Tonight my city hosted a free concert by Christian artist Sara Groves. She was joined by Christian author Donald Miller and a team of cyclists that are on a fund raising coast-to-coast journey from the Pacific Ocean (L.A.) to the Atlantic (D.C.). The cycling tour is called Ride: Well Tour. It is a sister non-profit to Blood:Water Mission founded by the members of another Christian group Jars of Clay and to which the funds they raise on their ride are going. Confused yet? The bottom line is that all of these people and many others are coming together to bring a cold cup of water in Jesus' name to those in need. Here's an excerpt from the blood:water mission website:
Blood:Water Mission exists to promote clean blood and clean water efforts in Africa, tangibly reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic while addressing the underlying issues of poverty, injustice and oppression. Blood:Water Mission is building clean water wells, supporting medical facilities, and focusing on community and worldview transformation, both here in America and in Africa.
Sara Groves was interviewed on the local radio today and had an interesting comment. She said that many of us as Christians spend a whole lot of time grooming our faith, but to what end? It's like the person who buys a sports car and then only washes and waxes it but never drives it. God has called us to make a difference in this world while we are on it. Spending every moment in church that the doors are open, listening to Christian music, going to small group Bible studies are all nice, but if we're just grooming our faith without going out and getting dirty once in a while for God, what's the point? When she made this realization, she starting looking for what to do. She found this mission and has given to it. It's a good cause. Take a look. If it's something that moves you, I'd encourage you to give as well. And then go out and find a way to give from yourself above just giving from your wallet.
By the way, I'm excited to say that the little rally here in Tyler had set a goal to raise $40,000 tonight. At the end of the evening, they were up to $72,800 and still counting.
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4 comments:
Nathan, I was on Nick's blog and saw your link and decided to check it out. God works in mysterious ways! For the last month I have really felt God speaking to me about going to Africa for some kind of mission work. The blood:water mission sounds exactly like something I would love to be apart of. I'm going to definitely look into this more. I'm sure you have your reasons of why you posted this blog, but just know that God used you to speak to me once again. I'm truly grateful!
Hey, that's great. I pray you find exactly where God's leading you. Keep us posted.
I think Sara's point is a bit specious, though I'm sure well-intentioned. We groom our faith because scripture is ripe with that inferrence. Jesus said "be ye perfect". So we make efforts to that end based on various means - one of which is the various forms of interaction with others who share our faith.
Another "means" is reaching the lost, and serving the poor as she suggests (and Jesus demonstrated).
So bible study is driving the sports car. Teaching your children is driving the sports car. Loving your wife above yourself is driving the sports car. Worship is driving the sports car. Confession, etc etc... And pursuing social justices via efforts like this mission is driving the sports car.
Now, if we want to argue which one of those makes you drive faster (i.e. is the most exhilirating) - that's another post altogether.
Get to it Nathan!
Pedro
I would definitely say loving my wife as Christ loves the church, teaching my children, bible study with others are all driving the sports car. Actually, I threw bible study in the original list because I know of folks that think because they go to Sunday School or to a bible study, they're doing their part for the kingdom. And as a mother of 3, I'm sure Sara believes raising her children is driving the sports car.
I think Sara's point was towards those good christians that have settled in to just being "good" and not being active. As an example of working in the church, I'm sure you have discovered the sense that 5% of the congregants actually do things like teach classes, serve on the board, usher, etc and the other 95% "groom". Those numbers may be less out of balance in a smaller church, but they seem to quickly get to that point in many larger bodies.
I do think scripture directs us to "groom". The comment was to what purpose? If all we are doing is grooming, perhaps we need to reexamine our walk with Christ and see what else he may be calling us to do. As you pointed out, social justice is just one of the many calls Christ has put on our lives.
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