So Tony Gettig (@gettig on Twitter) got me thinking this morning. His Twitter post was, “broken hearted by the impoverished kids at school. wish I could fix it.” This simple post opened up a whole flood of emotions, that honestly, I did not know I had. This was like getting punched in the nose. What am I doing about the impoverished kids in my city.
We talk much about wanting to be a blessing to the city, loving the city, being the hands and feet of Jesus to the city. My mind immediately went back to Christmas time and the family our Journey Group adopted. We spent hundreds of dollars for toys, clothes and food for this family. What convicts me most about this is that we rushed in like a “The Great, White, Savior” dropping off these gifts and goodies, but have not made any effort to build a relationship with our adopted family or their neighbors. I am sure they have more than just Christmas needs once a year.
I look at my life… my check book… receipts in my pocket… I give my dollars to the god of Starbucks and Fast Food. I am trying to figure out where I am going to spend my “Economic Stimulus Money” before it gets here. I live in the safe and sanitized suburbs… There is even a wall around my subdivision. I spend my time behind a Macbook Pro and a Video Camera (Twitter, Facebook, Websites, PodCast, VodCast, Flickr) My family really does not “want” for anything.
Listen, I know, the things I mentioned above are good things. God has used my frequent trips to Starbucks to build relationships. I was even asked to be a tattoo model on an up and coming photo shoot and I get to explain all the symbolism in my tattoos… it is a great gospel opportunity. We use technology (web, pod and vodcast) to extend our reach with the truths of Jesus and the gospel. I am not advocating we selling everything and living on the streets. I have dedicated my life, my family, and my resources to Jesus and his gospel. I just want to do more…
I realize I cannot do everything but everywhere I look, I see needs, opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus and it drives me crazy that I cannot meet all those needs. So I turn my attention to the “City Church”. I bet the annual ChemLawn/Landscape budget of the “City Church” could go a long way to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Rob Bell’s new book is going to deal with this issue…
I am not anyone’s judge but my own… One of these days I will have to stand before Jesus and give an account of my life… That is something I am not looking forward too…
I cannot get @gettig image out of my head.
__________________________
Eric M. (ericgmorgan.com)
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Don’t worry, you aren’t
Don’t worry, you aren’t alone in struggling with this issue. Every ’missional’ church I’ve ever known, has been the hands and feet of Jesus to the Starbucks/latte drinking/vodcasting/tattoo wearing/cool/hip crowd. When engaging culture, it seems that the only culture that gets any attention is this “cool, hip” culture. I have yet to see a “missional” church embrace the huge Korean population we have in this city….or the inner city culture….or the illegal immigrant culture…and the list goes on.
That’s not to say there aren’t some token donations and/or attention given to these different cultures from time to time, but they never get the ministry and service promised by a missional body of believers.
We certainly have a long way
We certainly have a long way to go - I know I do. I believe God wants us to to serve Him be engaging in messy relationships. Some last only a few moments as you help someone that passes your way that day only. Some last for years as you invest the time in relationships that take advantage of you, you take advantage of them, you add value to them and vice versa. We must listen to the Spirit as He leads us to both give the fish and teach how to fish.
I have been inspired by the concept of tutoring disadvantaged kids in Huntsville’s public schools. Mark Stearns has been catalytic in getting this on the radar through Lincoln Elementary. I think that has become a springboard to help all the local public schools. I have been doing this for several months and it is a humbling experience. It takes about 30 minutes per week. What would happen if 500 Christ followers invested in school kids all over our city? What would happen if they did that for the next 20 years?
As a sidenote, we are told to serve without drawing attention to ourselves. I know many Christians who humbly give their lives, homes, time, and resources but never draw attention to themselves. They they live it out imperfectly, they do it genuinely as acts of worship.
“Holy Spirit, help us to hear and obey. Help us to have the proper motives and do all for Your glory.”
__________________________David Thew
Sojourn Pastor
Thewblog
twitter.com/davidthew
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