C: I'm going to the Betty Ford center in June. It is an addiction center that helps individuals and their families with addictions. This is a great opportunity to show and develop compassion for myself.
ME: Sounds like a good experience. Will you be only working with the rich? Does the BF Center treat poor people?
C: I don't know if these people will be rich or poor. I am assuming some of both. I wonder if you have noticed but Jesus dealt with everyone but with more tender care towards those that could not take care of themselves.
ME: I like the "more tender care towards those that could not take care of themselves" part. That’s why I asked. Why the knee-jerk reaction? No need to defend taking care of the well-off. They need no defense. It is the oppressed that need defending. Isn't that apparent? [being intentionally provocative for your enjoyment]
C: LOL Who is to say that just because you are in good financial standing that you are not oppressed? That's just like saying that rich people don't need GOD.
ME: I wish you would read my blog. Then I wouldn't have to repeat myself.
The attitude that we are all in need so it doesn’t make any difference who we reach out to is a fairly pervasive attitude. It comes up just about every time I push the issue even a little bit. I suspect that this attitude undermines intentional efforts to reach out to the poor and oppressed – our middle-class neighbor, the poor, no difference. We all have needs so no need to “go looking” for needs. Just invite your neighbor for dinner and you are doing your part.
I don’t think I am beating a dead horse, am I? The poor have no voice.
8 comments:
So your focus is on the poor. It's obvious that you have a strong compassion and drive to reach those with no voice. I think that is awesome, and more people definately need to join in that.
Do you agree that not everyone is "called" to that?
More importantly, how did you develop this passion? (maybe bcuz of who you are, or simply a recognition of a need)
I feel I am no more called than anyone else. Jesus said to be compassionate, as the Father is compassionate. It does not say be compassionate if you are called, otherwise you don't need to be.
I worry that people use that whole "calling" thing to get themselves off the hook.
People have said: "You have a heart for the homeless." What does that mean? Does it mean that I do but they don't? Are they relieved of their responsibility because they are not "called." Does a sense of calling trump the direct teachings and examples of Jesus?
The bottom line for me is that I think that Jesus' heart is broken by the effects of evil and injustice. His will is to do something about it. His method is to direct his followers to do something about it. As a result, he is looking for attentive and obediant follows to carry out his will.
The fields are white; the workers are few. But the wind blows, undetered, looking for the attentive and obediant to establish beachheads for the kingdom. The wind will blow right on past the inattentive and/or self-absorbed.
The passion is the Father's. It needs to be tapped into by paying attention at the level of the heart/spirit, where he has taken up residence. The guidance comes from there. Our will comes from there. Then it is a matter of obeying that. All this requires practice. We are back to discipleship (in the true sense).
Mark, I am glad you have found your passion. But, you must understand one thing; some of us grew up in improvised conditions!!! I know what it is like to be poor with nothing to eat, utilities disconnected, and trying to navigate through the house with just the light of the a candle. When Jesus spoke about the poor, the context was not just poor in money but spirit, health, mind, social order, etc. It is more to being poor than not having money. The context of poor is what is important here. Moreover, just because a person is considered poor by a tax bracket doesn't mean that they are bad off either. There are several families with better dynamics than rich families.
Now, am I saying not to help the poor, no. I am simply saying help those in need that you are called to help by God’s purpose. Everybody is not called to go to the poor in the urban ghetto. The bible says to walk worthy in the vocation in which you are called. It serves me or the person I am trying to help in the poor neighborhoods no good if I am not called to be there. I think we should hear God as to where we should be. Keep in mind that people can be poor in many different ways. I think we should all help somebody, but I don't think we should all help the same group of people whomever they are!!!!!!!!!!
Chris! You actually got on! Now you just need to read some more!
You know better than I about living poor. I grew up in a working class family for the most part, but I never went without food, shelter, or warmth.
I agree that the goal is not to make everyone middle class. There is a family that lives on a trash mountain outside of Manila that was as content and gracious as anyone with more means.
But there are injustices that are not right and the poor suffer disproportionally from these.
I have a different view of "calling." I think it is used to quickly to get ourselves off the hook. We do what we want and then blame God - "he called you, not me."
Read me carefully, I have never said that everyone needs to go serve the poor only. That would be absurd. You have read down through some of the posts below to get my point.
The "ministry" efforts and targets are not proportunate to need. I don't blame God for this, I blame the lack of attentive, obediant followers.
Why is this? I worry that our attitude and theology are undermining things. That's why I called you out on this post!
Answer me this question:
As you read through the scriptures, it appears that God has a sort of "preference" for the poor and oppressed (don't go all liberation theology on me). Why?
Of course you have not explicitly stated that. But your tone and nonverbal communication speaks very loud and is very inconsistent with what you say. You frown on other acts of kindness and love as if it is inferior to serving the poor. You have done this numerous of times, but I have not said anything about it. As I explained, "poor" is a very board word and is not restricted to socioeconomic status. So, do I agree that God has a special interest in the poor, yes. But you should read all of luke 4:18, it is more inclusive than the poor as you say.
luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord
I had a lengthy response, but after reading it over I felt like I was repeating myself.
Chris, suffice to say that I need to repent of any judgmental attitude (that's the left side of the ridge). I think I addressed the whole judgment thing in the "On or Off the Path" post below.
I wish you would read on. I think I have given it my best shot at why we need to advocate for the marginalized. I just don't buy the rationale that keeps being put forward that all things are equal. In you case, I really do think your experience at the BF center will be a good one. But notice where it is - Palm Springs. Notice the cost. Maybe they do see some of the poor, and if they do, that is great. But compare the accessibility the well-off have to programs like that and the relative inaccessibility the poor have to quality programs. This is not a judgment on the BF center, but it is an inequity in the system. Systems can be unjust.
Having said that, you still haven't answered my question. It is an interesting one and one that Christian's should have a response to, if we want to know what God is up to.
There is a difference between social service and social justice.
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