Normally, I’m not one to post articles/links for causes, but today I’m participating in “One Day Without Shoes” (as much as I can in a corporate environment – which is confined to my desk area, for safety reasons – and then when driving and the rest of the day), which is run by TOMS Shoes.
A number of the members of our church have supported TOMS in the past, and several of the guys who serve in the worship band with me have purchased shoes from them in the past and been more than pleased with them. Why TOMS?
From TOMS website:
TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we’re all about.
In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created a company that would match every pair of shoes sold with a pair given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers.
Since our beginning, TOMS has given over 140,000* pairs of shoes to children in need through the One for One model. Because of your support, TOMS plans to give over 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world in 2009.
Most people who know me will can tell you that I rarely wear shoes. Aside from going to work, it’s probably easier to measure the time I’m actually wearing them, than when I’m not. However, as I’ve tried (and often failed) to be more aware of my consumer habits and lifestyle, I find that one of the things I take for granted is that “barefoot” is a luxury I take advantage of, but it would be a curse if it was 24/7.
Like clean water, a full fridge, a waterproof roof and a closet full of clean clothes, I have been blessed more than most of the people in the world. Often, I find the response that comes after gratitude for my abundance is often guilt, because I wouldn’t even know where to begin to tangibly help the poor – because I so rarely see them in my safe suburbia…
So it is nice to support ministries and businesses who have made it their business to help those less fortunate. TOMS is just one example:
Now, before the accusations come, meeting physical needs of the poor, the widow and the foreigner are not the entirety of what we are supposed to do. We (the church) are called to make disciples, as well, and we should support and/or participate in evangelistic missions, as well, as we are able. Whether that means moving and living with the less fortunate to walk side-by-side with them, or supporting those that do, is up to how the Holy Spirit leads each of us.
Even so, humanitarian missions may not be the 100% solution, but if a child lives years longer because of the clean water, food, shelter and clothing they have received, those are additional years in which they can hear, believe, and respond to the gospel and additional years in which they can join in the work of the kingdom, as well.
And that is something that we all should take comfort in.
![Image of The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Jl6fhDLxL._SL75_.jpg "The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith")
63 Comments(+Add)
awesome.
How tragic and sad that around here you must add this caveat:
Good post.
peace.
Not to hijack your cause, but another cause that might generate some interest here can be found:
http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com/en/#/watch/
It explores the plight of child soldiers in northern Uganda – a heartbreaking situation that is still plaguing a large region.
Paul – yes, that is heart rendering. Thousands of kidnapped children forced to maim and murder people.
I have a friend who has done quite a bit of work with those children, and some of the stories are truly horrifying…
We have a young man (15yrs old) in our church right now who was mutilated when he was younger living over there (he was sent here for treatment through a program), parents and siblings killed. Right now one of our elders is in the process of adopting him so he doesn’t have to go back and face God only knows what.
Right now thinking of a way to get involved as a side project on something like this. It’s hard finding legit organizations in these areas (having lived in Africa for some time you become a little cynical when you see where resources actually go), but it would be good to help in some way.
I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this scripture, as an aside, which I never saw as deeply before until recently:
The chapter deals with the concept of acceptable and non-acceptable religion in the sight of God. When we actually align with the Lord, perhaps after spending so much time drifting along, it seems the above can be said of us. It’s a beautiful chapter. Kind of like Josiah’s advisors finding the Scriptures – dusty and in a corner – somewhere in the temple after so many years.
How dare you give children who need shoes shoes! I mean, how insensitive. How eurocentric.
I mean, imagine you are a little child who is relaxing, playing soccer with your friends on a dirt field. Your feet have developed a tough underskin, so it does not really bother you to not have shoes. In fact, you were just blowing off some steam in your bare feet with your friends.
Then this rich white person comes to your villiage with these strange foreign ideas called shoes, and forces them on you. Suddenly, your toes are constrained, and your feet cannot control your soccer ball quite as well.
What would you do if such a person showed up? I would have them arrested. Clearly, they just want to lay their idea of health, safety, and fashion on you. How wicked and evil.
God bless that elder, Paul. The level of violence, pain, and suffering in parts of Africa are mostly unknown to us westerners. The 3000 people that died on 9/11 was tragic, however 3000 Africans die daily of AIDs, and 4000 die daily of malaria.
Yep, that is tragic…
Even more tragic is that 150,o00 people die daily, many without hearing or responding to the Gospel.
But its a good thing they have shoes
peace.
I think I will spend $10 on a pair of Keds and give $48 to missions.
$58 for canvas shoes? Are you kidding me?
Ok, I’m going to say this because eventually John’s comment will come out of moderation.
He is an evil man. He does not reflect Jesus. Based on his videos, he does not preach the gospel. He has a temper problem. He is an evil man, that looks nothing like a Christian or a Christ-follower.
This is a great reminder. As you say Chris, we so often get wrapped up in our daily concerns and are so isolated from this type of need, that we fail to recognize (and do anything about) the depth of struggle for so many in the world.
I am very excited to be traveling (D.V.) to Malawi, Africa with my younger brother in about a month. We will be visiting my older brother and his family who are there for a two-year stint with Word and Deed Ministries, working with a number of orphan care centers. I can hardly wait, and I expect that I will come back a somewhat changed person, more thankful for what I have, and hopefully less greedy with what I have. There is no substitute for seeing suffering and need first hand.
Oh, I didn’t see #6. That one speaks for itself but his attempt at humor at least seems to come through, however poorly. The rest? His newest post? What happened to shaking the dust off of himself and leaving us? God have mercy.
Joe – John will provide ample backdrop for spiritual lessons. One of the reasons God spoke to my heart was through the verbiage of Ingrid and some of Ken’s (he was a lot worse then).
Self righteousness is a cancer.
You guys should leave PB alone! He’s right.
I mean, if you gave those kids shoes while screaming that they were all deserving of hell…then it would be ok.
Self righteous cynicism is an addiction. Finding fault with everything, and looking for the negative needle in the haystack, is an overt form of insecurity, self righteousness, and graceless Christianity.
We should live in the land of Galatia, not on top of Mt. Sinai.
What cracks me about all of the EDM’s is their persecution complex. I just went and actually read his whole child like temper tantrum over the Muslim Beach Preacher. He wasn’t upset about God, he was upset because his methods were attacked. His whole, “just say you hate me” thing is really kind of scary when you think about the fact that this guy is a pastor.
Self righteousness takes a lot of forms, Rick.
One form could be that you talk about giving up shoes for a day, or buy $58 canvas shoes so some kid across the ocean can have a pair of shoes. Your guilt is allayed, you have done your part.
Or you can make sarcastic remarks and strawmen about a form of evangelism.
Or you can see your ay as superior, and call other people evil.
Or you can talk about your trip you are taking to help people who certainly need help.
Its a good thing there are none of those people here on this sacred site, except for me. I, for one, know there is nothing in me deserving of anything but judgment. I am so grateful for Jesus’ righteousness that he has given me by His grace. What a good God I serve. I deserve wrath, but He has given me mercy. And it is nothing that I have done, it is what He has accomplished.
He’s not a pastor, he just plays one on TV.
I’ve never seem him act in a pastoral manner. Which normally wouldn’t mean much but considering he’s plastered his entire life online it does make you wonder.
Comments like #8 are better left ignored, actually they are better left unthought and unwritten, but when the “Things that should be written” filter fails to perform – ignoring is the next best thing.
Hmmm…I don’t even see a comment #8 on my screen. God must still be on throne.
Ken, Ingrid, Chris P. and R., PB, and Phil you guys can close up shop God is still in charge of everything.
The funny thing about the young boy in our church who was mutilated in Uganda and came here for treatment, is now in recovery and is being adopted is how things evolved:
Step 1: an actress/activist made a trip to Uganda and became acquainted with him because his story was so tragic
Step 2: she decides to take action and gets in contact with a fund that actually brings kids to Toronto Sick Kids’ Hospital (one of the best in the world)
Step 3: he comes to Canada and undergoes treatment at this hospital, but as part of the agreement has to return to Uganda where he’ll be put up in an orphanage
Step 4: a social worker involved in the case is heartbroken and decides to get involved
Step 5: she speaks with our pastor and one of our elders is recommended
Step 6: he decides to take the plunge and adopt
Step 7: this young man will now stay in Canada, live in a Christian home and have a community of believers to strengthen him
God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.
I swear I know John…but not the flesh. His spirit is manifest in congregations all around the country, world, and is the reason so many of us preachers…hate…that’s right…hate…working for the church.
Damn foul spirit of religion.
Yes, give it to ‘missions’ so that it can eaten up in administrative costs, paperwork, salaries, or just plain bungled by the missionaries who make careers out of ‘missions’ instead of learning how to work themselves out of a job.
After all, $50 in the pocket of a career missionary is far, far better than a pair of shoes on a kid’s feet. (Ref. #9) That’s very
selfrighteous of you John.Neil – I agree in not engaging, but I still contend it presents a productive object lesson for all of us. I recognize some of those entrenched attitudes that say “since I am witnessing I am invunerable to correction”.
It is amazing how varied believers can be in their views of lost sinners, and what actually defines the gospel message. Lost young people, sprinkled with “professing” believers, provide a great target with which to exhibit our evangelistic testosterone and to magnify the sin in others.
John’s behavior was once mine. I know how he thinks and the content of the interaction among he and his friends. I know what it’s like to see everyone outside your own parameters in the most ungracious way, and how church services can turn into mutual gratification gatherings.
And when someone who claims Christ cannot even refrain from demeaning an imperfect missions project, it is a startling revelation of the repulsive underbelly of parts of orthodox evangelicalism.
And only God’s Spirit can change a person’s heart, not necessarily about the foundations of his beliefs, but certainly about his own spirit. Philippians chapter 2 must be a consistent journey about us, not just a teaching about Jesus.
Agreed.
All praise and glory be to yourself PB for being the only one here who understands his need for grace.
Its amazing how PB stays faithfully to the same pattern over and over. More mealy mouthing of the need for grace, don’t worry, that will pass by the time he posts again.
How dare you.
Im sure this may be true with some missionaries. Our administrative cost, in my illustration, would be $4.80
I guess it is better to give it as profit to TOMs who likely produces those shoes for under $5 per two pairs.
The cost of a
searedclear conscience.Grace is unmerited favor… receiving what we do not deserve… and a child does not deserve shoes unless the Gospel is attached…
Does PB preach the gospel to his kids every time he buys them shoes? Does he put a guilt trip on his wife every time she buys shoes?
I bet PB had gone into Payless and found a great pair of shoes and just put them on his credit card without a second thought. I know I have….
Yet, if God freely gives us what we do not deserve, why would anyone think we have to sell the gospel as we give free shoes… how sad that the shoes will only be given if someone must hear the Gospel.
Now don’t get me wrong… share the gospel.. but do it freely without attaching a cost… it cost enough with the Blood of Jesus… so why do we need to add the cost of a stupid pair of shoes on top of that.
Love without agenda… to love freely those that God loves… in any way God makes a way to do so.
I am putting together a opportunity for anyone to help me send shoes to an ministry in Uganda… He needs clothing, especially shoes for the children… he has about 30 to 40 he is trying to meet basic needs for. Anyone who wants to help me can contact me iggy@wwdb.org
I am looking at sending boxes of shoes, clothing, toys and possibly Bibles… I need help with money to send the boxes… or you can send things yourself at your own cost. It is part of a local church in Uganda… the ministry is for widows, fatherless children, orphans and anyone who needs help that they can.
Even PB should approve this one as it shares the Gospel and gives shoes…
Blessings,
iggy
PB,
Do you like liturgy? I’m honestly quite perplexed why you repeat the same platitude about your great sin. By now, after the tenth time you’ve written the same platitude, I can’t imagine it having much meaning to you.
It’s like you’re on autopilot.
Reminds me of a conversation I had with a guy kind of like you. He told me he would never have a drop of alcohol in the future because he had never had one in the past. I replied that his stance was also a terrific argument for never getting married and staying a virgin your whole life.
He didn’t actually hear what I said, but just replied that he was in agreement that pre-marital sex was wrong.
Autopilot.
I am the worst, underserving sinner God ever made, and I have no merit, no value, and no righteousness of my own. I deserve many eternities in hell, and I stand in God’s grace only.
Now look at these lying sinners getting drunk and saying they are saved, they are just horrible and have no clue what it means to be a Christian like I do.
Did I mention how unworthy I am and that I stand completely in God’s grace? You must understand that to see the depth of depravity exhibited by these blind debaucherers. As you watch these disgusting sinners, hook up to my shock-o-meter to see how close to God you are.
I take great comfort in knowing I deserve hell but they are going there. Viva la difference!!
Did I mention I stand in God’s grace and they don’t?
PB gets offended on behalf of an imaginary, hypothetical missionary while breathing out deliberate insults against specific, real ministers of the gospels.
Someone please enlighten me to why cooperating with a purely humanitarian effort without the gospel is wrong but supporting the killing of people without the gospel to defend a nation is right?
I’m an old man, I’m confused.
Wooow. Bullseye.
Somehow, I doubt that.
It is so sad and such a waste of a life to not give thanks for the millions of ways in which the kingdom of heaven intersects with this world. This act of charity by this company is something Christians should be praising God over and allowing it to spur us on to even greater works of righteousness. Instead, some people choose to use it as a way to belittle, demean and attack and worse yet, to showcase how they would do it differently and better while ironically claiming that grace is all that matters. If such people really believed Jesus is Lord they would cease trying to manage everyone and everything and just give thanks.
As a general rule of thumb, those who speak the loudest about how depraved they are and in need of God’s grace are the same people who are absolutely graceless in their dealings with others.
Getting a taste of what it feels like to be broad-brushed – eh? Remember that next time a thought comes into your heard that starts “The Emergent church is…”
There is a very fine line between authentic humility about your unworthiness before God, and a redundant profession of personal unworthiness that serves as a protective doctrinal fort from which to launch attacks on others.
Under the category of “Pointing Out the Obvious” – it’s not, of course.
I still have some questions about humanitarian efforts without any follow-up gospel outreach. However, in my effort to assess these issues clearly I do see God Himself providing air and water and food to all sorts of people.
In fact, God continues to sovereignly provide life sustaining blessings to sinners who He knows will never hear the gospel. Even His enemies, those who agressively reject Christ and follow false gods receive the same humanitarian blessings through God’s creation which God knew and ordained before He spoke creation into being.
I must also note than we as Christians actually purchase materials from the unregenerate and even these idol worshipers. Cars that either are built by Japan or are at least owned by Japanese people are routinely purchased by believers, and most of the money will end up in the hands of unbelievers. This is only one of many examples of how all of us willingly participate in product exchanges that include unbelievers and to whom we give no gospel witness.
And so I can see some problems with withholding humanitarian efforts unless they have the gospel message attached. I still, though, have problems with cooperating with cults or others that are in obvious contradiction with the Christian message. But in all cases, caustic attacks and dismissive attitudes toward humanitarian efforts are unhelpful and only add to whatever self righteousness lurks within us.
I think these sorts of dualisms (humanitarianism vs preaching the gospel or unregenerate vs. regenerate) become obsolete when we begin to see the other before us as Christ (no matter who they are) and the Gospel as a way of being rather than a checklist of beliefs or words.
Jesus said that what we do unto the least of these we have done unto him. To those who we do not give a cup of water, a shelter or clothing we are withholding it from him. Jesus did NOT say (like PB would say) that you gave me a cup of water but did not preach the gospel, therefore you are a goat. For Jesus, the very act of giving the cup of water was intrinsic to the gospel and those we give it to (regardless of whether they were in Japan or America) are Christ himself.
How different the world would be if we regarded every stranger in our midst of Christ and saw them as someone we can learn from rather than the other way around.
40:
Simply awesome.
Occasionally, I have friends ask me why I read ??n and the truth is that I don’t all that much. Today, however I was reminded why is it that I do. Quite simply, some of their writings are priceless. For instance, today Mike Ratliffe said this
Priceless. Absolutely priceless. This is a man who uses a blog post about another man’s blog post about an experience someone else had as a “source” to slander someone who actually is a preacher and not an internet trouble maker/ preacher wannabe.
The Bible is replete with dualisms. Light and darkness, lost and found, Christ and Belial, good and evil, heaven and hell, life and death, faith and unbelief, reward and punishment, and hundreds of others. When Christ says you’ve done it unto Me He is using a Hebrew metaphor that generally expresses His will to help people.
But that should not blur the truth that some sinners are lost and in need of the gospel. The gospel is not just a “way”, it is a redemptive truth that must be believed, and then begins a lifestyle “way”. And how can they believe unless they hear?
It is right to help people in all different kinds of ways, but if we let those humanitarian efforts become the end they cease to be helps and they have in fact become deceptions. All these issues are only meaningful if two things are believed:
* Salvation can only come by faith in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, or in other words, the gospel.
* There are two separate eternal existances.
#43
Amen Rick. You make my point way better than I ever did.
All too often both things get to be an end all. I am all for humanitarian efforts; our church supports missions that are holistic; assisting people with their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
In our community, we do the same.
There are times when we focus on the spiritual, when it is very clear that the other needs are directly a result of the lack in the spiritual. Many of the other needs in our context are not an issue, but when they are we address them. But not to the neglect of the spiritual.
My satire was an attempt not to take away from the real physical needs of people. But good works such as shoes, clean water, etc are all too often used as a panacea that makes people feel like they have done their duty to the least and the last and the lost. We please man, help him feel comfortable for a season, and neglect the very important call that Christians have, and that is to make disciples. If we do not have the opportunity to walk with them, we must at least plant a seed of the Gospel.
I didn’t know saving lives by providing people with clean water was about “pleasing man”.
Huh.
I thought that was just about being a decent human being.
Who knew?!??!
I don’t give to humanitarian efforts or participate in them to “please” any human being. I do it because it is an integral part of living my faith…if, and it’s a pretty big “if”, there is any element of hoping someone is “pleased”…it’s the God who heals and makes all things new that I wish to please.
But even that isn’t the biggest concern to me…simply because I know that I don’t need to try to impress God or even can.
This whole “pleasing man” ca-ca really needs to be shelved.
Yeah and the Inquisition and persecution of fellow Christians because of non salvic issues shows how effective the RCC and early Reformers were in showing the love of God to others by making the Gospel first and foremost of a concern while they tortured people to make them convert to Christianity…
Yep I agree with PB… we need to force people to become Christians before they can receive water, food and God forbid even shoes…
We must always have an agenda to push our own faith on people so they will bow to our will and so we can please God…
We must always make sure someone cannot receive their basic needs unless they become as we are…
Forget the call that we are become the image of Christ and so love people unconditionally that we “grace” them with basic needs. God forbid we ever exhibit the same kindness that God gave all mankind…
Yes, the RCC and Reformers had the right idea… convert or kill them… then we know for sure we will not be inconvenienced by something as simple as giving someone a pair of shoe.
iggy
Well said, nc.
This isn’t about pleasing people (women are people too, PB. You might wanna think about being more inclusive in your writing). It isn’t even about pleasing God, as nc states. We love because we have been loved. Our acts of charity to fellow human beings, people whom God created and loves dearly, is just part of being Easter people – Gospel people.
Iggy – right on about loving without agenda. My fear with the mentality of PB and others is that if they refuse our God we have the right (no, even the mandate!) to refuse them food, water, shoes and shelter. PB will deny such a thing but it is logical conclusion of his black and white, scarce vs abundant view of the world.
PB, if this site is making you so angry, take a break. There is no shame in staying away for a while and returning with a clear, calmer mind.
Or just staying away…
Yeah just imagine kids showing up with sneakers on there shoes on the other kids dont have shoes . That would be terrible for the others they would feel terrible about it , This is a terrible idea . Stop traded the gospel for shoes .Always trying to appeal to the flesh . Only the gospel can change the world .
#50 – Spiritually incoherent. Profoundly incoherent. Zeal without knowledge.
Yeah, Rob. They can’t hear your gospel over the growling of their stomachs. And they care nothing for your God who cares nothing for their physical needs.
If I read #50 correctly, it seems as though we *shouldn’t* feed the poor, and look after the sick, or visit those in prison. Because to do those things is to “appeal to the flesh.”
Interesting idea.
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Good Christian, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. The Good Christian yelled to the man, “Do you want to accept Jesus as your savior?” The man groaned… but gave no answer. “I said, do you want to accept Jesus as your savior?”
The man passed out from the pain he was in and due to loss of blood.
“Oh well, I would help you but first you must sit through my Chick Tracts and my let me walk you through the 4 spiritual laws… and…”
The man bleed to death in front of him…
Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?
It was the Levite who had a blog and had written books that were “exposing, contradicting and bringing to light the false teachings and practices of those who today are destroying and undermining the Christian faith”. And lest you feel sorry for this Samaritan, he was a disgusting, bath house deviant who later was found dead of AIDs and with a pink boa around his neck.
When told of this Samartitan’s death, the Levite remarked,
“Good, I rejoice in God’s wrath upon him and I am reposting my original article in which I link to the Jericho Gazette which reported on the attack on that Samaritan. My post was titled:
“Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out!”
Of course the liberal press did not report that when this Samaritan was found dead, a Miley Cyrus album was playing on his i-Pod. You can’t make this stuff up, said the Levite.”
I am happy to report that the Levites continue to defend the faith today, and the long line of beaten Samaritans throughout history are monuments of God’s justice! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!!!
Uh…??????
I don’t think it’s about the kids “feeling bad” I think it is the health issue.
I guess Jesus feeding the 5000 was appealing to the flesh. Screaming on a beach “turn or burn” for a week is not appealing to the flesh but maybe it’s appealing to the emotions. Which is worse?
WOW we finally agree! This is a happy day. Now if you could just see that all of us here believe that.
Igs and Rick…
You guys are missing the point…probably because of your being unregenerate by virtue of your lack of assent to the correct human interpretation of Scripture given us by the gift of the decentralized cyber-magisterium.
But that’s not the point…
The point is that you’re missing the point.
We can almost certainly be confident that the Samaritan shared the gospel with the beaten man when he returned to pay the rest of his bill and when the man was a captive audience, but now able to listen.
Just like we can certainly know that when Jesus turned water to “wine” it was really the best damn grape juice ever created. Move over Welch’s!
Just like too when Jesus said the thing about the sheep and the goats, we can certainly be assured that he…
oh. wait.
forget that one.
Just like when the letter from john says all that stuff about those that love know…
oh.
wait.
forget that too.
just know that the Samaritan was not a man pleaser.
Alleluia in the Church!
Alleluia to the infallible, inerrant, inspired, authoritative sola scripturae interpres scriptura, amen!
nc – Please remember that the Samaritan shared the gospel in such a way that the beaten man either received Christ or never asked again. That is the “one and done” method of evangelism.
By the way, a little known fact, when the Samaritan brought the man to the inn he discovered that his church was boycotting that particular inn since it allowed gays to stay in the same room.
When he went to the next one he discovered his church was boycotting that one as well since it was owned by a pro-choice doctor.
When he went to the next inn he discovered it was sold out because of the nationwide Shepherd’s Conference about Calvinism.
Finally he arrived at a makeshift shelter which gladly took the beaten man in. The manager’s name was Shane Clairborne who treated them both with love and compassion.
** Later, when the Samaritan’s church found out he had checked the man into Clairborne’s shelter, he was ex-communicated and reported to the ODM blog nation.
This can be true, of course. But this does not mean we cannot/should not participate in such efforts. Rick and Chad summed it up well in #39 and #40.
A mentor of mine is a leading evangelical in the Balkans – he’s Slovenian by ethnicity and Croatian by citizenship.
Immediately after the war his group started helping rebuild Muslim villages in Bosnia. Many had been devastated by Croats (Catholic) and Serbs (Orthodox). Of course, such distinctions are lost on the Bosniaks (Muslims). As one Muslim in Mostar said to me; “See that cross up there [pointing to a very large cross on a hill overlooking Mostar] that is where they placed their guns and shelled our children.
My mentor took relief materials into these villages and, being the neighbor like the Samaritan, started helping without strings, without expectation, without attending witnessing.
The Mayor of one village asked why. This opened the door for a conversation. In the conversation my mentor mentioned they had cases of Bibles in their storehouses as well. The Mayor invited, encouraged the group to distribute them along with the other supplies.
How much more effect is it to “clean the face of Jesus” first, instead of using life-saving supplies as a bait and switch tactic?
I hope to have the chance to witness this way some day.
58:
Rick.
You. are. AWESOME.
David Lingston studied medicine as well as theology, since he realized the massive physical needs of the Africans. He spent years mapping out a route into central Africa, and he was always arrainging food and medicine for those he loved.
Perhaps no one ever modeled the gospel meshed in word and deed than did Dr. Livingston. I firmly believe he would have gladly involved himself in this shoe endeavor. The difference between me and him is that after the shoes were given, he would have gone with the gospel to those people.
Some among us are just adept at a pitiful criticism of this humanitarian effort, and they pontificate about “only the gospel can change the world” and yet there they sit before a computer in an air conditioned environment while these shoeless sinners die without Christ.
To whom that “shoe fits” I say this, “Because you say “we see” your sin remains”.