"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."
- Mary Flannery O'Connor
Sitting in my Sunday school class today, this quote appeared on the projector during a short video. For some reason it really caught my attention. I quickly typed it into a memo in my phone, and set it aside for further deliberation.
There is no denying that this quote is flawlessly accurate. When we are faced with adversity, the truth of the matter is that it simply will not change itself because of the way we feel about it. The truth doesn't care if you like it or not.
The video went on to explain that this quote can be used to relate to how Americans deal with issues such as world hunger and poverty. If we keep things out of our sight, it is easier to keep them out of mind. We have less guilt at buying another pair of shoes instead of donating leftover cash to charity. We don't have to worry about the kid who will go to bed hungry tonight, we can go out for dinner with a clear conscience. When faced with the truth of our guilt, the issue does not change just because we are uncomfortable with it.
James 4:17 says "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
We know that there is a demand for selfless people in the world, those who step up and care for the needy above themselves. We'd like to think that it isn't our responsibility, "those" people have got it covered. But why sit back? You've been called today to help.
Matthew 25:40- "The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
In the book, "The Hole in Our Gospel", the author talks about a friend of his who cut out all the verses that were about poverty, wealth, justice, and oppression in the Bible. Not because he didn’t believe in those verses, but because he wanted to make a dramatic point that for many Christians in America, we wouldn’t miss those verses at all. We may read and understand them, but until we follow up with actions, we are not living out our faith.
Both my school and church are about to go into full-fledged charity mode, starting with the Kids Against Hunger or "ONE" campaign and the "30 hour famine."
I'm providing links to both of these charities that I'm participating in in the next few weeks. Go ahead and click for further information.
http://www.kidsagainsthungercr.com/
http://www.30hourfamine.org/
It's a beautiful thing to feel convicted to do something about an issue that affects so many people. There is no better therapy or reward then what is gained by showing compassion and aid to those who can't make it alone. Show Christ through you, today, and everyday.
No comments:
Post a Comment