Helping People...Not

Wednesday, February 29, 2012Helping People....Not
I am in a new Christian chat room. This one is the best I've been in since I started the Christian chat routine in 1996. Christian chat rooms are very interesting because you can really gage where the mainstream Christian is in their life and in thier faith. It is apparent fairly soon that Christians know the right answer, but they cannot seem to get it to work. Last night a girl was in the room and she said she was fed up with Christians because she needs a lot of help (she is unemployed and single) but she never received an ounce of aide form Christians or churches. She said she was tired of battling alone. In Third World countries Christians would never say what we heard from the other "roomies." They would have said what I said (which, by the way, didn't go over so well). And what is that? The problem may not be with this young woman but with churches that refuse to organize into community. It's the American obsession with individuality. Thankfully, many evangelical leaders have been writing and talking about this situation recently. Also,many churches are starting small home groups where people can really get to know each other. But the "advice" in the room I heard last night was the same advice given 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 40 years ago and so forth. It never seems to change. It's alwyas about, "why don't you help others," "maybe you can get a job here or there or here," and of course our all-time favorite, "the Bible says." I told her she needed to hear God and what He was saying in her situation. I also told her to ask God for the Scripture or Scriptures He wanted for you to get her through this. I gave an example as to how this got me through some terrible times. Well, one roomie went ballistic that I would suggest Chuirstians could hear God. You would think I murdered somebody. I was arrogant according to her. I tried nicely to say I wasn't saying I only heard God but it didn't help. Of course she had no advice for our suffering roomie. Then the roomie with serious health problems told her to be positive. Well, with all due respect to the sick roomie, that won't help this girl. I could tell this one was like me and I kept telling her I understood. My point is this: we have not come any further in helping people than when I became a Christian almost 49 years ago. Meanwhile, our Third World Christian brothers and sisters are trying to hear God for those who are sufering and actually believing the Bible in how to help. Maybe we should all move to Africa or India or Southeast Asia. Then maybe our problems would be more resolved. Do ya think?
Posted by Diane R at 10:53 AM