tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635069.post112693857579962226..comments2023-10-26T08:06:45.957-05:00Comments on A Thing with Feathers: Can we afford silence on poverty?Cionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13035368818717712542noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635069.post-1127923378841881342005-09-28T11:02:00.000-05:002005-09-28T11:02:00.000-05:00I heard a man from South Africa speak about how ch...I heard a man from South Africa speak about how church people addressed the government to ask for systems of justice to be in place to reduce the violence in their country. After many conversations, the government came up with plans. But violence did not go down.<BR/><BR/>The church leaders went back to the government complaining. This time the government said, "Our job is to change laws. We have done that. Your job is to change hearts. What are you doing?"<BR/><BR/>Too often the church in the U.S. (and obviously in other parts of the world, as wel) does shirk the responsibility onto the government. We're fighting for laws and programs instead of really impacting the lives of our congregations and the unchurched world around us. We let welfare do its job and hope people survive.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I know too many church people that fight against these programs. Not only are they not doing the job as the church, but they are also saying, "People need to work for their success instead of relying on social programs. The government has no right spending our tax money trying to help these people who aren't helping themselves." <BR/><BR/>The truth is that church and society are going to have to both work. When we both ask each other "What are you doing?" we get a lot farther. The government must uphold the laws and some of the programs that are in place for justice. The church can help by facilitating systemic changes in how our nation runs.<BR/><BR/>We need change in our churches, as well. We must change our view of what it means to be disciples. We are disciples doing God's work in the world, getting our hands and feet dirty. But we, all too often, come out as pristine Christians. Why not get a little dirty and a little radical to really eradicate this sin of poverty?Cionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13035368818717712542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635069.post-1127312441769776202005-09-21T09:20:00.000-05:002005-09-21T09:20:00.000-05:00Right . . . the photograph is a shot of a pole in ...Right . . . the photograph is a shot of a pole in South Africa with the distance to several different countries. It comes across clearer in print than online. But just using it to symbolize many areas of the world . . .<BR/><BR/>:)Cionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13035368818717712542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635069.post-1127167199769178102005-09-19T16:59:00.000-05:002005-09-19T16:59:00.000-05:00the church, we, cannot afford to allow them the po...the church, we, cannot afford to allow them the poor to remain nameless.<BR/><BR/>ps: i don't get the picture..gavin richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089190477657027849noreply@blogger.com