The Attic

Martin Luther King Jr. was not the only person working toward equality for all during the civil rights movement. Let’s not have any misunderstandings about that. He also was passionate about a lot more than civil rights. But I think it is safe to say that he was an amazing man. He was a leader. His letter from the Birmingham Jail is convicting to read, and in a way prophetic. He had more courage than most of America put together.

He knew that he was just one man. But he still acted. He knew he couldn’t change the minds of every person in the world. He couldn’t make the world a better place for everyone. But he could do something. So he did. And look what it turned into. This could be said of many people throughout history…I just chose MLK because today we celebrate his life, and mourn the death of a great man.

So what do I take from his example? Do something. Whether it is giving a couple bucks to a charity, donating an hour or two at the food bank, or much much more…nothing I can do will ever change the world. But I could change the life of someone. What I have to offer, God will use.

There are so many children who desperately need help. Will you help one? I have folders for five children who need sponsors right now! Their lives have all been severely affected by the AIDS crisis. They all need hope and love and help to get out of poverty. They are children just like yours and mine. They like soccer and dolls and helping their parents with chores. Some of them go to school, and others cannot because they have too much responsibility at home or are too sick. They have friends and celebrations. They have favorite colors and foods. They smile and laugh and cry. They are precious.

When you think about how many children need help, it can be daunting. But if you help one child through sponsorship you have changed his or her life forever. You don’t need to change the world. Helping one child will make a difference.

Sponsorship is only $35 a month. Can you help a child? I can get you set up today! Email me at kmlsmith@gmail.com and you can get more information, or get started helping a child.

I am reminded of this story by Loren Eiseley that you may have heard before too:

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”

I’ve been pondering a lot lately: What is the Church?

If I did a poll, I’d probably get answers like: “A place you go to worship.” or “Something Christians do on Sundays.” The first definition in the dictionary tells me it is a “public building for Christian worship.”

I got to thinking about “What is the church?” because I was thinking about the unequal distribution of resources in our world. I was thinking about how God provided us with plenty of water, food and materials for shelter, clothing, etc. The reason there is poverty in our world is because we let it happen. We have too much while others have too little. We are stuffed with greed and lust for power while others are innocent victims trapped in the cycle of poverty. We let it happen.

I’ve been thinking about my responsibility to the rest of the world…and about the fact that if all Christians actually helped internationally and at home instead of blaming or fighting or ignoring then we could make such a huge difference in people’s lives. I’ve been thinking: what are the responsibilities of Christians in our world? Are we to just share the gospel (or worse yet…just keep it inside our own buildings….) or are we to act on the gospel? Are we to live out the gospel as Jesus did during his life on earth?

What is the church?

But I also realized that “What is the church” doesn’t even really make sense as a question. I mean, it does if you look at how our society views “church”….

A better question is: Who is the church?

Who is the church? The church is not Americans. It’s not rich people. It’s not the people who go to worship on Sundays. It’s not heterosexual people. It’s not people who can speak in tongues. The church…the body of Christ….is made up of all those who have made a place for Holy Spirit in their heart by acknowledging Jesus as savior. We are nothing without Him. And who did he minister to? Rich and poor alike. Sinners and outcasts along with the faithful. Children. Jesus’ church was anyone who was willing to listen….believe…repent….spread the good news.

What is the church? Where is the church? Who is the church?

The nice thing about a blog is that I can write whatever I want. I find it’s been so helpful for me to write as I process things I think about or learn about. Actually publishing it on a blog just helps me to stay accountable with actually taking time to write. It helps me hash out all the ideas in my head. So I don’t necessarily think I’m always right or wrong or that everyone should be changed by what I write. It’s just for me. But as always, I’m glad if anyone else finds enjoyment or enlightenment from my writing as well. Here’s what I’ve been thinking about in the last couple of days:

It’s the season of Epiphany. The season of light. God made manifest. The fulfillment of God’s promise to provide us with a savior.

I like hearing the stories of the wise men, of Jesus’ baptism, and the beginning of His ministry. It’s a season of hope, which will culminate with the resurrection.

Jesus did so much in his life on earth.

But what is expected of me?

I read yesterday from Matthew 7:

21 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven, 22 On that day many will say to me, “Lord,Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” 23 Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”

That is scary. Imagine being cast aside and called an evildoer. Especially after thinking I had done what was asked of me.

So what is expected of me?

Matthew 22: 36-39 – “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

I think it is interesting that Jesus puts these on equal footing. Loving my neighbor as myself is like loving my God. They are intertwined. In this day in age…I could probably say anyone in the world was my neighbor.

So where am I succeeding? Where am I failing? I’m not really expected to love everyone…right?….like what about the murders? What about those panhandlers that everyone just dismisses by saying, “Oh, they only want booze or drugs.” What about the people who have different political beliefs or the ones who reject my beliefs?

Jesus is pretty explicit. Love your neighbor. That includes everyone.

It’s so easy to become desensitized to the need in our world. It’s so easy to be turned off by sweeping statistics and by crisis after crisis. It’s so easy to think that someone else is more rich or more capable of helping orphans in Africa or homeless in my city. It’s so easy to say…I’ll help later…when I have more time…when I have more money…when my kids are grown….

But I’m not called to change the world. I’m just called to love my neighbor. And that includes offering whatever I have for God to use…be it small or large, be it money or passion or time volunteered….and I’m to offer it now. Moses only had a staff and stuttering speech and look what God did with those.

God claimed Jesus as his son at his baptism in the Jordan. In Jesus we also have a teacher…an example. I need to live my faith and show my faith in the way I interact with my neighbors.