March 12, 2009
Homeless
Tuesday night was our turn to be down in
the inner city at the local men's shelter. In our area there are many without a
place to stay and the shelters are filled to overflowing. There simply are not
enough beds for those in need. It is not just the "poor" or the "down and out"
in need of a place to stay. There are plenty of people who are employed part
time or full time and simply cannot afford the rents around here.
They live in their vehicles. They stay
with friends. They crash any place they can find safety, which brings me back to
the shelter.
Tuesday was no exception, the shelter
was filled to capacity and many were wandering the streets. Outside the shelter
doors though was a small community of men. They had banded together and were all
sleeping together covered by a plastic tarp. The tarp would keep the weather off
and the number of bodies in the small area allowed for shared body heat, keeping
each individual warmer than if they had been on their own.
It was a community, sharing what little
it had for the benefit of all its’ members. It was a touching scene. I'm under
no illusions that it is an functional community, nor would I like to be in a
situation where that is my only safe place to sleep, but I thought that the
church could learn something.
I felt a little shame as I thought of
those men under the tarp because they were a community that cared about one
another, even if they are dysfunctional and the grouping might only last the
night.
I live in a suburban community and
unpleasant things like homelessness are well buried.
I read a survey that said some
Christians go to worship to feel good and have their family's needs met and
something like 85% of church goers believed the church existed to meet their
needs. How sad. How far from the early church.
Acts
2:42-47 NET
They were
devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and to prayer. Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and
miraculous signs came about by the apostles. All who believed were together and
held everything in common, and they began selling their property and possessions
and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need. Every day they
continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking
bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts,
praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding
to their number every day those who were being saved.
The early church was a true community
committed to serving one another and to serving the Lord. Much of that focus is
gone from many churches.
What power the church would have if we
could recapture those ideals. Imagine a community of people who truly loved one
another and cared for those within and outside their midst. That is such a
radical departure from our self-centered materialistic world that it would
boggle the minds of people. Yet, I know they would be drawn to it because our
world is searching for true community, acceptance and love. In the midst of that
community they would encounter the risen Lord and be saved.
The early church could not be stopped.
They thrived under the most adverse conditions because they loved the Lord with
all their heart, mind and soul and loved their neighbor. Maybe we can seek to
find our way back to that place.
Remember every small thing done in the
name of the Lord reaps eternal benefits. It is easy to say, “Why bother or who
cares”, but Jesus could have said the same thing and continued on and then where
would you be?
So is your Christianity just one of your
convenience and your little world and what can be done for you?
Until next time, may you find true
Christian community in the heart of giving, distributing and sharing!
Darrel Mason