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When I was writing the previous post (O Me of Little Faith - Part 1), I struggled a great deal with just how much of my life and circumstances I should share. I deleted and undeleted the first couple of paragraphs several times.
Why? Part of it was pride (well, a whole lot of it was pride). I did not want to open myself up in that way because as a man and as a Christian we are not supposed to leave ourselves so open, vulnerable, and weak. I did not want people to feel sorry for me or feel bad because they did not know how bad things had become. Yet, we are all vulnerable and weak. We are all "cracked pots!"
Why must we continue to wear masks that hide who we are and the pain we are enduring? We may ask for generalized prayer, but we will not be specific about what it is. We are supposed to be brothers and sisters in Christ. Yet we act like total strangers much of the time. Every Sunday, we sit within arm reach of someone who is in the middle of a "Dark Night" in their lives. Yet, we seldom know about it.
I have been in a few church situations where people just stood up and openly shared all that was going on in their lives. As this happened, more and more people felt "freed" from their pride and bondage to what others might think, and stood up and shared their heart. The tears flowed. Hugs were abounding everywhere you looked. The altar and aisle ways were crowded with folks on their knees crying out to God. Sadly, this does not happen very often, but it should.
As Christians we are called to "bear one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2). But how can we do that when believers stay clammed up and refuse to share the difficulties they are going through? We don't get extra credit or rewards for suffering in silence. Such an attitude does not fall under "suffering for the kingdom." All we get is despair and hopelessness.
Ironically, many believers actually blame the church and the pastor for their pain and suffering because no one offered to help them. Well, as a former pastor let me just say "I cannot read your mind. The church cannot address your situation if it doesn't know about it." However, the church also fails its responsibility when it becomes aware of a member's suffering and chooses to look the other way.
I know, I know! Many of you are thinking "Hey, some of these folks need so much help that we don't know what we can do!" OR "Those people are always needing help. They just want the church to support them." In my years of ministry, there is one frequent response that Christians and even churches use in these kinds of situations, "We are just trying to be "good stewards" with God's money." Translation = "We don't want to help, so we use our stewardship to justify inaction."
Oh really! Does your conviction regarding stewardship apply to all the other areas of your life? Tithe, gifts and other giving, managing your income in a way that honors the Lord, being good stewards of your time, living modestly, not smothering your life with "stuff." It is sad, selfish, and unbiblical (as well as an out and out lie) to use "selective" stewardship as a justification for not helping.
Churches also fall into the same unbiblical thinking. How many churches spend millions of dollars to expand/improve/impress with their facilities, while at the same time they stand idly by while their members lose their homes, jobs, families, and health. While senior adults choose which of their medicines they can afford or which ones they will cut in half to make them last longer. With folks who sit in front of a fan all day in the summer sweating because they cannot afford to turn on the AC (if they even have it in the first place). The church is filled with hurting people who suffer in silence, and a new addition to the church building does not help them one bit.
So what does it say when churches undertake massive building programs to make themselves more comfortable while members are hurting and non-believers (sometimes families with children) drive or walk by the church everyday who do not have a place to sleep or something to eat? Is it God's "stewardship" plan to spend so much money on things instead of people? Absolutely not!
These are not deep theological questions here. We don't need to consult commentaries and other bible study tools to figure this out. The Scriptures have more than enough to say on this subject.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10 ESV)
Did you notice that the Apostle Paul in writing this text points out one of the basic truths found throughout God's Word? We (individuals and churches) reap what we sow. If we choose to ignore the poor, downtrodden, the hurting, and oppressed, we are not sowing as the Holy Spirit of God leads us. As a result, we will (I have and I bet you have too) reap corruption (literally means decay or ruin). The verses below are about as damning a set of Scriptures for the church and its congregants as any in all the Bible because, unfortunately, there is so much truth in them that we would prefer not to see or hear them:
"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" (James 2:15-16 ESV)
"We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (Romans 15:1-2 ESV)
“For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:42-46 ESV)Get the picture? Now lets move on.
Many of you are aware that I was a volunteer at the Stevens Street Care Center for a number of years and was the Director for three years. The Care Center gives food and clothing to all who come through the doors. They also help with utilities, medicines, and other needs as funds are available. Every person who comes in for assistance sits with a counselor who talks with them, shares the gospel with them, and prays with them. In my 6+ years there, I counseled over 10,000 people. Other counselors have shared with many more than that. Today, five other churches are involved in the Care Center Ministry. Praise be to God!
Here is where I want you to see what God is calling His people and His church to be. I cannot count the number of times that someone called me or approached me when I was the Care Center Director and said something like this: "Bro. Tony, I just met or learned of a family that needs help with ______ (you can fill in the blank)? What can the church or the Care Center do to help them?" My consistent response would be "Since God has specifically made you aware of this family and their need, what is the Holy Spirit leading you to do about it?" The Lord had brought this family's situation to the attention of a specific person. This was a Divine appointment! It was no accident! Why would God do that if He wanted the church or somebody else to help them? Instead of reaching out and ministering to the family, the buck gets passed. But that's not all. The person who should have reached out to the family ends up missing an unbelievable blessing.
The Care Center is but one of many examples of the church and its people reaching out to those less fortunate among us. It is a wonderful ministry. The people who volunteer there have a genuine heartfelt desire to serve others. Each year, thousands of people are ministered to in the name of Jesus. But, the Care Center was not supposed to be the main avenue for benevolence for the churches. Church "members" are supposed to fill that role.
That is exactly what happened over a hundred years ago when churches all across the US started to fall into the trap of believing the government could do a better job of helping the poor than the church. Well, they did not really believe that, but they liked the idea of not having to be personally involved with the poor. So, they said "We will give you (the government) money, and you take care of them." Well, how has that worked out?
The same thing happens today. I have spoken in many churches over the years on this subject and here is the number one response I received: "I will write you a check, but please don't ask me to do anything." Sound familiar? Reread the previous paragraph.
If you have gotten this far in this blog, I am impressed. I had difficulty getting to this point and I am the one who wrote it. Bear with me as I share a few closing points. First, having served in many ministry positions over the years, I have seen many, many godly Christians who give and serve others beyond anything you could imagine (unless you are one of them). You don't know about most of them because they do it anonymously and with no fanfare. My family has been blessed many times by individuals whose name we never were able to find out. So, this blog is not for those folks. It is for all the others who miss out because they do not choose to do so.
Second, I do realize that smaller churches do not have the financial resources to deal with a lot of the issues I have discussed. What is amazing to me is just how much these churches are able to do among their congregations and communities. My own church, Bangham Heights Baptist Church, is a great example of giving and serving above and beyond their ability to do so. Churches can go beyond their ability only when the church and its people see others as Christ sees them. Thank God for the smaller churches.
Third, larger churches are not bad. Many of them, because of their financial resources, are able to fund missions and ministries in the community and around the world that could not be done otherwise. By virtue of their size, they can get more people to volunteer to help in all kinds of ways. When I lived in Cookeville, I attended Stevens Street Baptist Church. Not a perfect church (had me as a member), but a church that sought to do what it was that God was calling it to do. Just like smaller churches, there were and still are people of great faith and a servant's heart who are constantly seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Cookeville and around the world.
Finally, (aren't you glad to see that word!) if you are a believer and find yourself in the middle of a "Dark Night," please pray and ask the Lord for His guidance, then go and share with another believer, Sunday School Class, Life Group, or Pastor what is happening. Be open! Be honest! I am confident you will find that the person you share with will understand exactly what you are going through. I don't know how God works it out like that, but He does. You will be blessed in doing so, and the one you share with will be blessed as well. If you are the one who is approached and you say "I've never done anything like this before," just pray and be a great listener. Hurting people don't need your wisdom, but they do need your presence and your attention. Remember that you, too, have known the comfort of God in difficult times. Tell them about it.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV)
Sometimes all we can say is "Jesus, Hold Me Now!" He comforts us! In your "Darkest Night," ask Him to Hold You! Love this song and video.