Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Haiti and the Church

"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.'"

Matthew 25:40

"We need so much. Food, clothes, we need everything. I don't know whose responsibility it is, but they need to give us something soon," Sophia Eltime, a homeless 29-year-old mother of two, told the Associated Press.

This is what I woke up to read today. The above quote was made by a Haitian woman in desperate need for her family after the 6.1 aftershock this morning --- the strongest since the Jan. 12th 7.0 earthquake.

Her words, "I don't know whose responsibility it is..." cut deep. Her words bring me back to what some of my readers are calling a "soap box" in regards to my posts about Christians and their call to help those in need. If proclaiming God's truth on how He intends for us to live out our faith is a "soap box" --- well then, I guess I'm on it. And I'm not getting off. Her words are a reminder that for years I have not done my part. Her words are a reminder that the WORLD sees Christians no different than anyone else. Her words break the heart of God. Her words should make the church feel very ashamed. Her words move me to tears.

However, I have refused to stay in this place. I can't change the "church", but I can make sure that this church goin' girl puts feet to her words. That's where we've missed the mark all along. I told a MOPS group that I was speaking to just yesterday ---- "The world hears us say that we love God. The world sees us holed up inside our church walls having another pot luck dinner. The world does not see us minister to the 'least of these.'" That is why the world is clueless as to "whose responsibility it is."

Are you a Christian? If so, it is your responsibility.