real religion

Religion that God our Father acepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress

and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. ~ James 1:27

In recent months, I've become very aware of a mandate given to Christians in the Word. It's something that those who don't claim to follow Christ (and other variations between them and Christians) seemed to think they have the edge on us as believers just a little. "They" have lots of programs to cover the bases in this area, generally involving the government and large sums of money in various forms. It bothered me a little, well, quite a bunch, because it's been on my mind.

It started when our neighbors adopted five kids from two continents to their family. This James 1:27 verse came up a lot in our Bible study that included them. I started to notice how many times God talks about caring for orphans, widows, the poor.

Several months ago, we heard Rick Warren speak about the subject of taking care of those in need: orphans, widows, the unfortunate. The church, he reminded his listeners, is the best source for taking care of others - there are many churches, in the U.S. and worldwide; there are many people involved in churches and everyone has something to offer as far as help.

Then in Sunday School. our neighbors who also go to our church have been leading a small series on a workshop they attended in Florida on orphan ministry. This morning, James 1:27 came up again and I noticed the second half of that verse in a new light: "and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Jodi, our neighbor, nailed what I've been mulling in my mind for a long time when she noted that we, as Christians, are to be offering them what they need, but also offering them the Gospel. Otherwise, she said, what's really the point? Jodi said it this way: "We are to offer them a cup of cold water to drink but also the Living Water."

Here we are blind as bats: the Bible has been written for at least two thousand years defining a real Christian: look after people who need help but don't lose your focus on who it's all about - the Saviour. I am frequently mildly and wildly frustrated with my children: 4 and 2 years of age who can't seem to think beyond their own comforts. How must our God think of us. He hasn't chosen to use angels to get His work done on earth, He picked us. We seem to be either standing around waiting for somebody more experienced or with more money to help those people or we get involved in a cause but ditch Him, the real reason behind our work.

What if we partnered with the county social services, not for their money, because we've got more resources than they could imagine, but to be willing to take in foster kids, teenage moms, divorced moms and dads? Several churches in the U.S. have already done this.

What if social services didn't need so many on their staff because us church people were taking care of people with needs AND serving them a cup of Living Water at the same time?

Now I see quite clearly, it's been there all along. Social programs can ONLY offer money to fix social ills and maybe some good advice sterilized of any mention of Jesus. But we have a Heavenly Father, who not only owns the cattle on a thousands hills (all the resouces and money) but who created each of us with a purpose and place in history and sent His Son to live and to die and to live again to redeem all those ills, all that wasted time, all those broken hearts and minds.

It's all in the perspective: once I realize that He's calling me, He's calling all Christians to be willing, to get it straight He is the answer, He provides all the resources.