Now don't go getting all scared and leave me because I said "church" (I'm looking at you Rachie). I'm not here to preach at you or try to usher you into heaven. That's not my style.As ya'll know, Sassy and I (and our six siblings) grew up in a bona-fide cult. Yes, we most certainly did.
When we went to church, we heard sermons that told us not to eat unclean meat, not to socialize with unbelievers (and you were an unbeliever by virtue of not attending our particular church.), not to do anything from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset and to set aside 20% of our gross income for the church. Except for every third year, when we had the privilege to give them 30% of our income.
What we didn't hear was how to love, how to serve and how to live in a way that helped our fellow human beings. We didn't get "churched".
Christian service by the cult standards was basically supporting our own flock. Certainly not helping the poor and needy. We might give them a free magazine, but we weren't going to feed them a hot meal and talk to them about their problems. No siree. They were sinners.
We didn't learn the true meaning of being Christian. We didn't learn that we are here to help people. To love them. I don't care if you sit in a pew every Sunday and take your kids to Bible school. What are you doing to make a difference in our world?Are you just Talking the Talk, or actually Walking the Walk?
I have been completely changed by fol
lowing the bloggers on the Compassion International trip to Uganda. These children need us to help them. And we can. For only $32 each month we will change the life of a child by giving him or her healthcare, education, clothing and hope. (The really cool thing is that 80% of the money we donate goes directly to that child's care and education.)
Please read these posts here and here and then go visit the rest of the bloggers here ,and think about what you can do to help.
Amen? Now that is church. (You still here Rachieroo?)
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15 comments:
Just to clarify, we gave 10% of our income as tithe to the church as the bible instructs, another 10% of our income we saved to attend the annual feastival, which by the way we could travel pretty much anywhere in the world where there was a feast site. The other tithe, known as third tithe, was given every third and sixth year in a seven year cycle and went to helping the widows and poor in our congregations throughout the world. Sounds like church to me.
I need to start volunteering. I just found this blog and I really like her concept.
http://payitforward1.blogspot.com/
Sister Sunshine, sure part of the money we gave did go to help people in our church.
My point is, what are we doing now? Are we talking about making a difference, or are we actually making a difference.
I couldn't agree with you more. Church should always be about helping people no matter who they are or what they believe. Love your neighbor as you love yourself!
I pay 10% tithing of my gross income to my Church. I am curious if Catholics require/suggest tithing and if you pay it.
Catholics are encouraged to give a portion of time, talent, and treasure just as other churches do. Our pastor has never mentioned 10%, at any church I've ever attended. So, I suppose we don't use the "magic" number.
Lovely post - we support a couple kids through World Vision and it is such a small amount of money for the benefit they derive. :)
Amen sister! I feel the same way. We should learn in church to be selfless, loving people. I know I could do better in the whole "selfless" area. I always worry about the fate of my own family, and yet, we are so blessed compared to some. Thanks for sharing!
I love this--such a wonderful reminder of the true meaning of Christian charity. There are so many people in need and we are so privileged. Thanks for this post, HB!
Great post!
I'll check out those blogs pronto.
(And no, you didn't scare me with "church", lol.)
Thanks so much for reminding us of that charity begins at hope. Most of the world's major religions have caring for your fellow human as a plank in their dogmatic platforms -- it is just too bad that so many forget that our "neighbors" are anyone who needs help, not just the ones that look like we do, or believe what we believe.
So, Amen Sister!
Andrea
chockfullonuts.blogger.com
Great post...after following the bloggers this week, I was moved to sponsor my own child through Compassion. $32 bucks a month is nothing compared to what I've been reading that it can do for these children.
Excellent post. Why were we created? I believe that God desires His praise and his Glory. The creation was created for the creator, not for ourselves. We forget that the afterlife is more important that this life. We are just preparing for that day. While we are here, we are instructed to do certain things out of our Love for God. How can we not help others when we see what God has done for us. We tithe(which means a tenth) but we give offerings. I do not being legalistic so because we have the priesthood of the believer, and are free to commune with and talk to God through Christ, I am confident that we can listen to what HE has to say about it. Sorry so long.
I remember a story of someone from the US going to Africa and talking to people there. When describing his house he talked of his garage and they people there had no idea what a garage was. Essentially, he explained, that a garage is a house for your car. WHAT? A house for your car? What the F***? Ya, many people in this world don't have a place to sleep at night, and we have shelters for our cars. Puts things into perspective, at least for me.
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