August 13, 2004
Why my heart aches
The picture to the right is of a Sudanese boy at Bredjing refugee camp in eastern Chad, on July 26, 2004. (Photo: Desirey Minkoh/AFP-Getty Images)
I read this article this morning and it made me sad. I get so emotional when I think about the gross suffering in these sorts of situations due to systemic injustice. I think that what makes me the saddest is to realize that there is only so much that I can do to help and that this sort of suffering will continue in different forms until the return of Jesus. I can help relieve the suffering of some individuals but I can't end the injustice that causes suffering. I'm also sad because I know that there are so many Christians that choose to not to think about suffering and choose not to help. If you followed the link, did you click away from it because you didn't want to think about it? If you choose to spend money on yourself simply for your own pleasure you are allowing God's precious children like the boy at the top of this entry to suffer and possibly die. Can you justify that?
I'm crying as I write this because I feel so strongly for the victims of injustice and yet I know that I can't change your hearts. All the eloquent words in the world can't change you. Only God can. I long for a church that sees its calling to help the poor and oppressed. I long for friends that understand why Joel and I choose to spend as little money as absolutly possible. I long for friends that not only understand us on an intellectual level but who will walk with us down
this road.
Thankfully I can put my hope in Jesus. Here is a prophecy of Isaiah that Matthew attributes to Jesus that I find very encouraging.
"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or taise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In the law the islands will put their hope." Isa 42:1-4
Posted by rose at August 13, 2004 10:44 AM | TrackBack