MaustsOnToast

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Jesus for President Illustrated

July 31, 2008

6 minutes

What I took away most from the evening with Shane Claiborne (Jesus for President Afterthoughts) was that Christians should be the change that we oftentimes rely upon a secular government to achieve, especially when there’s a divine mandate in Scripture to not only do but be those things. I agree with this. And when taken in conjunction with Claiborne’s pointing out elsewhere (Irresistible Revolution) that we have distanced ourselves from the poor by erecting intermediaries between us and them, I think we have a strong case for actively living out the Scripture’s call for social justice personally, that is with our person. Me doing without intermediary. What he points out is that we oftentimes solely deposit monies in the offering plate and rely on the institution of church to fulfill Christian mandates to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for widows and orphans instead of actually, personally doing those things directly with our persons. The church and other organizations become a buffer between us and them and, in a way, personally and directly we don’t fulfill the mandate.

Illustration

An example presented itself this week. There’s a woman who can be seen walking around Wake Forest and in the parking lots of Southeastern asking for money or a ride. She goes by the name Mindy…or Rita. I’ve been approached by her numerous times as I live, work and study in Wake Forest. I’ve given her food before when see asked for money to buy food. I’ve not given her money, but this past week, she approached a classmate of mine who entered the parking lot up ahead of me asking for money. He declined, apologizing that he didn’t have any cash. After I was in my car, she hurriedly came up to the window asking for a ride to Food Lion. Since she’s approached me many times before I feel like we’re developing a bit of a relationship. So, I greet her and ask if she remembers my name. (I re-introduce myself every time and ask if she remembers me.) She always heartily nods that she remembers me with a sort of glazed, whatever-you-say kinda look. (I’m not quite sure she’s all there.) I declined giving her a ride this time, apologizing that I couldn’t because I had to get to work. (My summer class lets out at noon and I was supposed to be at work at noon.) Though I couldn’t give her a ride to Food Lion this week, I did last week.

So, same scenario but last week I was approached by her asking for a ride. I agreed. (I was late for work.) We met each other again for the first time on the 6 minute drive to Food Lion. On that ride, as with our other encounters, she was quick to show approval to anything I would say or ask, which several times didn’t fit the context of the “conversation” reinforcing my suspicion of a mental handicap. She concurred with the minute gospel message I shared with her saying, “Jesus is our savior.” I asked what she needed from Food Lion. She nodded approvingly. I asked if she was getting food and she interjected rapid-fire yes’s. I asked if she was buying drink or tobacco (I don’t run no no-fare direct flight to cheap smokes!) and after a few rapid-fire approving yes’s, no’s started coming out. Oh well. Anyways…

Next, with glee I asked her if she had heard about the new Wake Forest bus system that was free until the end of the year which just happened to have a stop downtown, by the seminary and at Food Lion. She hadn’t. The nascent bus system was only a few weeks old anyways. That was understandable. I dropped her off and that was it. She got a ride, gospel, and bus info.

Back to this week, after apologizing that I couldn’t offer a ride, I asked her if she had checked out the new bus system which was free. She said no. Curious. I reminded her that it was free and where the stops were. Off she went.

The Point

What does this have to do with Jesus for President? My tax dollars pay for the new bus service which is free until the end of the year. I pay for my car and gas. She can either get a ride with me (sometimes) or get a ride on the free bus service. Am I paying twice for her trip to Food Lion by giving her a ride in my car when she could take the bus which is free, but supported by tax dollars? Can I rely on the bus as an intermediary to give Mindy/Rita a ride? Am I still fulfilling my social dues as a Christian by not giving her a ride but reminding her to catch the free bus? Or, is it wrong to rely on the bus (my government) to do what I should do? Can I respectfully decline giving her a ride and still feel like I’m helping her by mentioning the free bus?

I feel like I can, not because I can’t be bothered to give her a ride (which some days I don’t mind), but because I’ve honestly got to get to work and there is a free bus service. This may sound harsh but I’m going to print out a brochure from the bus’s web site and keep it with me and give it to her the next time she approaches me for a ride.

Conclusion

So while I feel like Christians should deal as much as possible directly with social justice issues (…at what point does someone not having a car become a social issue? We had one car for the longest time and when my wife had the car, I walked. I didn’t think of myself as a social problem which others were indebted to fix…), there are oftentimes good means set up to assist people of which they should take advantage. In conclusion, I feel like I have done both in this situation: (1) helped directly and (2) encouraged societal/governmental help.

Respond

Is it immoral to decline a ride, but hand out a bus brochure? Is it safe to rely on the bus to fulfill what might be my duty? Is it good to encourage society (the government’s bus) to deal with social “problems” by having her ride the bus? Am I loving her appropriately hereby? Did anyone actually read all one thousand eighty-three words of this?

5 responses to “Jesus for President Illustrated”

Mark

August 1, 2008

Your duty is to love her (Romans 13:8-10). That’s about it.

We cannot do everything for everybody at all times, but we can acknowledge the existence of the poor, learn their names, pray for them, and anything else that God tells us to do. What you do for the least of these is what you do for Christ. Keep up the good work!

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Drew

August 1, 2008

Mark, thank you for mentioning this Scripture. I love the thought of the Spirit working in us to fulfill the law by way of love even though this is a course that Christ has run perfectly for us, ahead of us. Amazing. May we love.

Also, simply acknowledging the poor as you say is tremendous (thanks for this thought as well). I oftentimes see her lurking in the parking lot and feel like I want to be invisible. But this is contrary to letting my light shine and the feeling must be fought for love and Christ’s sake. Perhaps greeting her, interacting, and treating her like a person is more valuable than giving her a ride and disregarding her person all along the way. In this instance it is unfortunate that she is apparently mentally handicapped and not very personable, but everyone responds to kindness and love, yeh? All the more cause to love her.

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Jen

November 21, 2008

Obviously, considering that it is almost Thanksgiving, my comment to your posting in July is quite delayed. However, I found this particular blog thought provoking. At what point, if any, does practical demonstration of Christ’ love for others become their crutch? The age old principle of “give a man a fish, feed him for a day, but teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime” makes good, common sense, but is it in line with Jesus’ teachings and call to love? I have no answer.. but I wonder, so many months after you posted this, to your knowledge has the woman yet taken the bus? If not, I wonder what is keeping her from doing so..

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Drew

November 21, 2008

Jen, the questions you raise on love and on acting out Christ’s love are as timely as love and Christ himself. 2000 years after his ascension we’re still talking about him; surely then we can talk about this post only a couple months later. =)

You’re right: we must beware lest tradition with its adages trump Scripture or so interlard our understanding of Scripture that we can so longer tell the difference. Therefore wisdom must be involved at all times when we deal with people, especially those to whom we are desirous to demonstrate Christ’s love and ultimately see won over to his kingdom. Jesus words in Matthew 10:16 speak to this: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Is it accurate to call her a “wolf” though she is apparently mentally unstable and quite needy? In some sense, yes, because like a wolf, people will resort to being remarkably cunning to get what they need. They (may) think: If a Christian can be taken advantage of, then so be it. Her perceived needs are her highest priorities (e.g., getting to the grocery store).

In other words, we must be wise. A cultural adage such as always teaching a man to fish will not always be applicable or seem appropriate, therefore it is best to be wise. Surely a man needs fish (i.e., to eat) while he is still learning to fish. Wisdom may lead to giving fish or teaching to fish or both.

I’m not so much concerned about being taken advantage of (e.g., giving someone a ride) if I may in that moment also be fairly allowed the opportunity to share my motivation and great Savior. Indeed sharing the gospel is in a way being taken advantage of: I know the Savior, I share with someone for the joy of introducing a sinner to the Sinner’s Friend. Take advantage of me in this regard always! For I gladly give. However, to refuse to be taught or refuse to listen or help oneself is not encouraging.

I hope she has taken advantage of the bus service provided free of charge. I would hope she has caught on. Many things may be preventing her though.

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Jen

November 22, 2008

Drew, I absolutely love the apparent self abandon that I hear through your message – be used, even taken advantage of, for even the chance of bringing glory to God. Amazing!

Philippians 2:3 came to mind while reading about the woman’s perceived needs and the necessity of a wise response – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves”. May that, coupled with love, be our guide as we navigate the world full of wolves!

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