Saving Wretches Like You and Me

Part I

About one year ago, Keith Drury an associate professor at Indiana Wesleyan University authored a compelling commentary about John Newton’s song, Amazing Grace. (See Saving Wretches Like You, January 30, 2007 at http://www.tuesdaycolumn.com/) He writes, “It is hard to sing some songs the way they were written. They just go against our grain. Few folk today want to sing John Newton’s Amazing Grace the way he wrote it: God “saved a wretch like me.” Or, how about Isaac Watts’ hymn, Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed, “for such a worm as I.” It isn’t nice to call people wretches or worms. It’s not good for their self esteem.

“This is why we change the lyrics to make songs more palatable in our culture of self-esteem. We substitute “that saved and set me free” or “for such a one as I” for the outdated wretch-and-worm references. We have removed the wretches and worms from our theology. While we might agree that the whoring-raping-slaver, John Newton was a wretch, none of us will volunteer for wretchedness ourselves, and we know for sure we’re better than worms. To be quite honest we don’t believe we were ever wretches—even before getting saved. Basically we think of ourselves as fairly nice people who became Christians and added meaning to our lives. We were told “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” So we signed up for this wonderful plan. Sure, we had sinned, but we had done no sins that God didn’t “understand” or that are not done by church folk now. Our sins were mostly sins of ignorance or immaturity—nothing that deserves the label wretch or worm. [Those are terms best used to describe addicts, homeless, bums, hobos, gypsies and other types of losers]

“We Christians believe we were basically fairly good when we found God. And we’re even better now. Salvation is “all about me.” We like to say, “If I were the only person on earth, Christ would have come to die for just me.” This beefs up our self-esteem. To be quite frank, we actually think God needs us, and is actually quite lucky to have us. That’s how we see our devotions, for instance. We imagine a lonely God who is hungry for our company. When we don’t have devotions on some days, God mournfully walks away singing Larnelle Harris’ song, “I miss my time with you.” If we were totally honest we’d change the lyrics of another song [I need Him every hour, evr’y hour I need Him] to, “He needs me every hour, evr’y hour He needs me.” To be continued tomorrow…

Great Words of Wisdom

Responding to the blog's Christmas post, "Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock," (see Sunday, December 23, 2007) BB.Boy passed along some great words of wisdom ...

The foolish work for money,
Not other values, so they get only money.
The clever work for improvement;
They gain success and money.
The wise work for goodness and charity;
They receive friends, success, money,
And happiness.

VOTE -
Scroll down & vote in the polls.

SUBSCRIBE -
Subscribe! top, right column.

INVITE -
Invite friends and family to visit. http://www.homelessinamerica.blogspot.com/

Hell is Others?

The famous french philosopher John-Paul Sartre once said, “Hell is others!” (Photo, Dante and Virgil in Hell circa 1850 by the artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau) His philosophical thinking obviously promotes self-centeredness. Biblical based theism would reverse Sartre’s statement and say, “Hell is self” meaning, “selfishness.” The sins of egoism, pride and selfishness divide us from each other and thrust a person into isolation from God. Unchecked, it delivers a person into perpetual and mortal loneliness.

All types of "homelessness" at its core is aloneness stemming from the conditions of sin at work in each one of our lives. Sin divides us from a relationship with God and from each other. “Homelessness” and most loneliness result from the sins of pride, arrogance, selfishness, self-centeredness, self-absorption and superiority. When these types of conditions are rampant within our individual lives and within the lives of families, churches and other groups – there may be a house, but there will not be a home. Everyone involved will experience isolationism and thus “homeless” conditions.

New Testament based theism calls the person out of self and into community. In Mark chapter 10 Jesus promises the Christian an extraordinarily large community of people - brothers, sisters, mothers and children a hundred times as much if they leave everything to follow him. In Christ we find the exit from the hell of self-absorption. It is here that God wishes to nourish, bless and move each one from aloneness and into community. He restores our souls by giving many friendships as well as new and dynamic relationships. We are no longer homeless, but home.

VOTE -

Scroll down & vote in the polls.

SUBSCRIBE -

Subscribe! top, right column.

INVITE -

Invite friends and family to visit. http://www.homelessinamerica.blogspot.com/

Homeless Freeloaders!

On a special edition of ABC 20/20, John Stossel examined homelessness in America. He asked: "Does America "create" more homeless freeloaders, because of our compassion? Does it make it worse? Should we help able bodied homeless or are we creating a culture of dependency that makes it difficult for people to improve their lives?"

One viewer responded, (true story): "When I was 22 years old I saw a "homeless" person with a "will work for food" sign in a snow storm. My heart ached for the man. I went to the store and purchased a jacket, gloves, and food. I drove back to the corner and gave him what I had purchased. He said "thank you", but didn't seem appreciative. I assumed he would have eaten some of the food immediately, but he stuffed the food in his bag and didn't eat a thing. As I drove away perplexed I looked in my rear view mirror and the man had begun to walk to the far corner of parking lot. I was curious so I drove around the block and came back.The man got into a brand new Chevy Corvette!!! I kid you not! I was shocked and disgusted." The viewer, from this one experience felt qualified to agree with Stossel's premise: American compassion may be "creating" homeless freeloaders. So, there it is ... someone has apparently figured out the complexity of poverty in America by one charitable encounter gone bad.

Thanks be to God that His mercy is not of the same rationale as humans. If it was, all of us would be in a lot of trouble at the moment of death as well as on Judgement Day. If Jesus measured mercy the way we do (thanks be to God that he does not) - he could hypothetically write in a blog some time, somewhere, something like this: "When that Mr. or Ms. so-and-so arrived at the gates of heaven, I couldn't help but remember when they were 30 years old. I sent a "neon sign" to repent of their sins. They changed just for a short time, but old habits of lust and wrongdoing crept back in. Oh well, humans must be alike so I think that all of them here-to-fore are going to have to dig their way out of hell. I refuse to help any of them based on my experience with Mr. or Ms. so-and-so! Love, Jesus."

Obviously, we are grateful that God does not deal with us in this manner. God is pure love. But unfortunately, humans can be very unkind and extremely unmerciful to losers and sinners. And yet, we are all losers and sinners in one-shape-or-form. When all is said and done, this type of unmerciful thinking toward the homeless is reminiscent of the parable that Jesus tells of the wicked servant. In the story, the servant gets forgiven an enormous debt, but then goes out and refuses to be merciful to a fellow servant who owes a small debt. In the end, the master finds out about the injustice and throws him into jail. Then, he is tortured until the very last penny is paid. (Matthew 18:21-35)

_____

More on the Internet

http://www.city-data.com/forum/politics-other-controversies/116706-does-america-create-more-homeless-freeloaders.html

Please scroll down to vote in the polls. Subscribe! in the top, right column. Invite your friends and family to visit and to Subscribe!

Preaching the “Prosperity Gospel” to the Homeless?

Recently, Associated Press religion writer, Eric Gorski reported a story about a generous Christian by the name of Cindy Fleenor. Each night she invited into her living room television preachers that told her, “Be faithful in how you live and how you give; God will shower you with material riches.” And so the 53-year-old accountant pledged $100s a year to evangelist Joyce Meyer, to faith healer Benny Hinn and a local Tampa, Florida preacher. The blessings never came. Fleenor ended up borrowing money from friends and from payday loan companies just to buy groceries.

Eric Gorski reports that all the ministries mentioned here are among six major Christian television outreaches under scrutiny by Senator Charles Grassley. The probe is essentially calling into question those who preach the "Gospel of Prosperity," or the notion that God wants to bless the faithful with earthly riches. Some argue that “prosperity preaching” is a Biblically sound message. Others say it is a distortion of the truth. It has evolved from "it's all right to make money" to it's all right for the pastor to drive a Bentley, live in an oceanside home and travel by private jet.

Oral Roberts and Kenneth Hagin — and later, Kenneth Copeland — trained tens of thousands of evangelists with a message that resonated with an emerging middle class, said David Edwin Harrell Jr., a Roberts biographer. Copeland is among those now being investigated. The teachings took on various names — "Name It and Claim It," "Word of Faith," and “the Prosperity Gospel.”

But would the “Prosperity Gospel” work, say for the 74,000 homeless living in Los Angeles, many of them Christians? There is no doubt that God wants to bless his followers. Jesus however, describes the nature of our blessings when he says, “Blessed are the merciful, they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) When we are patient, kind, loving, forgiving, giving and merciful to the poor, the criminal, the orphan and the widow – we confirm God’s generous mercy upon ourselves by receiving His free gift of eternal life that we do not deserve. We get to go to heaven by God’s mercy! Heaven and eternal life are the blessings and riches that God has promised each of us.

When Jesus developed his preaching of compassion for the poor, there is no doubt he was acutely aware of the piercing Old Testament scripture of Proverbs 14:21 which says, "Anyone who despises his [poor] neighbor commits sin. But blessed is the person who is kind to the poor." Our blessings are eternal and spiritual – the best type – they are better than money! John tells us, “We know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.” (1 John 3:14)

When we give alms, show mercy, love and kindness to the poor and homeless, we have an opportunity to confirm God’s gift of eternal life. His blessings therefore are not temporal, but spiritual - the reward of eternal life with God the Father, our Creator. We don’t go to hell as each one deserves. Christ blesses us with adoption as sons of God. (Galatians 4:5) And so we discover that there are blessings for giving out of love, but it more than likely will not be a new car or winning the million dollar lottery.

A List Better than the Age-old New Years Resolutions

Happy New Year! A whole new year lies ahead. For most, the thought of the future is both exhilarating and worrisome. It’s exciting to think this may be the year that the million dollar lottery is won, the job promotion comes or the trip of a lifetime takes place. Yet, we don’t know the flip side of the coin. Could this be the year that my company goes under, I lose my job or my health unexpectedly turns for the worse? Could this be the year of another “Katrina” or California-type wildfires leaving one destitute and instantly immersed into homeless conditions?

Of course only God knows our futures. He knows everything, from its beginning to its end. Because we don’t know the future, there are a few things we can do to prepare for whatever may come our way. The following is a list better than the age-old New Years resolutions – 99% of those fail. This plan is sure:

* Dedicate a minimum of 30 minutes of prayer/spiritual reading to God in the morning and in the night. As a result, God will reward you this year with a glad rejoicing heart and strengthen you with grace in the day of harm.

* Find the poor and “homeless” at your job, grocery store and wherever you go and serve them well. Show them kindness and hospitality. Many have even entertained angels unawares. By doing so, God will reward you this year with a glad rejoicing heart and strengthen you with grace in the day of harm.

* Forgive! Make a list of all those who have hurt (no matter how terrible) and offended you. Now forgive them. Then, in the day of trouble God will show mercy upon you. “Blessed are the merciful, they shall obtain mercy.” As a result, God will reward you this year with a glad rejoicing heart and strengthen you with grace in the day of harm.

* Serve! Get plugged into an outreach that serves the poor and the homeless like the Los Angeles-based St. Peter’s Scalibrinian Mission in Chinatown or Skid Row's Midnight Mission. God’s consolations and peace will be yours when you give even an hour or two a week of your time. Give alms to the poor through groups that serve them. As a result, God will reward you this year with a glad rejoicing heart and strengthen you with grace in the day of harm.

Please scroll down to vote in the polls and Subscribe! in the top, right column. Invite your friends and family to visit HIA and to Subscribe!

Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock

Merry Christmas! The Savior has arrived, but tucked away in all the sweet hymns and swaddling clothes in a peaceful manger setting is a noisy knock. The Savior on this great day appears on the scene of human history announcing to everyone – to you and me: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Rv. 3:20

Let us make no mistake; this is One baby who both then and now plans to turn human history upside down. He is full of seeming contradictions and unexpected surprises. Soon, everyone shall see that down is up and up is down. He is rich, but he is born into poverty. He is the Galaxy Builder of the universe, but lives a poor and homeless life.

Tranquility in Bethlehem is further shattered when Jesus said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Mt. 10:34 To the poor, the abandoned, the forsaken and persecuted he plans to have mercy. In their lowliness and their humility they are now defined as rich. To the rich, the proud and the conceited He exposes the lifestyle for what it really is, true poverty.

At Christmastime, in the Silent Night He speaks loudly. He is at the door of hearts, brilliantly knocking and he says …

“Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,

“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” Rv. 3:15-20

Merry Christmas!

Homeless In America returns after Christmas week, Wednesday, January 2, 2008. In the meantime, please visit HIA daily and peruse more than 100 blogs, articles, reflections and rants with triumphal insights in to all types of personal and social poverty. Please scroll down to vote in the polls and Subscribe! in the top, right column. Invite your friends and family to visit HIA and to Subscribe!

Hark, Hear the Glad Song!

Hymn

Hark, hear the glad song! the Savior comes,

The Savior who was promised long ago;

Prepare in your heart a throne,

Join in their angelic hymns of praise.

He comes for the broken hearted,

The bleeding soul to cure;

And with the treasures of grace,

To save the humble poor.

Meditation

Mary gives voice to the rejoicing of the redeemed of the world: "The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name." Lk. 1:49 Christ was born among the poor and put to death for the salvation of the world. Our Savior comes to raise us up! God bestows on us in Christ all His riches in glory.

Prayer

Lord, you came to bring life to all the lowly, the afflicted and the poor: Console the homeless, the aging, the hungry and the oppressed.

St. Peter's Los Angeles, Champions of Christ in Christmas

In the true Spirit of Christmas, St. Peter's in downtown Los Angeles (famous for its fishing boat altar, photo above) consistently announces Christ to the poor and homeless throughout the year. Six days a week, volunteers staff a hot meal line cooking up lunches for 150 needy children, women and men each day from the rectory's kitchen.

Yesterday, approximately 25 guests of the food line attended a special Holiday prayer group and Bible study. After singing Christmas Carols the group turned their attention to prayer and reflection on the Nativity Story. What was the message? At His conception, Christ left his throne in glory. He left all of His riches and emptied Himself of all splendor becoming poor and homeless (always homeless because he left His true home in heaven) for our sake. Christ is our model! We too can leave our pride, riches and arrogance behind, become poor with him and unite with Him in His mission to transform the world.

The group concluded with three gifts presented to each person. The first, a bottle of water representing Christ who is the only person who can quench thirst. Second, a bag of fresh-baked cookies representing the gifts of consolation God gives us to make it through our trials in this life. Lastly, gifts of warm socks, gloves and jackets. All representing the gift of God's Son coming into our lives. The best gift of all? Six participant's prayed for forgiveness of their sins and they rededicated their lives to the Lord. There was undoubtedly a lot of rejoicing in heaven!

Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir Asks, “How Poor is Poor?”

"The question of who is considered poor is a fundamental one in Jewish law, because many commandments of the Torah apply specifically to the poor and needy. For example, a farmer in the Land of Israel is required to leave part of the harvest for the benefit of the poor: 'And when you cut the harvest of your land, don't eliminate the corner of the field in your cutting, and don't gather the stray sheaf; leave it for the poor and the sojourner - I am the Lord your God' (Leviticus 23:22).

"Likewise, we are commanded to give charity to the needy: 'When there will be a needy person from among your brothers in any of your gates in your land which the Lord, your God gave you, don't harden your heart and don't close your hand to your needy brother' (Deuteronomy 15:7).

"Many prominent Jewish law authorities generalized from rulings in the Mishnah and concluded that the most meaningful measure of poverty is that someone does not have the basic wherewithal to earn a living. The main principle is that poverty is mostly a function of insufficient income rather than insufficient wealth.

"The Mishnah states that in order to be eligible for the weekly distribution of 'emergency rations' a person has to lack even a week's worth of food; likewise, individuals or the community may want to set up an emergency fund for the most desperately needy. Also, an older person on a fixed income that is insufficient for basic needs is certainly eligible for charity assistance."


Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir is one of the Jewish world's best-known lecturers and educators in the area of business ethics. Rabbi Dr Meir’s extensive background includes being educated at Harvard, and obtaining a Ph.D. in economics from MIT.
________

More on the Internet:

http://www.aish.com/