What are we doing? As I snapped this shot while driving(Someone else was driving.) through one of the most poverty-stricken villages in the entire country of Panama, those words circled in my mind pausing for emphasis every few seconds. Really...what are we doing? While much of the world lives on less than a dollar per day and is constantly haunted by the pain and weakness triggered by drinking contaminated water along with hours, if not days of unfulfilled hunger, we will gather each week in our comfortable, air conditioned, sometimes palatial buildings enjoying worship teams sporting thousands of dollars worth of equipment while staring at screens powered by technology that Christ-followers in most of the world could only dream of. I recently heard of a state denominational newspaper who's cover story was, "First Church of _________ Celebrates Completion of $4.5 Million Family Life Center." On that same front page was a much smaller article entitled, "State Denomination Gives $5000 Toward Relief Effort For Starving Sudanese." What are we doing?David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, in their book, Unchristian state that, according to research by The Barna Group, the top two adjectives used by unbelievers to describe Christians are antihomosexual and judgmental. Not loving, nor kind, nor generous, nor hope-giving, but antihomosexual and judgmental. What are we doing? Rather, what are we not doing?
In the American church, we have so much to offer the rest of the world. The very poorest person in most of our local congregations is still in the top 8% of the most wealthy people in the world. What is following Christ about- enjoying our nice building, lively worship team, the pastor's great sermons, or the next slick campaign? Or is it about impacting the sick, poor, old, hungry, and hurting! After all, Jesus did!
