While on the subject of evaluating the messages being preaching amongst
the Christian church, I cannot help by mention and critique a prevalent
thought making its rounds through Christian media and print. It seems
that everywhere you go you hear words such as "compassion," "justice,"
and the like. Sadly, the reasoning behind this movement is not as pure
or as biblical as they are currently being communicated.
Quite simply, being poor and needy does inherently make you closer to
God or more valuable in His sight. We must not allow the hidden message
of the “Social Justice” to prevail that somehow God always sides with
the poor (See also “Liberation Theology”). Yes, God does command a love
and justice towards the poor, but this is not favoritism, it is mercy.
We are directed to care for the poor and needy because this is the
posture of God towards all humanity. Every one of us is spiritually
depraved and incapable of saving ourselves; we need the mercy of
another. By caring for the hurting, we demonstrate the mercy of God
towards humanity and encourage an attitude of gratitude inside of us
towards God.
Please care for the sick and poor, but do not equate
their suffering with inherent righteousness. The only reason why the
poor were more quickly to receive the message and ministry of God was
that they KNEW they needed help. It was not because they were poor or
sick. The religious, on the other hand, largely ignored the Gospel and
suffered rebuke, not because they may have been wealthy or middle-class,
but solely because they felt that they were either entitled to God’s
favor or did not need His assistance.
We are all poor, and we are all called to model the ministry of God. No one is better, or more inclined, to the favor of God.
