|
|
|
Last Updated: Dec 12, 2008 - 4:54:39 PM |
Only a small part of the East
Iowa Herald is on the Web.
For the best in East Iowa news and
features click here to
subscribe!
He is called Julian the Apostate. He was paganism’s last ditch effort to regain control of the Roman Empire in the fourth century. He was raised a Christian, but ended up rejecting Christianity. He became emperor in A.D. 361 and began a sweeping campaign to relegate Christianity to the garbage heap of history. Yet, he knew that if he was to succeed, he had to get paganism to emulate Christianity’s concern for the poor and less fortunate. For instance, he complained that Christians were feeding the pagan poor as well as their own. Julian knew it was difficult to fight this kind of concrete love. In the end, he failed.
For centuries Christianity has engaged, not only in sharing the gospel of Christ’s forgiveness with others, but also in the work of caring for the less fortunate. The Apostle John wrote: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and beholds his brother in need, and shuts off his compassion from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” And it was the Apostle Paul who encouraged each person to “labor, doing good work with his own hands, in order that he may have something to share with the one in need.” Martin Luther encouraged Christian congregations to establish what was known as the “Common Chest.” Gifts of money were placed in this chest for the purpose of helping the needy in the land.
The danger is for Christians to think they no longer need to be concerned about the poor because ‘that’s the Government’s job.’ I’m glad when a government can help people, but this does not let God’s people ‘off the hook.’ This responsibility is not something that can be given up or take lightly. In our day government has taken over what used to be ministries of service and mercy performed by the Church for the less fortunate.
I admit that what makes the Church unique is not its acts of mercy for people who are less fortunate. Other groups also do that. What makes it unique is its proclamation of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. This message of forgiveness of sins in Christ is its real reason for existing in this world. However, it is this forgiveness in Christ that motivates God’s people to reach out to others who are less fortunate. It would be a sad thing for God’s people to help someone find forgiveness in Christ, yet ignore his or her physical needs. Christians cannot simply send people to ‘the Government’ in the hope they find help in time of need, when God has so blessed his people with the means to help others.
God often blesses his people with much more than they actually need in order to get by in life. God’s people have been blessed by God’s forgiveness in Christ, and by many of his earthly gifts. This same God gives his people the ability and the encouragement to make a difference in the lives of others, both locally and in the world at large. This difference is a spiritual difference that brings people forgiveness of sins in Christ. Motivated by this forgiveness, God’s people also make a difference in people’s physical lives.
Julian could not stop the advance of Christianity in his empire; nor could he get paganism to emulate Christian works of mercy. Christianity still thrives over 1,650 years later. Today, it is still called to share with others the good news of forgiveness in Christ, and that good news still motivates its people to care for the less fortunate.
Pastor Douglas Morton is pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marengo. Click here to email him.
Bible verses for the above article are from 1 John 3:17 and Ephesians 4:28.
© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
Skies: PtcldyTemperature: 17F -8CDewpoint: 13F -11CRelative Humidity: 84%Wind: SE at 3m - 5kBarometric Pressure: 29.74FUpdated: 06:06:15 AM
