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Serve Your City Tool Kit
5 years ago
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Feedback appreciated!
Over the past couple of weeks I've been asking a tough question lately. Does the church really know how to relate to those outside the church anymore. I've come to the conclusion that I don't believe most churches connect to those outside our faith. In watching the elections I saw many of the commands of Jesus being talked about by government officials. Just as an example: How about the church's responsibility to take care of the widow and orphaned. I realize that as a denomination we have a few orphanages and a home for the widows. However, not every widow can move to Tennessee to a home for widows. Also, our orphanages aren't reaching our local areas for the most part. My point is this. The church has allowed their responsibility to be passed off to the government. Or even more sad, maybe the government has recognized its need to step in because the church hasn't been doing their job. No wonder why so many government officials want separation between church and state. I say that to say this. What are some other commands Christ has given us that we are missing and how can position ourselves to start taking those God given responsibilities back?
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4 comments:
Brian, you got me thinking, and though the following may not really answer your question, I hope it will further explore what you have already brought up. In reading the book of Acts it seems that pretty much all "welfare" for fellow believers was provided by the church. Those who had properties, etc. sold it, and turned the money into the Apostles. The means of distribution is not really discussed (unless you look at the choosing of deacons to take care of the distribution to widows, and that is possibly a different subject). What is said is that no one went without. The lack of one was made up for from the abundance of others. That is pretty amazing, and when we examine the role of todays church in caring for its needy, it is absolutely convicting. Yet, even in the passages in Acts that discuss this "welfare system" of the early church, it seems that only fellow believers were cared for. Those outside the faith do not seem to be included... Maybe they were and it just isn't specified, or maybe it is talked about in other scripture passages, just not in Acts. With that said, who's responsibility is it to provide the welfare to those outside of the faith? I know we are told to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, but the scriptural example from the early church seems to set parameters on that "welfare" to fellow believers.
That's a very good observation Rob! The point I was trying to make was not that it was the total responsibility of the Church to provide social welfare. Rather, my point was that I don't believe we've done our part. How many widows in our churches are struggling with bills while we allow "medicare/medicade" to help them.
For example:
I just met a student last week who's church was about to let him go into the foster care system because the mother & father were having hard times. Why couldn't someone step up and help? The situation wasn't that the parents wouldn't except help or didn't want it. No one was willing to offer.
I hope this makes sense. There are people in our churches hurting and some are doing nothing about it. On top of that what does that say about us to the world?
Brian, you are totally right. The church has and is failing to care for our fellow believers, our own family. That is inexcusable and we must address it. According to Jesus the world will know we are His followers by our love for each other. Love here is not a warm tingly feeling, but active care, covenant commitment to one another. If we truly love, the world will take notice of that genuine care. It will entice them toward Jesus.
I just wonder if we have been paralyzed by looking and feeling responsible for the welfare of the world, and neglect to even care for our own.
That's worth some discussion!
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