Friday, January 25, 2008

A Hole in Our Holism by Stan Guthrie from Christianity Today

As I read this article, I found myself asking this question...does my passion for justice come from a hesitancy about sharing "evangelistically", or does my serving and meeting people's needs just come from my heart...and on some level, I might argue that I've never talked more about Jesus with people outside the faith then in the last five years where I have been radically more engaged in meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed around the globe...interesting question for those of us who believe Christ calls us to meet both physical and spiritual needs...

Why evangelicals might be shy about sharing their faith.

My only personal encounter with the late D. James Kennedy did not go particularly well. I was still a wide-eyed writer at Coral Ridge Ministries in Fort Lauderdale. But about a year and a half into my job, I had decided to attend Columbia Biblical Seminary to study world missions.

One day I met Kennedy, who was striding to an appointment with several members of his retinue. Screwing up my courage, I said hello and mentioned I would be attending Columbia for grad school. Kennedy physically recoiled and thundered in his trademark baritone preacher's voice, "Columbia? I wouldn't send my worst enemy to Columbia!"

It felt as if I had been slapped in the face. But recovering quickly, I figured out he was talking about that bastion of doctrinal liberalism, Columbia Theological Seminary—not Columbia Biblical Seminary. That matter cleared up, he wished me well, and we went our separate ways.

Kennedy, who died last fall, always was one to dream big, act decisively, and let the chips fall where they may. A card-carrying member of what has come to be known as the Religious Right, he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.

All who knew him, however, talked most not about his views on abortion or school prayer but about his integrity and warm pastor's heart. To me, that heart is most exemplified not in the imposing Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, nor in his media empire, nor in his now-defunct Center for Reclaiming America for Christ. It comes across in two simple questions:

Do you know for sure that you are going to be with God in heaven?
If God were to ask you, "Why should I let you into my heaven?" what would you say?
I'm speaking, of course, about Evangelism Explosion, which Kennedy founded in 1962. I believe Kennedy, with all his fervor for reclaiming America, would agree that claiming souls for the Savior is his best legacy. You may not agree with all of his political priorities. But it's hard to argue with his passionate commitment to see people come to Christ.

Do we who remain have that same commitment to good, old-fashioned soul-winning? Historian David Bebbington has identified four emphases of our evangelical movement: conversion, Christ's redeeming work, the Bible, and social engagement and evangelism. Right now our passion for social issues of all kinds is ascendant. And indeed, our old, narrow, world-rejecting fundamentalism needed a decent burial.

Today, it's great to see how much easier it is to draw crowds by organizing a conference dealing with race, anti-Semitism, abortion, Darfur, homosexual marriage, sex trafficking, AIDS, or environmental stewardship. Loving our neighbor via these issues is right and good. And our newfound activism also can help make the gospel we preach attractive to outsiders. As Jesus said, "[L]et your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

But it seems harder for us to get excited about evangelism. Our holistic mission has a hole in it—not enough evangelism. For instance, while the American population continues growing, our own evangelical numbers barely tread water.

Is there a connection between our rediscovered social passion and our growing evangelistic indifference? History certainly provides ample warning, if the Student Volunteer Movement is any guide. Organized in 1888, the SVM boasted a great motto: "The evangelization of the world in this generation." But according to scholar Paul Pierson, the SVM began stumbling under "a desire to tackle the problems of Western society coupled with doubts about the validity of world evangelization." By 1940, "It had ceased to be a factor in students' religious life and in the promotion of mission in the churches." A greatly diminished SVM was finally disbanded in 1969.

This isn't surprising. Evangelism—calling sinful people to repent and follow Jesus—is always a tougher sell than giving a cup of cold water in Jesus' name. As the apostle Paul said, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing."

Does our heightened social consciousness—from the Left and the Right—actually drain our evangelistic zeal? It shouldn't, because we are called to do both.

But maybe our preference for social activism reveals a more basic problem: that we don't really believe our neighbor's deepest need is to be forgiven by and reconciled to God. We seem to think that if only he or she is fed, or lives in a society brimming with Christian principles, or sees our battles against the world's many injustices, then we will have discharged our responsibility to Christ.

I'm not sure Jesus would agree. "For what does it profit a man," the Lord asks, "if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" May our concern to make a difference in this world not blind us to our neighbors' eternal destiny in the next.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Callous Conservative by Michael Gerson from the Washington Post

Here's an interesting thought from President Bush's former speechwriter whose political opinions and thoughts I often find incredibly engaging...should be an interesting year for the evangelical vote...

Callous Conservative By Michael Gerson
Friday, January 18, 2008


After watching Fred Thompson debate his Republican rivals, I have often wondered why he is not in the top tier of candidates. He seems to have John McCain's honesty, without his razor-sharp edges, and Mitt Romney's conservatism, without his jaw-dropping inconsistencies.

This contrast between Thompson's large political talent and his poor political performance has led to persistent questions: Does he lack ambition? Energy?

This week, he added one more to the list: Does he lack moral seriousness?

At a campaign stop attended by a CBS reporter in Lady's Island, S.C., Thompson was asked if he, "as a Christian, as a conservative," supported President Bush's global AIDS initiative. "Christ didn't tell us to go to the government and pass a bill to get some of these social problems dealt with. He told us to do it," Thompson responded. "The government has its role, but we need to keep firmly in mind the role of the government, and the role of us as individuals and as Christians on the other."

Thompson went on: "I'm not going to go around the state and the country with regards to a serious problem and say that I'm going to prioritize that. With people dying of cancer, and heart disease, and children dying of leukemia still, I got to tell you -- we've got a lot of problems here. . . . " Indeed, there are a lot of problems here -- mainly of Thompson's own making.

While he is not an isolationist, he clearly is playing to isolationist sentiments. His objection, it seems, is not to government spending on public health but to spending on foreigners. But this is badly shortsighted. America is engaged in a high-stakes ideological struggle in Africa, where radicals and terrorists seek to fill the vacuum of failed and hopeless societies. Fighting disease and promoting development are important foreign policy tools in this struggle, which Thompson apparently does not appreciate or even understand.

Thompson's argument reflects an anti-government extremism, which I am sure his defenders would call a belief in limited government. In this case, Thompson is limiting government to a half-full thimble. Its duties apparently do not extend to the treatment of sick people in extreme poverty, which should be "the role of us as individuals and as Christians." One wonders, in his view, if responding to the 2004 tsunami should also have been a private responsibility. Religious groups are essential to fighting AIDS, but they cannot act on a sufficient scale.

Thompson also dives headfirst into the shallow pool of his own theological knowledge. In his interpretation, Jesus seems to be a libertarian activist who taught that compassion is an exclusively private virtue. This ignores centuries of reflection on the words of the Bible that have led to a nearly universal Christian conviction that government has obligations to help the weak and pursue social justice. Religious social reformers fought to end child labor and improve public health. It is hard to imagine they would have used the teachings of Christ to justify cutting off lifesaving drugs for tens of thousands of African children -- an argument both novel and obscene.

In the lifeboat dilemma Thompson proposes, we are asked to throw overboard either an American child with leukemia or an African child with AIDS -- and, by gum, it had better not be the American. The real issue is different: Should we increase the amount of money devoted to our generous cancer research efforts at the expense of African lives that can be saved for about $90 a year?

What of the more than 1.4 million men, women and children who have received treatment with the help of Bush's AIDS initiative? According to Thompson, they are not a priority. The 800,000 HIV-positive pregnant women who have gotten treatment to prevent transmission to their children? Not a priority. The care of nearly 3 million orphans? Not a priority.

Does Thompson actually believe this? Perhaps he was merely pandering to anti-government conservatives -- though it is difficult to imagine what collection of shriveled souls would be excited by an attack on AIDS treatment. Either way, Thompson's image as a courageous teller of hard truths -- the "adult" in the race -- is damaged. It cannot be called bravery for a millionaire actor, with a blessed life, to pick on the most vulnerable people on the planet.

Thompson's questioner got it wrong. Support for the fight against AIDS is not a matter of being a "Christian" or a "conservative" -- or a liberal or a Buddhist. It is an expression of compassion and empathy, which also reflects a serious conception of America's role in the world.

These attributes are not only admirable in a president; they should be required.

michaelgerson@cfr.org

Friday, January 18, 2008

A Day Ten Reflection: Final Thoughts by JOSH ELLIS

Overwhelmed. There's no better word to describe how I feel right now.
Overwhelmed by stats. Overwhelmed by saddening stories. Overwhelmed by
the busyness of life. Most of all though, I'm overwhelmed by how much
can be done versus how little is being done.

I've been constantly asking myself over the past two weeks why nobody is
doing anything. Why has our government been so weak in its response? Why
aren't there more high schools partnering with organizations like World
Vision or at least giving to organizations? As I went along in the
thought process, I realized I didn't have nearly as much passion before
the class as I do now. Then I thought back further and realized I didn't
have any passion at all before coming to Wheaton Academy.

I thought about how I had no idea how bad the world was before coming to
WA, and I realized that's why there isn't a response. It's so normal at
WA to see the newest promotional video from World Vision, or to sit
during an hour long movie on Slim, and I often forget that's not the
normal thing to do. I'm not so sure whether Congress and the President
can use the ignorance excuse, but I doubt the average high-school (even
Christian ones) educates their students on the issues of poverty and the
injustices that plague our world. I know my church definitely doesn't
educate our congregation enough.

Why don't they? How can so many Christians just not know? Is our
American shell or bubble too thick? Has it just never been brought up?
Why aren't there sermons on helping the poor when there are plenty on
giving to the church?

I can't answer these questions. I wish I could, and it would be
interesting to ask pastors or other Christian leaders what is going on.
I've wondered a few times while watching the various movies whether
playing them at my church instead of having a worship service one Sunday
would do anything. Would they (either a church or a high-school) be as
affected by the stories, or is it an acquired passion? I would love to
see the reaction of my congregation, or even just my youth group to Glue
Boys or Invisible Children.

Well, if the reason nobody is doing anything is because nobody knows,
how do we tell them? I'm not sure. I liked what Tony was saying about
relationships, and I'm definitely going to try to bring this up with my
youth pastor over the weekend (winter retreat!). This is part of the
reason why I've been spending so much time outside of class getting
things done on the website.

I sat and thought about how to end this for a good 10 minutes. I
considered the possibility of presenting some perfect way to tell the
world about AIDS, poverty, injustice, hunger, and water issues, but I
don't think there is one. The only way to spread this in a lasting way
is one person or community at a time. I really believe it's important
(though not necessary) to have a relationship with someone in order for
them to be influenced by your ideas and passions. As I've been writing
this, I've realized that I'm contributing to the problem of ignorance
that bugs me so much, and after being saturated with information over
the past two weeks, that needs to change.

A Day Nine Reflection: Making Movies by BEN WESTRATE

OK...AFRICA has been WEIGHING ON MY HEART SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR, BUT I’VE NEVER REALLY ACTED ON IT UNTIL Senior year. We’ve watched a bunch of movies in this class and these movies have made such an impact on me. Because of what I’ve seen, I find myself hurting for these kids, just from the experience of watching the film itself. These movies use powerful images such as boys so hungry that it literally hurts so much that they try to make their pain go away by sniffing glue. These type of movies are powerful. And because people see and react to these kind of movies, I believe this is what I want to pursue. If I create movies that will cause people to react and respond, these children will have food to eat and won’t have to sniff glue. I want to get rid of the kids’ habits. I want to bring them hope. Cuz me, I'm a media guy...I know all the work that goes into making movies. I know how to make them, I just need a topic--someone or something to make my movies about. And you know what, I think I’ve found that. Kids dying for needless causes, people having no access to clean water, and boys being chased through the African jungle by the same men who killed their fathers.

Because the rich of our world have become so consumed with gaining more wealth they have lost sight of why they have been given money in the first place. I believe that if wealthy people saw what I have seen in the past two weeks they would have a complete change of mind. But the problem is that they have not seen what I have seen; they just don’t know. Hopefully, by being able to show what I have seen to the rich and/or American population of the world I can change what they have seen--and encourage them to act on that. Now that I’ve seen how movies can effect me and others in my class, I want to be able to move people to the point where they have an obligation to action--so they have no choice but to give of their own resources, if that ends up being spending time in prayer, writing, giving money or even their voice. That’s what I want my movies to do. I want them to have a moving effect on people. I now see HOW SOME OF MY GIFTS CAN HELP PEOPLE LEARN about the sufferings that are going on in Africa and around the world. I know God is calling me to use video in some way to help show people those in need.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

A Day Eight Reflection: Tension by CHARLES WEST

Today we discussed the issues of women rights and the problems they face in developing countries. A representative also visited us from the ONE campaign, which was definitely more in the form of political advocacy, but was very interesting to hear because few of us in the class have seen these issues dealt with from such a perspective. I think this will benefit us greatly because I feel as Christians we often narrow our options and exclude possibilities for solving world issues simply because they are secular, which only restrains us from achieving our full potential. All of these problems we have looked at can be improved through many different strategies, which can easily become a problem because now we have organizations sharing a common goal that are in fact competing with each other. People with good intentions are torn between these organizations and are confused at where to give their resources, which can serve as a detriment to the original goal of helping those in need. This has been a main source of my frustration over the past week.

After reading the other blogs posted, I realized the common issue is these unanswered questions that are so difficult to deal with. As our day progressed, I could sense the frustration others were feeling as we were given more questions to wrestle with on top of the other 7 full days of questions. The harsh reality is that there are no answers to these questions, which is a hard concept to accept because we have seen the suffering and great need for help. Justin talked about this tension being deliberately placed in our lives so that we can be used as tools for the Kingdom of God and I couldn’t agree with more. This tension often attracts the majority of our attention and blinds us from the action we are called to take.

The next step, which I find to be the hardest, is deciding what action we are being called to take. This is phase where the act of sacrifice is taken to varying extremes, which in my opinion is actually OK. If not used as an excuse, I’m a firm believer that some people are left with more of an imprint on their lives to make a change than others, and their actions will show it. After going to Africa, I realized we must learn to forget the unanswered questions and never forget learning the unquestioned answers. This is working back to my original point that if we learn to accept these issues for what they are, then we will be enabled to push beyond the tension and be given the sight of God’s calling for our lives.

Ephesians 1:11…Charles West

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

A Day Seven Reflection: Perseverance by TATUM TEEVANS

The past week I've left class feeling very sad and discouraged. I feel like my mind has been soaking up so much information, but I have yet to respond. A heavy burden has formed on my shoulder and I don't feel it leaving anytime soon. All the statistics, photos, videos, and accounts of the turmoil in our world have left me unable to sleep. I read about all these different organizations that are passionately trying to make an impact and change the world of poverty. Even after viewing the results, I still become discouraged knowing how much more still needs to be done.

As I watched the movie Amazing Grace today, I felt encouraged. Seeing William Wilberforce take on the entire political world of Great Britain gave me a hope. Someone examining the slave trade would never have guessed a man could basically single handedly abolish it. Wilberforce did just that. But he didn't accomplish it through the means of one giant campaign or an incredibly moving speech. He accomplished it by perseverance. Romans 5:3-5 says, "..we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, HOPE. And hope does not disappoint.." This may have been taken somewhat out of context, but I believe it mirrors Wilberforce's efforts exactly. He persevered 30 years to get the abolition of slave trade act approved. And not always, but a lot of the time Wilberforce saw a continual progress for his cause growing. Finally, he succeeded.

I view the AIDS crisis in the same way. I ask myself all the time if I can really make a difference. Sure I can sponsor a child and save his life, but am I making that big of an impact? I'm not trying to degrade sponsoring children in any way, but honestly, is that going to "save Africa"? I have no idea what the perfect answer is to respond with when asked how to battle AIDS. I do know that you and me can do something about it. We simply need to stick with our efforts. I know it can get aggravating after working so hard, and seeing little results. We need to realize it's in that little result that big results will come. A quote from the movie The Power of One should be an encouragement to us all: "A waterfall begins with only one drop." The only way to rid the world of this crisis is by having the perseverance and passion to change the world one life at a time.

Monday, January 14, 2008

A Day Six Reflection: Swaziland by BEN SOUDERS

Who am I to talk about things I know very little about and have done nothing to stop in regards to such terrible global issues? Questions constantly bother me such as why did God put me here and not there? Why do I still have both my parents? I have also asked, "Why don’t I struggle with poverty and getting infected with the HIV/AIDS disease?" All these questions jolted across my mind while watching the video about HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. Then it occurred to me that I am where I am for a reason. God blessed me with what I have for a reason. Who am I to be so selfish and do nothing about the issue going on in sub-Saharan Africa and Swaziland?

This really bothers me to see children as young as six being raped and selling their bodies to older men to be able to eat for the day. It is unreal. Why haven’t I been challenged with this issue? Children are forced by their parents or other family members to participate in sexual activity. Hearing about these children just puts a pit in my stomach and angers me very much. Something is telling me that I need to do something, but what? Why are we Americans so self-centered and do nothing about this tragedy? I myself am one of the many.

It boggles my mind to understand this situation. Why are children victims of this terrible pandemic? What did they do to deserve this? NOTHING! They did absolutely nothing to deserve this. We have done nothing to deserve a terrible place like the infected areas, but nothing good enough to live in a place like Wheaton, Illinois. Understanding this pandemic interrupts my thoughts a lot during the day and what I can do about it. Why don’t more people care about this issue? HIV/AIDS is being spread in Swaziland in some of the stupidest ways such as rape, force, and polygamy. Watching the movie today made me mad, because kids can’t do much to prevent themselves from contracting the disease. Guilt hangs over my head at this very moment because I have done very little.

Questioning God again and again as the video progresses, I ask why do I serve myself when I am told to serve others? All of this is God putting something on my heart. As I say this you should not be reading this and reading about how I ramble on, but instead we need to stop questioning God and put these questions into action. I need to quit looking for blame and I should look more to what God may be asking of me. I am not comfortable with this issue and hopefully this anger leads to action. So being made by the creator of all, God, let's put all our questions and doubts into His hands and respond with action.

-Ben Souders

Friday, January 11, 2008

A Day Five Reflection: The Power of One by RYAN SEAGER

This class has really brought back thoughts and memories of my trip to Zambia this past summer. The past couple days, the question “Why does God let these things happen if He cares so deeply about these people?” has reappeared in my mind after wrestling with it for a long period of time after I had returned from Africa. Since returning, God has ignited a fire in my heart to not only help these people through prayer and financial support, but to get other people on fire about putting and end to this horrific humanitarian crisis. Going to Africa has really given me the ability to grasp a greater understanding of how big this epidemic really is. I want to be able to share this feeling with everyone but I know there is no possible way to express what I have seen in words. I want to explain what I have seen as best I can and do my best to get people involved. When I returned from Africa I felt like punching every spoiled American in the face and telling them, “Do you have any idea how the other half lives?” I was so mad because people here are just “unaware” of the seriousness of this disease. The reality is if we don’t support this cause PEOPLE WILL DIE, and I don’t know how you can proceed to live such a luxurious life and not have a heart to help these wonderful children of God. These people are the most compassionate, caring, kind, thankful, and amazing people you will ever meet. In meeting these people, I have realized that these people have blessed my life immensely. They are so thankful for what we have done and what God has blessed them with even though they have nothing. They are the most JOYFUL people I have ever met. They have not only ignited a fire in me to help them, but they are the definition of Christianity, and set an example for me to follow.

Tonight we watched the movie The Power of One. This movie demonstrates the issue of Apartheid, dealing specifically with the divisions between whites and blacks in South Africa. This movie really frustrated me because they depict how blacks were treated so much differently than whites. Once I had experienced Africa I do not know how you could treat these people so poorly. They are full of kindness and compassion. Imago Dei means created in the image of God. All people are created equal by our father, the God of the universe. We are all sons and daughters of the Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what color our skin is.

Now that I have experienced Africa and seen how the other half of the world lives, I challenge anyone who reads this, if you are not involved in stopping this crisis, GET INVOLVED…you will be blessed. Also, if you have not yet been to Africa, I would encourage you to do your best to find an opportunity to make the trip…it will absolutely transform you from the inside out.

Ryan Seager

Thursday, January 10, 2008

A Day Four Reflection: It's Not About Me by JUSTIN POTESTA

For me, today was the most intense day of the class thus far. Writing really isn’t my thing, so putting my emotions into words should be an interesting task but here it goes. Today I was mad. We watched the “Invisible Children” video about the child soldiers in Uganda. I watched as innocent children told their brutally horrific stories of war, violence, poverty, AIDS, and death. It was horrible. These kids, anywhere from the ages of 5 to 14, were being trained to kill other people. The thing that scared me the most was my reaction to the film. It made me so uncomfortable to watch teenagers relive their extremely tragic life. Time after time I found myself asking “Why in the world this would happen?” or “How could a loving God let things like this happen?” Well if that isn’t the million dollar question itself.

Guilt slowly swept over me as I drove home. The whole time I was watching the film I questioned God’s love further and further. But I still didn’t see it. I didn’t understand why it was necessary for these kids to experience things that most other people in the modern world won’t ever even taste in their life time. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. A feeling of selfishness flooded the corners of my being. Am I really that selfish? After watching such a tragic film about child soldiers I’m going to question God’s love? I just sat in my car like, “For real right now?” Maybe I just needed to understand a few things.

The world has a clear message for us these days: “Life is about you and your happiness, anything you do to help others is just going above and beyond.” I feel like Jesus flipped that completely. Jesus lived a life that was never about serving His needs or desires, but the needs and desires of other people. What does this have to do with my “Invisible Children” meltdown? Everything. I was so wrapped up in exploring my definition of God that I forgot about the true message of the video. The video’s main purpose isn’t about me. All those emotions of anger, pain, frustration that I’m feeling right now are God’s own thumbprint on my heart. God HATES injustice. Therefore, I, being created in His image, should not be comfortable with tragedies such as poverty, AIDS, corruption, and child soldiers. God deliberately placed those painful feelings in my life for a purpose. That tension, those intense pangs of sadness and hurting, are supposed to lead me to action. I’m not saying that the children of Uganda are going through these things so that I can help them; honestly I have no idea why these things happen. I’m not going to try to tell you that it’s all God’s plan because that’s not going to change the fact that they are still happening. Yes, God is in control, whether or not I see that doesn’t really matter, I just have to believe it. The tragedy happened, the question now isn’t “Why did this happen”, but rather “What am I going to do about it?” Less time needs to be spent questioning why God didn’t do something and more time needs to be spent figuring out how I am going to do something.

I think Bono said it well: "There are 2,103 verses of Scripture pertaining to the poor….It is not all about the things that the church bangs on about.” Instead of bickering over weather or not God is a just God, we should be acting to correct the injustice. Instead of questioning God’s love, we should be showing it. Because maybe that is God’s true plan, for YOU to bring about Justice, for YOU to show his true and perfect love. I almost missed it. I almost missed a huge opportunity for God to use me as a tool for His greater Kingdom. May the tension always be present. May we always feel doubts, and may we never let those tensions and those doubts go without action, for they are deliberately placed there by the Creator of all things.

JP

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

A Day Three Reflection: Children of the World by DAVID PETERSONS

Children should have parents. They should have someone mature in their lives who will look after them, provide for them, and protect them. Children should be able to go to a school where they can learn and use that knowledge to one day support a family of their own. But, in places like Africa, these common blessings are simply not there for most children. There, nine and ten year olds are heading up families where the parents have died of AIDS. Children either walk many miles to the nearest school, or they are not able to go at all. Young women, many still children themselves and finding no other way to support their siblings, are turning to prostitution or are forced into it. These are the facts whether we like it or not. We can’t deny it doesn’t happen. But, for the most part, I don’t think we do deny it. But then, since we accept it, shouldn’t we then have some sort of response?

As I have wrestled with these facts and how I should respond to them, a few questions have arisen that I can’t ignore. Questions like, why was I born into a loving, stable family where food, clothing, a roof over my head, and a future is a given, while these other kids my age have to drink water that could make them sick and beg or dig through trash to find some piece of food? Why was I put in a country where our government seeks to protect us while kids living in countries like Sudan have rebel groups, aided by the government, to raid villages and kill all who live there? It just doesn’t seem like God was fair when he caused some to suffer so much while He gave others so much luxury and opportunity.

But, then I start to wonder why He blesses some. Was it so we can live comfortably and wait for our eternal estate? I think as Christians, that would be the worst possible way to use God’s blessings and the greatest injustice of our time. Scripture clearly tells us of the importance of helping the poor and needy. In Psalm 10:14, God is said to be the “helper of the fatherless” who has compassions for the suffering of the least of His creation. In Proverbs 31:8, He tells us to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” If God is so blatantly clear about who He is and who we need to care for, wouldn’t He equip us to do so? So, couldn’t that be why He blesses us? So we can bless others? But, oh the excuses we come up with. Sure, we shouldn’t be foolish with the blessings God has given us, but if God gave it to us for a reason, don’t you think He would also care for those who follow His commandments?

Christ did not come to those who were trusting in their own perfection. He came for those who had run out of hope. He was the one who visited the needy and oppressed. He was the one who shared the wellspring of life with the prostitutes. And, He commanded His disciples, also, to serve the neediest in society. There are many ways we can justify our efforts and numerous sources that can give us direction, but we turn to Jesus, Himself where He said in Matthew 25, that when we help the least of this world, we help our Lord. We must not turn our backs on the opportunity God has given us in life when we know it can make a difference and this is what God has called us to do. We are called to obey and bless.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

A Day Two Reflection: Theology of Compassion and Justice by ERICA NELLESSEN

Proverbs 14:31...
Isaiah 58:10...
Matthew 25:31-46...
1 John 3:17-18...
Proverbs 29:7...
Jeremiah 22:16...

You don't understand. I know I definitely don't. It seems that as I go about my life God continues to show me pictures, give me little glimpses of the poor and oppressed in our world. I know that there is no way that I can ever understand it all. I will never know about all of the problems: hunger, street children, AIDS, glue addictions, the list goes on and on. I seem to learn about a new issue in a new corner of the world every day. Today was no different. I saw a movie about little innocent children with big brown eyes stare at a movie camera as they worked, enslaved to an oppressive owner. I saw a new dirt street, I saw more injustice and I saw more children I wanted to help. It seems I will never know all of the problems, let alone the magnitude of each one and the hurt and pain experienced by each individual suffereing through them.

Yet there is one thing that unites all of these people and all of these problems. One fact that I can understand, well, at least enough to give me hope and move me to action. It's a fact I've rediscovered today in a new and real way. That reality is the fact that God cares about these people and he wants their problems to be made right. We serve a God of restoraton. We serve a God of compassion and mercy. We serve a God who doesn't like the way our world is today, he came to restore it to perfection by becoming a part of it. That's just who he is. He cares about the poor. It's so opposite, yet so perfect.

As Christians, we all say we want to "be like Jesus", right? After all, he has commanded us to be like him, so really that's what we need to be about, what he's about. Well, look at what God cares about, what he ordained to be a intrical part of the way we as Christians are to function. Look at what he himself says will bring Him glory, what he did while he was physically here on earth. He cares about the poor. He provided for their physical needs. It's a perfect manifestation of his gospel. It's the Good-news made tangible. Therefore, we are to do this as well.

And let me get one thing straight. When I said care, you probably thought, "Ok, I do". Everyone with a heart would say that yeah, they don't want an innocent kid to die of hunger in Africa. But when I say care, I don't mean a feeling or a watery eye. I mean the care that Jesus means. Jesus' definition of caring is the physical, hands-on, no doubt about it caring. His feelings are also actions. He actually died on the cross for us. When he said in Matthew 25 that when one feeds the hungry or clothes the naked they are actually doing it for him, I beleive he means literally. He wants us to meet people's needs here on earth. Show them the spiritual gospel by wrapping it up in a physical one. I beleive that they are one and the same. Once you think about it, caring for the poor is a perfect picture of what God did, and he wants us to be like him.

Now think about it, if he REALLY wants us to care for the poor in this way, if we take the thousands of scripture passages about doing this to their actiual application (and yes there are thousands) your life would be radically different. But I mean, no, God would never want you to read his holy word and actually take it to its literal end and live it out now would he? He could never actually want you to maybe get uncomfortable, be radical, make sacrifices and be a little odd, now would he? Or maybe...that's exactly what he wants us to do. Think about it, but don't just keep it as this concept of a good thing. Read the verses, ponder the changes, pick something, ANYTHING, that you can actually, physically do... do exactly what God wants his people to look like. And then...do it. And who knows, maybe things will start to change, you may even begin to view God differently. And maybe the people you help will begin to even notice him as well...

Monday, January 7, 2008

A Day One Reflection--World Poverty and Millennium Development Goals by JENNA LUETKEHANS

What an overwhelming first day of class. Focusing on global poverty and injustice is not a very uplifting topic, and to study it for five hours a day, it becomes burdensome. Fortunately, we understand that there is relief and hope for the suffering people of this world, and that is found in Jesus Christ. The sticky part is where we come in. What is our responsibility in regards to this topic? How can we change anything? One is left with an unshakable burden to respond, despite being unable to answer those questions.

The statistics are staggering, the stories heart-breaking, and the progress wanting. HALF of the world population lives on less than two dollars a day. Every four seconds someone dies from hunger-related causes. The Glue Boys, the children of Kakolo Village...your heart just aches for them. The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a great idea. The achievement of the MDGs would have a lasting influence on the world, but it is going to take a lot more work than what has been done at this point. We are not on track to meeting the 2015 goal of halving poverty, and we certainly will not be eradicating it anytime soon. The question is not whether we are able to achieve the goals; it is whether we are willing.

Its makes me smile at how simple it really is. It comes down to selfishness and selflessness. Poverty and injustice is prevalent because of a decision in a garden near the beginning of time. It will end because of the death of one man two thousand years ago. And yet, it is not that simple. At least, not for us.

We entered into the tension today. The tension of knowing that we cannot NOT respond to what we know yet being unsure of how best to act. It’s a funny feeling.

Oh, how I yearn for the return of Christ, when the old order of things will pass away, and all creation will be restored. I yearn for when there will be no more death, or crying or pain. For we are caught in the tension now, we have entered into the suffering of the world. Now we must choose how to respond. This is going to be a good two weeks.

10 Days of Student Blogs

For the next ten days at Wheaton Academy, I will be hanging out all day with ten incredible students in an all day class entitled Poverty and Social Justice...it will be full of disturbing statistics, films too difficult to even watch at times, and meaningful questions and conversations as we seek to respond ourselves and create venues for others to engage some of the most challenging questions the world and church is facing in our generation...to be honest, it probably will be the highlight of my academic year...and each day, one of the students will be writing on this blog some of their own personal thoughts and ideas in response to what we will study and what they are learning and seeing concerning poverty and justice in their own lives today...I think you will enjoy and be moved and stimulated by what they have to say and what God is doing in and thru their young lives...

Here's a brief look at some of the topics we will be digging into as a community of Christ-followers:

WA Winterim 2008 Poverty and Social Justice Learning Practicum

Daily Class Topics Schedule:

Monday January 7-World Poverty/Millennium Development Goals
Tuesday January 8-Education and Literacy
Wednesday January 9-Global Hunger
Thursday January 10-Genocide and Child Soldiers
Friday January 11-HIV/AIDS

Monday January 14-Fair Trade/Microfinance Work
Tuesday January 15-Malaria
Wednesday January 16-Sex Trade/Prostitution/Gender Issues
Thursday January 17-Water and Sanitation
Friday January 18-Justice Issues Around the Globe

Discussion/Journal Questions of the Day:

Monday January 7-Can we/should we try to end extreme poverty?
Tuesday January 8-What difference does it make if kids go to school?
Wednesday January 9-How many folks don’t have enough to eat?
Thursday January 10-Can we help kids escape modern day slavery?
Friday January 11-Is the AIDS pandemic truly devastating Africa?

Monday January 14-How do we help people become self-sustaining?
Tuesday January 15-What difference do bed nets make for someone?
Wednesday January 16-What issues are facing females in our world?
Thursday January 17-What difference does the water you have make?
Friday January 18-What is our responsibility for the world?

Friday, January 4, 2008

What Evangelism Isn't...excerpted and adapted from The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever

I ran across this the other day on the CT website...this is a major question I see many students and adults wrestling with...what is the gospel, what is evangelism, and how should we share the message of Jesus with the world...I'm interested in your thoughts and ideas in response to this author's perspective...

I remember as a little child hugging my father's leg at a gas station only to realize it wasn't his leg I was hugging. I was embarrassed! It was a case of mistaken identity.

In the matter of evangelism, I'm concerned about a number of things that people take to be evangelism that aren't. And this case of mistaken identity can have consequences more serious than mere embarrassment. Let me mention five things mistaken for evangelism.

Imposition

Probably the most common objection to evangelism today is, "Isn't it wrong to impose our beliefs on others?"

Some people don't practice evangelism because they feel they are imposing on others. And the way evangelism is often done, I can understand the confusion! But when you understand what the Bible presents as evangelism, it's really not a matter of imposing your beliefs.

It's important to understand that the message you are sharing is not merely an opinion but a fact. That's why sharing the gospel can't be called an imposition, any more than a pilot can impose his belief on all his passengers that the runway is here and not there.

Additionally, the truths of the gospel are not yours, in the sense that they uniquely pertain to you or your perspective or experience, or in the sense that you came up with them. When you evangelize, you are not merely saying, "This is how I like to think of God," or "This is how I see it." You're presenting the Christian gospel. You didn't invent it, and you have no authority to alter it.

Personal Testimony

One of the classic testimonies was given by a blind man Jesus healed. When he was questioned after Jesus healed him, he responded, "Whether he [Jesus] is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25). The man disregarded the menacing threats of those more honored and respected than he in order to give this verbal witness to the power of God. It's a wonderful, powerful testimony, but it's not evangelism. There is no gospel in it. The man didn't even know who Jesus was.

An account of a changed life is wonderful and inspiring thing, but it's the gospel of Jesus Christ that explains what it's all about and how it happened.

Social Action and Public Involvement

Being involved in mercy ministries may help to commend the gospel, which is why Jesus taught, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). Displaying God's compassion and kindness by our actions is a good and appropriate thing for Christians to do. But such actions are not evangelism. They commend the gospel, but they share it with no one. To be evangelism, the gospel must be clearly communicated, whether in written or oral form.

When our eyes fall from God to humanity, social ills replace sin, horizontal problems replace the fundamental vertical problem between us and God, winning elections eclipses winning souls.

Apologetics

Other people mistake apologetics for evangelism. Like the activities we've considered above, apologetics itself is a good thing. We are instructed by Peter to be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have (1 Pet. 3:15). And apologetics is doing exactly that. Apologetics is answering questions and objections people may have about God or Christ, or about the Bible or the message of the gospel.

Answering questions and defending parts of the good news may often be a part of conversations Christians have with non-Christians, and while that may have been a part of our own reading or thinking or talking as we came to Christ, such activity is not evangelism.

Apologetics can present wonderful opportunities for evangelism. Being willing to engage in conversations about where we came from or what's wrong with this world can be a significant way to introduce honest discussions about the gospel.

By far the greatest danger in apologetics is being distracted from the main message. Evangelism is not defending the virgin birth or defending the historicity of the resurrection. Apologetics is defending the faith, answering the questions others have about Christianity. It is responding to the agenda that others set. Evangelism, however, is following Christ's agenda, the news about him. Evangelism is the positive act of telling the good news about Jesus Christ and the way of salvation through him.

The Results of Evangelism

Finally, one of the most common and dangerous mistakes in evangelism is to misinterpret the results of evangelism—the conversion of unbelievers—for evangelism itself, which is the simple telling of the gospel message. Who can deny that much modern evangelism has become emotionally manipulative, seeking simply to cause a momentary decision of the sinner's will, yet neglecting the biblical idea that conversion is the result of the supernatural, gracious act of God toward the sinner?

When we are involved in a program in which converts are quickly counted, decisions are more likely pressed, and evangelism is gauged by its immediately obvious effect, we are involved in undermining real evangelism and real churches.

The Christian call to evangelism is a call not simply to persuade people to make decisions but rather to proclaim to them the good news of salvation in Christ, to call them to repentance, and to give God the glory for regeneration and conversion. We don't fail in our evangelism if we faithfully tell the gospel to someone who is not converted; we fail only if we don't faithfully tell the gospel at all. Evangelism itself isn't converting people; it's telling them that they need to be converted and telling them how they can be.

From The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever copyright © 2007, adapted from pages 69-82. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.