I wrote this for one of my favorite social justice sites Burnside Writer’s Collective. I worked with one of the editors to get it fleshed out and then it was supposed to go in the line up. That was nearly a year ago and I don’t think it ever went up (they’ve had their chance; I’m taking my piece back), so I made some minor adjustments and figure why let a perfectly good fleshed out opinion go to waste. What’s your opinion?

I’m not a fan of politics. I vote every election, but don’t support candidates with buttons, bumper stickers and signs. I have friends who are Democrats, friends who are Republicans and friends who are neither. I find that most debates and arguments are fruitless and leave people angrier than they do swayed. I particularly dislike discussing politics in church because I believe that God is not associated with a political party. We created those, remember?

Since the Israelites demanded a king to rule over them instead of God (1 Sam 8:1-22), we’ve been in this sick cycle of thinking that there’s a human being out there who can lead over us and make our problems vanish. The Israelites panicked when corruption entered the system God arranged for them; Samuel’s sons abused their power as judges. Instead of turning to God to take care of the sin that infiltrated His plan, they requested to change the plan entirely to fit the rest of the world. God wasn’t happy, but He’s never been one to stand in our way. Their grand lack of trust cost them portions of their property, their freedom and their intimacy with God. One would think after thousands of years we would have learned, but we do the same thing. Sin occurs; we feel its consequences; we fault God and instead of turning to Him to heal us, we run to human authorities to solve the problem. Every election we put our hope in people for the chance that life will be better “this time around.” But it never is.

This is why I can say that this healthcare problem is my fault. As a Christian, I should know better. Anyone who claims to belong to Christ should know better, but as a whole, we, the church, have failed. We’ve held up men (and women) to get us out of the mess we’re in, only to find ourselves buried deeper than ever. Why haven’t we been able to see that we trust people over God? No matter how much eye rolling, bad mouthing and irreverent comedic skits we do of the Bushes, Obamas, Palins and Pelosis of the world, we still place more hope in them than we do in God. They are our idols. If you don’t believe me, think back to our last presidential election. One part of the country acted like the new messiah had arrived while the other part acted as if we were going to wake the next morning in Hell. Both parts demonstrated a belief that our new president was more powerful than God.

Because of our idols, we can’t hear the voice of God, let alone see His face. If goodness comes from Him, but we’re not receiving, how can we give out any good ourselves? We try, but we fall short because we hand out band-aids for deep, infected wounds in order to relieve our own infirmities. We’ll give a homeless man a few dollars and our leftovers to Goodwill. We won’t think twice about sending money to Haiti after hearing celebrity upon celebrity tell us how important it is, but didn’t give much of a second thought to Chile or even Middle Tennessee when the floods came. We give enough to appease our guilt and raise our self-esteem. Our giving is not about sacrifice at all; it’s about attempting to fill our own souls.

We chase the “glamour” of Africa, Haiti and Katrina relief while ignoring the needs in our own communities. How many people within a ten-mile radius of you are going hungry? How many children get sent to school during the winter without coats? Who can’t afford his/her medicine? Who in your community just needs to know that someone genuinely cares for him/her? The need is here and it is great. I’m not trying to say that the needs in Africa, Haiti and New Orleans are not important and should be ignored, but I am questioning the motives behind our desire to help. If needs are needs and people are people, why aren’t we taking care of what’s around us? In college, students would raise thousands of dollars to go on an overseas mission trip for a couple of weeks to make a small difference in the people’s lives while failing to realize that there was a large community of international students right there on campus that was yearning for American friends. If the goal was to reach out to an international person or group of people, why weren’t international students on campus being reached as enthusiastically as American Christian students could sign up for mission trips and beg for money to go on them? The answer is genuine love.

Taking care of the needs around you requires commitment. Commitment requires sacrifice. There’s no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another. When we start facing the needs of our communities, we become accountable to them daily because we can’t get on a plane after a few weeks and leave them. Love can be painful and lonely and it rarely gets media attention. Love doesn’t always guarantee a return on investment. That’s why we’ve failed to live out the two greatest commandments to love God with all we have and love our fellow man as ourselves. Love cramps our style.

Had we been following these commandments, there would be no healthcare debate and no need for welfare and other social programs. We as a church would be taking care of these issues. Government would have no need to step in, and we wouldn’t be paying taxes to cover the cost. This is not to say that there aren’t Christians living sacrificially to help others, and there aren’t churches making a difference. I’m saying that as a collective unit, we’ve dropped the ball on our responsibilities. Since I am a part of that unit, I claim fault.

The healthcare crisis is a surface problem. It has resulted from inattention to more basic needs. I can’t help but wonder how many health problems stem from improper nutrition and lack of exercise. Communities aren’t safe enough for children to go outside and play. Struggling mothers are forced with tough decisions; a box of Twinkies costs less than a bag of apples. Artificial costs more than natural. Then think about household cleaning products. The cheaper products are the ones with the harmful chemicals. We can educate families, and it’s a helpful start, but until we’re willing to come alongside them with tangible relief, nothing can change because they don’t have the means to change. Education alone just creates a mother who is aware she is killing her children slowly.

Then I think about the physical health problems that originate with mental and emotional health. People are lonely, depressed and anxiety ridden. We have a natural desire and need to be around people, to experience physical touch and form meaningful relationships. When these needs aren’t met, lives fall apart mentally, emotionally and physically. Could being a friend to someone save thousands of dollars in healthcare costs in the future? Could it save someone’s life? I think so. When we invest in each other, we see the worth in the individual. Then when a medical emergency arises that cannot be prevented, we will be more inclined to want to help each other.

This is why resolving the problem has to start at the deeper levels of social justice. While I don’t have all the answers, it would be irresponsible of me to point out the problems without offering solutions. The first step to healing is awareness. We have to be aware of the needs around us and aware of our own hearts and minds. The psalmist asks at the end of Psalm 139 to “Search me, O God and know my heart.” If we are actively thinking about our intentions, thinking about God and agreeing with Him, we’ll be in the right mindset to let love flow out of us.

Then we need to listen. Before we jump in and start telling people what they should do and how they should live, it’s important to hear and understand the perspectives and situations of those in need. We would also benefit from listening to those who have already been laboring and have experience with meeting the needs. Chances are, we could learn something from them.

Once you know the needs and how you can help, decide what can be sacrificed. Can you give up a few hours of television and Internet each week? Is there something else that can be dropped from your schedule? Can you open a savings account and start putting away a few dollars weekly or monthly to eventually help a neighbor, ministry or charity? What can you live without in order to benefit another?

Then put one foot in front of the other and move. Investing in people’s lives can be awkward at first. You may not know what to say or where to start. That’s okay; the important part is that you start. The more you get involved, the easier service and sacrifice will come. They will cease to be projects and become part of your lifestyle.

If you’re passionate about something, others will follow, so get a few friends involved. This is where problems get solved. When we work together, we build community and know each other’s needs. Don’t be afraid to share your weaknesses and needs as well. Pride gets in the way of receiving and giving help. Christ intended and prayed for us to be unified (John 17:19-23) knowing that this life is too difficult to get through alone. More importantly, He knew that the world is watching. If we put down our weapons, throw out our egos and join together in the name of true, sacrificial love, we will solve the social problems that government is failing to eliminate. People would no longer reach out their hands to a sterile institution for help in exchange for bondage, but would reach up their hands to God for help in exchange for freedom.

When I find myself getting angry over legislation passing and not passing, I have to pause and point the finger at myself first. There’s no such thing as righteous indignation since we don’t always behave righteously. If Believers would realize this, there would be less arguing and more action. Love is a risk, that’s for certain, but I’ve seen what the refusal of love does and I want no part of it anymore.

Showing 4 comments
  • bwoody

    Thanks April, that was a fun read.

    Let me caution you. I think that being anti-government is a dangerous gamble. While some may be frustrated by the process and decide to duck out others see opportunity and will attack. I think that the concept of government is very natural to us. There is significant emphasis in the Bible on being subservant to a leader. Whether to God, Abraham or Nebakanezer. The Bible teaches us to obey authority and to pay the taxpayer, so to speak. Christians need to recognize that they are powerful as a group. They need to be conscious to times when as a group they have an advantage they can exploit. Political elections are great times for this. The blogoshere, as you are doing, is another excellent opportunity. In the real world often the loudest voice is the one that is heard. We need to make sure that as Christians we argue our values as if they were something we actually believed in.

    ba da bing

  • bwoody

    I should proof read before I click submit.

    The Bible doesn’t teach us to pay the taxpayer. I meant the tax collector. I was going for a broad reference to the lesson regarding Jesus, taxes and Caesar somewhere in the Gospel.

    • April Adams

      Yeah, you’re right, Blake, we can’t be completely anti-government (which I tend to lean towards because I hate crap and authority). My main point is, it would be good to eliminate a lot of the need for these government programs by taking care of folks from the ground up (I guess as opposed to the trickle down from government). Maybe then we could actually fix the roads instead of driving on steel plates (ha!). Since we do have to operate within the bounds of the world, it is important for Believers to be aware, active and involved in what the government is doing and no matter what role we find ourselves (high authority or among the everyday people), we cling to God for guidance on how to use what we’re given.

  • Sluc

    Anarchy! Woohoo! Every man for himself, with his own AK47 and desert eagle. Just kidding.

    Actually, I know what you mean. You’re not being anti-goverment, you’re just saying that society should not rely purely on the goverment to do everything for us, because the end result is horrible.

    God obviously puts goverment underneath us to rule over us. However God is over us first as Christians and thus we have an active duty to stand up for what we believe is right. Just like God wants us to honor our boss, but if our boss wants us to do something illegal, we should stand up for what is right.

    Funny thing, but several main points you mentioned were things I’ve been thinking about for weeks now and discussed with several folks, because I’ve seen it in the world around.

    “We chase the “glamour” of Africa, Haiti and Katrina relief while ignoring the needs in our own communities.”

    I agree that, we as a church or more so trained to chase the idea of helping those in other countries or going overseas to witness. While nothing is wrong with that, the sad part is those around in our communities are without food and most importantly without God. Are we really neglecting those around us and within our reach? I think so. We automatically assume that because people are in America, that they know God and have heard of God. Obviously far from the truth.

    There are tons of lost people in America, and they don’t know the difference between a Mormon and a Christian, and there are more examples. That’s something your brother said, and opened my eyes to how much we are focusing on going overseas, versus in our communities.

    In terms of the church doing more, yes I can see that. Churches nowadays, not saying all because we can’t categorize everyone; but many have become a “what’s in it for me” type of good feeling churches. Not a “what can I do for God and the community”

    while I agree that the church, we, need to do more; the person in need, needs to step up to the plate and do their best as well. But their relying on others, keeps them from being pro-active, which is the end result of too many free handouts (and as Christians assuming God is some sort of coke machine that gives us what we want).

    I know several people, that while you try to help them, they are constantly angry at God, self centered, because they have the above mentality due to all the free handouts. And I’m sure we’re all guilty of this to some extent.

    “Had we been following these commandments, there would be no healthcare debate and no need for welfare and other social programs.”

    My view has always been, free handouts is not the way to go. It creates a reliance on the governement, and often creates less faith in God. At the same time, I can see how in extreme cases, those elderly or even those that have eaten healthy all their lives and had cancer out of nowhere, do need healthcare and are often denied and put to the wasteside.

    I have no problem for my taxes going to these “extreme” cases. However, for the majority of society, does not need free healthcare if we ate right, and I agree 100% with that. I have observed that many, not “all”, but many people that rely on the government to do everything and give them free handouts, many of these types of people even Christians, do not trust that God has given them the ability to use what God has given them, and presume that God is some sort of coke machine.

    When all is failing in their lives, they do not use the resources God has given them and lose their faith.

    As a business owner and marketer, I have realized the #1 reason why people buy is instant gratification. Our society wants instant gratification and wants to be fed that, because it’s the easy way out and this culture or disease is spreading everywhere, even within the Christian community. We need to stand together, see how we can help our communities especially those “truly” in need how to get out of their current situation. But we also need to look at what direction we are going as well.

    Great post by the way.