Call to Compassion

By Daniel Submitted on 18 December, 2009 - 06:02

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Many charismatic and evangelical Christians are motivated by a deep care and concern for justice and righteousness, but it is not readily apparent to much of the church and public. Confronted with the challenges of AIDS, orphans, unemployment, poverty, homeless children and widows one would think that the presence of the church in these activities would be very visible. This is not the case in many instances.

In the last four years Jubilee Centre has been part of the team of the district planning committee of World AIDS Day (WAD) in Ndola. What has been most appalling about WAD has been the tangible absence of the charismatic and evangelical Christians' participation in this activity. It is like AIDS has spared the church. Even if AIDS has spared the church, the church should be justified to reach out because of its deep love, care and concern for those affected. But the church has not been spared.

The evangelical and charismatic churches must demonstrate that they are legitimately concerned with these issues that families are struggling with in their everyday life. When our message is not perceived as firmly rooted in a foundation of love and compassion, we lack the moral authority to provide vision for our nation. Communities in low-income areas will support the church’s voice on the characteristics of political leadership needed for our nation when the church demonstrates a self-sacrificing commitment to serving our communities in need.

As it is, the public perception of the church’s concern for people in need is that Christians are largely in the work of compassion for personal benefits or own political agenda rather than uplifting the lives of the orphans or people living with AIDS.

For people in need to see that we are truly concerned about their misery and suffering, we must do something more than the obvious of giving food, blankets, mosquito nets, and preaching breakthrough messages. We must deal with the root of the problem. Those who deal with root problem are extremely discontented over a particular social evil and will be satisfied only when the root cause is corrected. This may mean lobbying or advocating for government funds, local and foreign, to meet education needs and to address environment issues. It may also mean motivating the churches to give to these needs. It may also mean organizing church members to lobby the government to change laws that are unjust or exploitative. If all these do not work, we may organize the community to change their members of parliament or the president.

Jesus is a perfect example of the sacrifice required to address the root problem of peoples’ needs.  As we remember the needy and provide them with food and blankets, may we also be aware that Christ is also calling us to address the root cause of the problem. That is what He came to do when He left heaven.

Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year!!!