All around the world you’ll find Christians who are engaged in ministries that help the poor. There are local examples that we know well: the Hope Center, the Oroville Rescue Mission, the Kingdom Table, the Salvation Army, etc. And these are supported by churches who each have their own slate of ministries – e.g. the Good Samaritan Fund at First Congregational Church, and the Deacons ministry at Trinity Presbyterian Church. And then there’s the missions giving from both churches that supports outreach work in Kenya, in Mexico, and other places.
I think of these things when I run into critics who are hostile towards churches. They often say they’re against “organized religion” (as if being more disorganized would help things). Sometimes I’ll bring up these ministries that help the poor, and I’ll ask the critics what they’d be willing to do fill the gap if the churches go away. I’ve never heard a good response. Sometimes I’ve found they’re leaning on assumptions of a more ideal world where the government would take care of these needs. But of course we live in the real world, not the ideal one, and the churches are out doing the work. Relief ministries come up in Mark 14:1-9, but not in a good way. Jesus was at the home of a man identified as Simon the leper. He was sitting at the table; lots of other people were present, and it was two days before the Passover holiday. All kinds of conspiratorial things were going on, with plans to arrest Jesus – but not in midst of all the people. There were fears of instigating a riot, and His critics were waiting for the right moment to spring their violence upon Him. And a woman was there who opened an alabaster jar of expensive nard and poured it over Jesus’ head. Look closely at what the text says about this in verses 4-5: “…some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor. And they scolded her.’” Note the details here:
Maybe she did this because she knew that Jesus understood her? Think to yourself: Jesus understands me. Jesus can see into our situations more easily than the people who are angry with us. Look at the details of Jesus’ response:
0 Comments
|
Andrew McHenryI am a husband, a Congregational pastor, and a native Kansan currently living in Thermalito, California. In the past I have also been a prison chaplain and a youth pastor. Interests include reading, railroads, prog rock, KU, and the KC Royals. Archives
March 2024
Categories |