So Bruce commented on yesterday's post about Live 8, and asked this:
What can YOU do? How has this project helped you understand what your role is in helping impoverished nations/people? It's a good question, Bruce. And ironically, I can answer that with what I was planning to post today. It might take awhile, but bear with me.
At church today, we had one service (instead of two), and were encouraged to wear casual clothes because we went straight from the church to the 4th of July picnic at a lake around here. We just did it a day early. So our "one service" had a nice patriotic theme to it.
I was sitting in the back, just observing the service. We had some of the little girls doing a dance, some kids from VBS singing some songs, and some dramatic presentation, all surrounded by music. I got to thinking about America, and about Christians in America. I got to thinking of the very patriotic bloggers that I've read. I don't often read their blogs, because I get frustrated at their views.
The more I thought about it, and the more I watched this musical display unfolding in front of me, and more frustrated I got. I looked down as I was sitting there and noticed my One bracelet on my arm. That reminded me of the Live 8 concerts yesterday, and what they were for. Then I just got mad. I couldn't stay watching that spectacle, I had to think. First of all I wrote a page in my binder. When I wrote this, they were singing some song about America and blessings, and us needing to try to be a good country and all. So here's what I wrote.
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It's not that I don't love America, I do! Honestly and truly I am so grateful to be in this country. For me, it's a wonderful country to be in. I love it. But...but I wonder if, as American Christians, we tend to think that somehow we are better than other countries, like Jesus loves us more. At least, that's how we act.
"If God blesses America, who cares about everyone else?" Our attitudes reflect that. Right now as we sing those songs about our great country, children are dying because we are more concerned about our country than the sufferings of theirs[meaning the children's countries].
Or what about communist countries? Why do we care more about declaring our religious freedom than helping those who have no religious freedom? It's like celebrating our riches while people who have nothing watch us in confusion. What kind of example to the world is that?
It's almost like the Church in America refuses to be a part of the Universal Church. "Yeah, no thanks, but our country was founded on God, so it doesn't matter if we're just focused on us." Right now America is one of the most immoral countries in the world. Why do we just ignore that? "Under God" is not synonymous for "without fault".
Also, why is our freedom as Americans more important than our freedom as Christians? We don't have an "Independance from Sin and Death Day"! You may say that every day celebrated our Christianity, but why is that Christianity so ego-centric? First, we care about ourselves, then maybe our local church, and every once in awhile we think about America.
What about the rest of the world?
What about the other people Jesus died for?
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I couldn't stay in service feeling like that, so I left. I went outside, sat in my car, and cried. My heart broke for the children in Africa dying while we live in the lap of luxery. Last night I couldn't sleep, so I started working on my budget for next school year. I only work like 12 hours a week, but with the money I make, I make more in my school year than a lot of adults in 3rd World countries do in a whole year. What do I want to get with my money? A digital camera. And there's children who die every minute because they were born into a poor country.
I sat in my car and repented. I repented of my sin of selfishness, and I repented for my church. Even as mission-minded as we are, we are so blind. So blind. And I asked God to show me what He wanted me to do. Suddenly it became clear. It was one of those moments where you know, without a doubt, what God wants you to do. You take a deep breath, breathe out, and say "ok God, I will".
I want to go to Africa. I don't know when, I don't know how, I don't know where, I don't know who with, but I do know that God has put this intense burden on my heart. I've never ever felt this called to go to another country. But I want to go to Africa. I need to go to Africa. I don't really know why, or what it'll really do, but if God says go, I need to go. We have a pastor friend in Namibia, but I want to go somewhere very stricken by AIDS. I want to go to where it hurts the most, where healing is needed the most.
It hit me that if I want revolution in my life or in my church, it has to cost me something. That's what true revolution is--sacrifice. And I am willing to sacrifice to do what God, for this moment, wants me to do.
Right now I'm in that frantic stage where I'm like "What else can I do?". I know that I need to adopt a child from Africa from World Vision--I've put it off way too long, made my selfish excuses. I make enough money a month to do it easily. I'll be able to once my real job starts. I want to get my youth group to do a 30-Hour Famine. Most of all I can pray. I don't think that God has called me to be a full-time missionary. I just know he wants me to go to Africa for now.
So to answer your question, Bruce, I think most of all I can listen to God. He used the memory of that concert to nudge me closer towards listening to Him. I can make sure that everyone I know is aware of the problem, and asking God what they can do to help. I can pray.
Is God calling YOU, like me, to something bigger than you? Something bigger than this country? Do you need to repent of selfishness? If God is working on your heart in this area, let me know. I'd love to talk with you.
Rhonanai,
Sarah |
