The Believers Share Their Possessions
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." (Acts 4:32-35)Creative Christian Solutions (adapted from Culture Making):
"In feature after feature of Roman culture, Christians, animated by a powerfully different story from their pagan neighbors, were boldly creative. Their lives simply did not look like their neighbors'. But they were not cut off from their neighbors--the culture they created was public and accessible to all. ...
At least two major epidemics claimed up to a third of the population of the Roman Empire in the first centuries of the Christian era. In the face of terrible conditions, pagan elites and priests simply fled the cities. The only functioning social network left behind was the church, which provided basic nursing care to Christians and non-Christians alike, along with a hope that transcended death. 'Many, in nursing and curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead,' the bishop Dionysius wrote. ...
The church had no magic or medicine to cure the plague, but it turns out that survival even of a terrible disease has a lot to do with one's access to the most basic elements of life. Simply by providing food, water and friendship to their neighbors, Christians enabled many to remain strong enough to their own immune systems could mount an effective defense. ...
The church would grow not just because it proclaimed hope in the face of horror but because of the cultural effects of a new approach to the sick and dying, a willingness to care for the sick even at risk of death." (Culture Making by Andy Crouch)
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3 comments:
It's hard to walk by people on the street asking for money, I suspect that this is what may have triggered your thoughts.
If this is true and you find yourself not wanting to give away your money - fearing the one receiving it is "just going to spend it drugs and alcohol" as so many have said - I would say your fears are not "heavy" but just wisdom that comes with the reality of life.
Perhaps finding a creative solution means carrying something or having something available that you can quickly distribute to those asking for money. I don't mean perpetually carrying a box of granola bars around and offering them to starving people, (though there are worse ideas) but maybe carrying McDonald's bucks or other similar items...? Things that can be given but cannot be spent on life-taking addictions...?
I've struggled with this myself and I've never been satisfied with an answer. It sounds depressing, but "the poor will always be with you."
We're going to have to be extra creative for a long time...
We do face that situation daily, seeing people go down the block to buy $2 liquor, or the ambulance coming down to scoop up another drunk, but this is a situation overseas. Great idea with the food coupons...
I completely trust the receiver, but the resources aren’t there on our end to help. It’s also an issue of an enormous need, that there are literally millions of people facing the same issue.
P.S. You should read Culture Making by Andy Crouch, you'd love it...
I have another friend that recommended that title to me as well. I'll add it to my enormous "to read" list.
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