"I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence." -Psalm 140:12-13
In this Christmas season, I have thought more on the needs of the poor. Please forgive me if I get on my soapbox, but there are some things that are heavy on my heart.
I'll just start with the good that I experienced today. This morning I went to the baptism of a young man in another ministry. It is always exciting to see how God brings young men and women out of difficult situations, draws them to Himself, and gives them everlasting life in Christ. I mentioned the two baptisms of our own ministry kids just a few weeks ago. There is much reason for rejoicing when youths publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ. I believe it a wonderful testimony to others, and today's was no different. Another youth was asking a lot of really good questions about baptism as we celebrated it.
After the baptism, I went with the group to a Spanish speaking church in the city. They had a children's Christmas program, followed by a Gospel message. The children's program talked about the importance of giving. It ties into my overall thoughts this evening.
I then had lunch with a good friend. We got talking about the difficulties that ministries are facing as a result of the financial situation in the States. One of the things that I really struggle with are Christian organizations in the U.S. that focus their time, efforts, and finances to keeping the word "Christmas" in major stores and corporations. Now please understand, I too know that Jesus is the reason for Christmas, and major corporations use it as a marketing tool without giving glory to God by calling it the "holidays." But in the grand scheme of things, is it really worth the fight? I look at the boy who was baptized this morning, rescued from the streets of Tegucigalpa. He is now a believer and publicly professed his faith in Christ. God used a ministry that reaches out to street kids to rescue him. I listen to the Christmas messages of giving. I hear that Christmas is not about the gifts we give and receive, but about Christ. What was Christ's main focus? People! He loved people so much that He was willing to give up being in Heaven with His Father for a time, put on human flesh, and become the perfect sacrifice for our salvation. When He was on the earth, he loved people. And that is what He commands us to do! Love one another! Deuteronomy 15:11 says, "For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.'" So why am I on my soapbox? Because I see Christian organizations spending money on keeping Christ in Christmas instead of being Christ to the poor. Because I see megachurches building multi-million dollar churches rather than using that money for missions and ministries. Because there are ministries all over the world taking care of the poor, the widows, and the orphans, that are suffering and unable to provide enough because the economy in the U.S. is such that people can no longer give out of their excess. It would actually become sacrificial giving, and that is not comfortable.
Now please know that I realize there are MANY people who give sacrificially. I am the recipient of some of that, and I appreciate every person that supports me and my ministry. Where I struggle is knowing that the church as a whole has only a small percentage of people who tithe to their churches, much less giving to charity. Some people give to charities a few times throughout the year, others give their year-end tax dollars. But what about the young, dirty faces I see on the street? The kids who sleep on the park benches? The elderly who are just waiting to die with no one to care for them? The crippled men and women begging on the streets because they cannot work? I could be describing any city in the world, including the U.S. Seeing it on a regular basis (and I mean SEEING it, not just letting it pass you by) begins to change your perspective on life. Living comfortably does not seem so important when you realize that there are many who have nowhere to go, and do not know where the next meal is coming from. If you have a place to sleep, food on the table, and clothes on your back, you are truly blessed.
This Christmas season, I encourage all of us to look at our finances, and realize it all belongs to God. If Jesus were to decide how to spend it, what would He decide? Who would get it? How much? Would He build a new church building and fight to have His name mentioned in the store ads, or would He feed the poor and rescue children from the streets? I think we all know the answer. May we consider these things as we remember the true meaning of Christmas.
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