Written by Ronald J. Sider and published in 2005.
"Present economic relationships in the worldwide body of Christ are unbiblical and sinful; they hinder evangelism and desecrate the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The dollar value of the food North Americans throw in the garbage each year equals about one-fifth of the total annual income of all the Christians in Africa...
Like the rich Corinthian Christians who feasted without sharing with the hungry members of the church (1 Cor. 11:20-29), we have failed to comprehend the concept that the church worldwide is one body. The tragic consequence is that we profane the body and blood of the Lord Jesus we worship. Christians in the United States spent $15.7 billion on new church construction alone in the six years between 1984 and 1989. Would we go on building lavishly furnished expensive church buildings if members of our own congregations were starving? Do we not flatly contradict Paul if we live as if African or Latin American Christians are not also part of Christ's one body along with those in our home congregation?"
Food for thought.
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ReplyDeleteThere is a great book by Brian McLaren called "Everything Must Change" It is his very point that while we (as affluent Americans) do not intentionally cause starvation, or privation, the system from which we profit does create hardship. Or said another way, ignores the hardship to maintain the affluence.
I think Satan has found a better way to make American ineffective, rather than persecute us, he mnakes sure we have everything we want. This undermines our divine sense of justice, mercy, and compassion. I have dim hopes that my generation can effect this change, I hope yours can.
Good stuff.
Don