I would just like to say that the purpose of me putting out this blog is in the hopes that the readers will take a look at themselves and try to make themselves more available to others who might be going through some of these things. This particular blog is not directed towards anyone, and I am the first to admit that I myself have failed in the area that this blog addresses. It is my sincere hope that the people reading this who claim that they are Christians will not feel bad or even angry, but it is my hope that they will read this and become even more open to listening and helping others. Once again, I am not calling anyone out or trying to anger anyone, I am saying my own faults in this matter.
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
a. leave the person alone,
b. stay away from them,
c. take a hands off approach,
d. shun them,
e. act as if they have done something wrong (even when they haven't),
f. think that they deserve what they are going through ,
g. or even to just drop them from your friend list(I'm not talking MySpace, I'm talking acting as if they are no longer a friend).
As Christians we say :
a. I'll pray for you (I am not against this,I support this, but surely we can do more for a person than remember them when talking to God. How about we pray for them AND do something else).
b. Call me (This is the most common line that I hear. As Christians or even as decent human beings, we should take the initiative to reach out to someone we know is in pain. Think about it, when would someone in pain finally call? When they feel they can't take it anymore. If you don't matter to a person enough to call them, than why should they call you?).
c. Let me know if there is anything I can do (People are not normally going to ask for something, so how about YOU/WE keep calling that person and SEE if there is anything that can be done. Being available is sometimes the best thing a friend can do.)
With mush shame, I must admit that I myself am one of the people who has failed this wonderful person. I have talked to her (when I have seen her) and I have called (2 or 3 times over the year and all of that was before/during the summer), but besides that, I myself have not reached out to "minister" to another person who claims they are a Christian when in reality I should have. Not only have I not ministered to this wonderful person, I have not even been a very good friend to her. As a Christian I have failed.
Sure I have had "reasons" not to reach out. I myself have had issues over the year, but that is no excuse to not even being a good friend to another person who was in need. The fact is that I should have been much more proactive than I have been. The trap that "church people" or even true Christians fall into is that we become Fair weather Friends. We are only there for each other as long as things are going great for you but if you have something that could bring us down/make us think less of you (such as a dissolving marriage, loss of a job, financial problems - all of which we coincidentally use to judge someone as a success) than we will not be there for you. True Christians (myself included) need to make more time for others.
As this is the Christmas season, why not reach out to someone in pain (and statistics show that everyone knows someone in pain) and earn the title of being called a friend.
I once had a class in bible college in which the professor continuously stated that we should always be available for those who need us. How can we be a minister if we are not ministering?
The place where your hearts most authentic desire calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.
If every one's feeling it, but no one is seeing it, than how are they supposed to know it's real?
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 1st Peter 4:10
7 comments:
Chris, This is your best blog yet! I totally agree with you about reaching out to people in need. You know yourself that my year has been a bust but I have been trying to reach out to friends in need. Christmas is a hard time for a lot of people and I know this because it is hard for me. This year I made a pact with myself and God that I was going to help anyone I can even if it is just a kind word or a phone call to cheer someone up. Thank you so much for being my friend, and for being the kind hearted man you are.
Thank you Sharon for your kind words. You have been a great friend and I am glad that I have been able to call you a friend and that I have been able to talk to you during certain times. I hope that I have been a help. Keep up the great work you are doing and keep being the great friend to others.
chris g.
Pastor Chris, You have always helped me when I needed it. You just have a way with people and I am honored to know you and Katie and call you my friends. You both are very special to me and you always will be. I am just hoping and praying that 2009 will be a better year for us all! Much love and respect to you and Katie!! Sharon
I really enjoyed reading your recent blog, Chris. I would be lying if I didn't feel guilty myself for not being more supportive towards peope around me especially my family. In alot of ways you had excellent points on how to help people around u especially when they really need it and may not come out and say it.
I also feel the need to say something in particular that bothered me about your blog. In alot of ways you keep stating the Christian thing to do when refering to positive things. What bothers me about that is that I see those positive things as the right, good and humane things to do regardless if you are or not CHristian.
For example, last night on the way home I stopped by the gas station and a girl at the pump next to me ask me to come over. I came over and she was in tears about having no gas and her boyfriend left the car and he had the money and she was going to her family's for Christmas and ask for any money. SHe also had a baby in the back seat. I asked how much she needed to get to her family's house who lived out of town and she said 18.00. I gave her 20.00 and told her she had a pretty baby and walkd off. SHe called after and said thank u and god bless me. I said no problem and smiled and left but it annoyed me that she said god bless me.
I am atheist to be honest and have nothing but respect for religion. In my opinion if believing in God, being CHristian, Muslim, or whatever religion makes u happy or a better person then that is great. It annoys me and also hypocritical when an atheist looks down on seomeone because they believe in a higher power just as if someone who is religious does the same thing to someone who doesn't share their same beliefs.
WHen that girl I helped with gas money said God Bless Me what bothered me a little is that I did it because I am a nice person not because of my religious beliefs. I'm not rich and actually very poor and could of used that 20.00 but u know what she needed it heck of lot more than I did.
What you personally believe in doesn't translate if you are a good person or how u treat others especially people around u that really need your help. I really enjoyed your points and agree that it is your actions on what u do or can do to help out people especially people who need it and people u care about.
And that is the point I would like to make and reinforce. It is not about it being a Christian way of helping others or reaching out to others. It is about u taking action as an individual to help out or reach to those who need it regardless of what u believe.
I hope this blog does not offend others especially those who are religious. If u believe it is your religious beliefs why u help out others than great as long as u are a good person than that is all that matters. I chose to believe that it is your actions regardless of what u believe religiously on what u can do to help out those in need and hope that u can respect my beliefs on the matter just like I respect yours.
Merry CHristmas everyone and I love u bro :)
BBunch
Dear BBunch,
Thank you so much for your great post. You had a lot of great points. I have just a few things to say and once again, I thank you for what you have said.
1st - The only thing that I think that I disagree with you on is where you bring up how I keep talking about "the Christian thing to do". The reason that I am saying this is because most of my readers claim to be Christians and at times I am addressing the things that I think that me and my fellow Christians need to improve on. I am sorry that I might have given you a different impression, but sometimes I get disappointed in how I see myself and other Christians behave. This blog is addressed to those people (mostly Christians) who I hope would like to grow as people (and Christians).
2nd - The reason that the woman said "God bless you" to you was not necessarily because of what she believes in herself, but I think she said that because it is what she thought you believed in. Statistics have shown time and time again that Christians in America donate more money than anybody else in the United States. She just assumed that you were a Christian and she was trying to thank you in the best way she could think of. The best form of flattery is mimicry.
3rd - Even though you say you are an Atheist, I want you to know that I love and care for you, and if there is ever a way that I can do something for you, than please let me know. I really do not have much, but I want you to know that I offer you what I do have. Please do not think that all Christians despise or hate atheist. A true Christian loves everyone, regardless of their religion or any other differences.
4th - Great point about how the things that I am stating are not just things that Christians should do, but also things that anyone should do if they want to be a good person. The sad thing is that more and more people in the world just don't seem to care about being positive or about doing right; people seem more concerned about doing what they want. Selfishness is our #1 epidemic.
5th - Another great point you have is about taking action to reach out to people. The word "love" is a verb, not a feeling. If you say you love someone then it will show by how you treat them, not by what you say.
chris g.
Chris,
Galatians 6:2 says, "Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
This verse implies a few things:
1) Al Christians have burdens to bear.
2) We can't bear them alone.
3) Part of keeping the law of Christ (loving God, loving our neighbor) is to do exactly what you blogged about: helping hurting people.
Good work!
(The sermon outline was free of charge).
BBunch,
I'd like to say you seem to have a wonderful attitude, and I bet you are a good person even though you are not a Christian.
I'm curious about why you feel that you have to be good, and how you define good without God.
Merry Christmas, BBunch, I'm glad you're reading Chris's blog and participating.
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