Sick And Hungry Christians

I believe primary responsibility is to God.

Here is the order I see

God first and foremost
Family
Home community (are you a witness in your own neighborhood?)
Country
Other Continents

 

The Salvation Army's motto is "Soup, Soap and Salvation." I know that has to do with rescue missions, but it is applicable in life. Feed a hungry body, create an atmosphere of personal cleanliness, and you will open doors of opportunity to present the message of salvation.

Yes, we have a responsibility to care for people where ever that need may be.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Yes, I believe we are to love one another, not just in words or with tongue but in deed and truth.

 

James 2-15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

If we don't feed them and clothe them first, it won't do them any good. Just prayng and sending them away hungry is not enough.

We need to feed, clothe,present Jesus, then pray and help them.

Selah,

Tam

 

We are called to preach the Good News to all, but if we have no consideration for a person's physical needs, then the Bible asks "how does the love of God abide in him?" We are not in any way, shape, or form, saved by works. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10

From James 2

And Daughter alluded to this, but it is in 1 John 3

And Matthew 10 says

 

Re the OP - yep. And sick and hungry non-Christians too.

 

why is it that christians forget about the 1000's of men and women behind bars in this country whose medical, dietary, clothing, hygiene, and spiritual needs are not even close to being met?

 

Think about the Rich Young Ruler and what Jesus said to him:

Mk:10:21: Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

But of course, common sense would tell us that Jesus didnt literally mean EVERYTHING... because if all Christians gave ALL they had to the poor then we'd all be poor Christians and have nothing to give eventually and then everyone else would have to help US, right?

Plus, the Bible ALSO admonishes us to take care of the needs of our own family so by that we must conclude that Jesus didnt actually mean to give EVERYTHING to the poor.

1Tm:5:8: But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.


Plus think of the story of the Talents (money)... Jesus told the story of how the "man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods."

And in this story, the people who MULTIPLIED their money were commended for doing it...

Mt:25:15-20:
"Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents."

So obviously it must be that anything over and above what we have for the necessities of life should be used to help the poor, etc...

Also notice "delivered unto them HIS goods"

We are to regard all we have as belonging not to us but to God, to be used in His service...

As far as giving to the foreign countries goes.. I dont see why what country you live in matters.. we are all human beings that God created..

However, I think that lots of people neglect the people that are right there around them, and give to foreign countries because somehow that seems more "the in thing" to do or somehow more exotic.

But there are a whole lot of needy people right here in the United States.

It has always bothered me alot that the Government gives so much money to other countries when there are homeless people here in the United States roaming around all over the place. It just doesnt seem right to me.

Like alot of these Actors and Actresses will make a big show out of giving money to Africa, etc... when right here at home there are thousands of needy people all around us.


Claudia

 

Yes the church has a responsibility to help others in need. The first commandment is to love the Lord your God, the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.

 

Also though, if you think about it, theres the story of the Good Samaritan.


Someone asked Jesus What must I do to be saved and Jesus said you know the Law, Love your neighbor. Then they asked well who is my neighbor then?

Jesus answered by telling the story of the Good Samaritan. The Priests saw the suffering and wounded person on the side of the road, they basically wished they hadnt seen him lying there and they passed by on the other side. This person wasnt anybody they regarded as "their neighbor".

The Samaritan however, was the one who stopped to help. He didnt care who the person was, he didnt care what religion they were, all he saw was someone who needed help, so he stopped and used his own resources and even went and took him to the inn and paid for it..

So it doesnt matter who is hurt and it doesnt matter if they are the same nationality as you are...


Claudia

 

I feel very sorry for you and the many Americans who have no clue about the real prison system in this country. you have pulled out an example of a tiny minority. Like most people, it's easier to believe a lie, than to face the truth that prisoners in this country are receiving inhumane treatment.

 

Matt 25:38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 

This reminds me of a song I heard today written and sung by Todd Agnew called "My Jesus"


MY JESUS

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side
or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet would stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despised the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

Not a posterchild for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I'm not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like my Jesus

Todd Agnew
Album: Reflection of Something

 

Ray,

Hope you don't mind if I ask you a question - do you hate prisoners? You seem to be so angry . . . perhaps you have been a victim?

 

Then you have been greatly misinformed. There are many in prison who are innocent. Many are also Christians who are in a deep personal relationship with Christ. Most of the prisons in this country are not fit for human beings to live in. But I know that the majority of Americans do not believe this.

I only wish I had the means to speak of what I know. But I fear it will fall on closed ears and hard hearts, so I will refrain.

I am truly sorry that you cannot love as we have been loved. Jesus had the time to spend with sinners, why can't we? We all deserve to be in prison, every one of us - and we are all in a position to be falsely accused and convicted - but for the grace of God.