That aha moment...

There is a quote by Philip Jenkins that says "Christianity is flourishing wonderfully among the poor and persecuted while it atrophies among the rich and secure".  This is exactly the feeling I had on my first trip to Haiti.  A friend of mine once said that when we arrived in Haiti she really felt sorry for them.  As the time progressed, she felt her feelings change.  It is us we really should feel sorry for.  They have NOTHING yet they worship, we have EVERYTHING and we forget about God. 

I am reading the book The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns and it is rocking me to my core.  His story on how God worked so hard to get him to listen was amazing, but when he started talking about our responsibilities as Christians, I started to choke.  "We would much rather believe that the only things needed for our salvation are saying the right words and believing the right things--not living lives that are characterized by Christ's concern for the poor,"  (Stearns, p. 59).  I can't sleep at night.  I lie awake thinking about how I should be helping those less fortunate...let me just say it for what it is...poor.  Of course my mind goes straight to the nation of Haiti that I have seen up close and God broke my heart for.

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.  Matthew 25:35-36.

We all know these verses, but is this how we are living?  Will others see us as someone willing to give up our "stuff" for others?  Stearns in his book writes up his own version of this passage of scripture which I feel fits our American culture to a tee yet leaves me feeling shaken. Hurting.

For I was hungry, while you had all you needed.  I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water.  I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported.  I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes.  I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness.  I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved.

Hmm...