As I have listened to the news, especially special reports on NPR, I have hear a word repeatedly come up and yet have not heard it commented on: church. As reporters visit shelters, they are often visiting churches. As unofficial clean up crews go out and remove trees from houses and clear debris, it is often church groups doing it. I have heard from many churches in this area who are sending not just money, but people to the affected areas just to help. It reminded me of something I read in the Bible this morning: “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14). The context doesn’t seem to limit this to just the church, it doesn’t set any boundaries on the urgent need.
“And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14)
The world can argue with our theology. The can make a mockery of the notion of creation (isn’t evolution a fact?) and wince at the word ‘sin’. They can depict Christians as bubble-headed holier-than-thous on TV (Ned Flanders and Rev. Lovejoy on The Simpsons). But when we show up en masse to take a tree off their roof and cover the hole with a tarp, asking nothing in return, what do they say then? “Hi, we’re from XYZ Church and we were told you needed some help.” How can you argue with that?
I have been praying that as people from New Orleans and the other affected areas encounter Christians in a way they have never encountered them before, that God will use it to open their eyes and change their minds. May it be that He would awaken many and begin to stir repentance in them. May they consider Christianity as more than a political movement or a laughably naive world view. May they see the church as the church. And may God grant that we do a good job being who we are.