Compassion
As someone woefully uncompassionate, I found Kay Warren's commentary on AIDS and Christianity challenging. I only wish it were longer, as she wasn't able to fully get to the meat of the issue. I appreciated her call for Christians to not turn the other way. Warren says:
Horrific and startling images confront each of us daily through newspapers, televisions, and eyewitness accounts of those suffering from AIDS. You can do what I did for years — choose to ignore it all because it was too painful — or you can become disturbed — seriously, dangerously disturbed — so disturbed that you are compelled to do something.
Christians are just as guilty as non-Christians of wanting to look the other way when it comes to the problems confronting our world, the topics that make us uncomfortable. But we need to be seriously disturbed about homelessness, child prostitution, rape, poverty, injustice, and HIV/AIDS.
Yes, Christians do need to be shaken up about these issues. Suffering people are truly the "least of these" Jesus spoke of. Our response to painful human problems will communicate to the world what kind of Jesus we serve.
Check out the Saddleback Church HIV/AIDS initiative.
posted by Suzanne @ 8:52 AM
2 Comments:
You're right, we as Christians need to leading the way in "mercy" ministires. I've been trying to "think gloabally, act locally." So far, this has only meant that I helped take supplies to a homeless shelter, but I'm praying God will
give me more opportunities to help practically in my community, and I do have a few ideas. Thanks for the reminder!
I agree that Christians should "lead the way" when it comes to mercy missions but I don't see it as a wise use of time to refocus efforts in the US on HIV/AIDS patients. True, thousands of people are diasnosed with this disease every years but for thousands of years people have been diagnosed and died from various cancers such as lukemia. Where is the cry to take care of these people? Where are the ribbon walks and vast amounts of TV coverage for these diseases?
Personally, I find it hard to have compassion on Americans who contract a disease that is 99% preventable. That's not to say that I don't -- but I'd rather focus my efforts on those who don't know why they are suffering from the diseases they do.
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