So Do You REALLY Want to Help?

I help out quite a bit with a homeless transportation ministry at my church. I go to a small satellite branch of a large, wealthy church in the suburbs. This ministry is a join operation between the two branches, and I'm the liaison on the small, city church side. While I definitely see the value in providing transportation to church for those who need it, I see it more as a thing the upper-middle class people do to make themselves feel better. I don't think the homeless should be singled out, nor do I think we should create any big deal about inviting them to our church. We shouldn't be patting ourselves on the back for this...I think it's the Kingdom in action, and it should be happening like this every day.

Regardless of these complaints, it's a good thing that we do, and I hope it is achieving some sort of good. I still sort of struggle to see what good it really is, aside from making us feel better (because, let's face it, most of these homeless folks already knew Jesus, so we aren't doing anything except for introducing them to other people who believe, which is, in itself, a valuable thing...), but that's beside the point. I was chatting on Sunday with the coordinator of the program from the large, suburban church side. She was mentioning that she hopes that a guy, who is very supportive of the homeless work they do, as well as being a big financial contributor, comes by to see what's going on. "He really has a heart for helping with this type of ministry. He's very supportive of it." So she wanted him to come and see what's happening at our church...the fellowship with the homeless, etc.

That's all fine and good, but I couldn't help but think, "Do you really want to help? You have a lot of money, and likely a lot of power. Do something different. Do something radical. Do something that creates systemic change."

Donating a lot of money is all fine and good, but if you don't change your lifestyle, are you really dedicated to that cause? Being a Christian calls for total life change, and I think it's probably very difficult to follow Jesus the way the disciples did, while still living in a tan house with a two-car garage on a cul de sac. Just a thought.

So, what frustrated me, is that this guy has a lot of ability to create much more change than he is currently. He thinks that donating thousands of dollars will help, which is does, but maybe not-earning that much money is the answer. I don't know.

All I do know is that money is not the answer.

Action is.