Out Jogging --- Excercises of Another Sort -2
Thoughts running through a mind jogged by the news
This posting (and others similarly titled) is not directly related to Madeira or our work here. It is rather an outlet for commentary on events and remarks in the news. Previous posting in this series was on January 15.
"...this group of world leaders may be able to end world poverty once and for all...", so read a line on a web page in reference to the G8 summit. That is certainly an admirable ambition; I don't believe anyone can honestly claim to love poverty---his own or anyone else's. The problem is that it is a Pollyanna attitude. It does not fit reality. Because of our faith in God, and in His Word, we Christians may be accused of not being realistic. Faith, after all, is being able to see "the invisible" (Heb. 11). But true Christians are like Christ Himself, Who was always realistic. He saw through the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and told them what they were really like: "generation of vipers", "whitened sepulchers", and other unbecoming terms. He also saw through the physical frailties of the blind, the lame, the leprous, and the outcasts. "Your faith has made you whole." "Go, and sin no more." The ultimate reality was not in their failings, but in the restoration wrought by the grace of God. Peter, the spokesman for the apostles, is a case in point. Jesus saw the reality of who Peter was, and of what he would become. The ultimate realist is Jesus, who "knew all men" (John 2:24), being the Creator of all that is. This Realist said, "the poor you have with you always."
Rather than nurture wishful thinking that some government agency or financial empire will eradicate world poverty "once and for all", we are asked to intervene on a personal level and help the poor that are within our ability to reach. If we have the opportunity to help the poor and the hungry, in Africa or anywhere else, by all means let us help. Let us also be realistic. As long as sinful man is in charge of affairs on earth, there will be injustice, economic and otherwise. Only Jesus Himself can bring an end to world poverty and injustice, once and for all. This He will do when He comes. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
This posting (and others similarly titled) is not directly related to Madeira or our work here. It is rather an outlet for commentary on events and remarks in the news. Previous posting in this series was on January 15.
"...this group of world leaders may be able to end world poverty once and for all...", so read a line on a web page in reference to the G8 summit. That is certainly an admirable ambition; I don't believe anyone can honestly claim to love poverty---his own or anyone else's. The problem is that it is a Pollyanna attitude. It does not fit reality. Because of our faith in God, and in His Word, we Christians may be accused of not being realistic. Faith, after all, is being able to see "the invisible" (Heb. 11). But true Christians are like Christ Himself, Who was always realistic. He saw through the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and told them what they were really like: "generation of vipers", "whitened sepulchers", and other unbecoming terms. He also saw through the physical frailties of the blind, the lame, the leprous, and the outcasts. "Your faith has made you whole." "Go, and sin no more." The ultimate reality was not in their failings, but in the restoration wrought by the grace of God. Peter, the spokesman for the apostles, is a case in point. Jesus saw the reality of who Peter was, and of what he would become. The ultimate realist is Jesus, who "knew all men" (John 2:24), being the Creator of all that is. This Realist said, "the poor you have with you always."
Rather than nurture wishful thinking that some government agency or financial empire will eradicate world poverty "once and for all", we are asked to intervene on a personal level and help the poor that are within our ability to reach. If we have the opportunity to help the poor and the hungry, in Africa or anywhere else, by all means let us help. Let us also be realistic. As long as sinful man is in charge of affairs on earth, there will be injustice, economic and otherwise. Only Jesus Himself can bring an end to world poverty and injustice, once and for all. This He will do when He comes. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
posted by EP | 11:55 PM | Permalink
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