the sojourner in our land."
I agree with whoever above said this sounds like the first chapter to a much needed book. You write about this well, Winn
This is beautiful, honest, and hopeful (and those three words belong together).
Yes. I appreciate your words.
I’m a missionary, so my work is sustained by donations from the church. But when my daughter got leprosy through us being overseas, you know how God healed her? Free WHO leprosy treatment distributed in Indonesia through the Indonesian national health system. This put us squarely in the middle of the massive medical need of our community. TB, HIV, leprosy, malaria…
A few weeks ago someone my team had been helping passed away, in his 30’s, of HIV and TB. The organizations helping with these things are funded by the WHO and USAid, alongside the Indonesian gov.
Do I personally care about these needs? Yes, deeply. Am I sent by the American church? Yes. Do I want the church to give, and do I intend to help with local needs in light of withdrawn government programs? Yes.
But my capacity to help is so limited. We’ve been trying to recruit a doctor or nurse to serve with us for years and no one will come. And even if by God’s grace someone came, we could never match the research and expertise of those big government organizations.
The WHO was our Good Samaritan. Through the daily pills labeled WHO, my daughter was healed. It’s ridiculous to act as if these things are waste and woke.
This is a moving story. Thank you, Kacie. And thank you for giving your life and energy and heart to God's beloved people, our neighbors.
So many are wrestling with these questions right now. Are we doing enough? Are we relying on governments too much? Is there a way to not be constantly exhausted by it all? I wonder if decades of hearing that we need to change the world for Jesus has left us unconvinced that ordinary, local faithfulness can make a difference at all.