I wrote this essay for my writing class today:
Christianity is the largest religion in the United States with 246,780,000 claiming to be from a Christian denomination. Currently, there are 643,067 homeless people on any given night in the United States as well. With so many claiming to be part of a faith where Christ himself commands believers to love the “least of these,” why is there such a disconnect between what Christ commands and what is actually being done? The Bible clearly states the believers’ duty among the poor and needy, so much so, that Christians are without excuse for their lack of convictions and wanting to help.
As a Christian, I, myself, have seen first-hand the great responses many Christians have towards the homeless. Their hearts lie in working with and ministering to them. I have worked beside fellow believers collecting clothes for a clothing drive and I have seen great organizations that have been put in place to help the underprivileged. But this isn’t enough. While many want to help, there are far more who are pleased with their comfortable lifestyles, unwilling to go out of their comfort zone and get a little dirty. They seem to have forgotten that Christ himself claims in Matthew 8:20, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head.” Christ came to minister to the world and didn’t have so much as a futon or blow up mattress. He also traveled many miles through the desert without arch supporting sneakers.
Christ says in Luke 10:27 that the second greatest commandment, after loving the LORD with all your heart, is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Many people take this verse to mean that you need to be kind to everyone, but the job goes well beyond that. To truly love someone, more responsibility is needed and required than just being nice to someone. Followers of Christ are called to defend and care for their neighbors. In Psalm 82:3, the believer is told to “defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Furthermore, in Leviticus the LORD spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai and gave many different laws that the Israelites were to follow. Among these, the LORD commanded in Leviticus 25:35, “If any of your fellow [neighbors] become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you.” The LORD doesn’t just suggest helping your neighbor, he commands it.
Throughout the Bible, the LORD states that rewards will be given in heaven to the righteous ones who lend care to the poor. God offers incentives to do the work individuals all around the globe should already be doing for their fellow human beings.
Proverbs 19:17 states that “whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” In Luke 14:13-14 Christ tells his followers to invite the needy to their social events: “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Christ interacted with countless numbers of people who were poor, needy, and outcasts in their own cities. He wasn’t concerned with how foolish he looked dining with and serving the lowest in society. He wanted to connect with them on a more personal level. Christ wants his followers to relate with the needy the same way he did. Inviting the homeless to dinner may seem drastic and unsettling, but Christianity isn’t about being comfortable; it’s about serving. Christ wants his followers to dine with the lowest of people to create a more personal relationship that might otherwise not occur by simply handing the man sitting by the gutter a few quarters.
God is described as the God of the weak and needy many times throughout scripture. Isaiah 41:17 states “the poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.” Later, Luke 6:20-21 says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” And finally, in James 2:5, James writes that God chose those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised. Looking through these verses, it is apparent that God cares for and loves the poor. As His disciples, it is among the Christians’ responsibilities to have that same love and care for the poor as God does, to look after the least of these.
The Bible clearly states that it is within every Christian’s responsibility to help the weak and needy. While there are many people who are intently involved in helping the homeless, so many of the needy still remain without hope. If every Christian were following the Bible and doing their moral obligation to help the poor, homelessness wouldn’t be an issue. Currently there are about 384 self-professed Christians for each homeless person in the United States. Why then are there those without a meal tonight? Why are there women crouching in the musty corners outside of abandoned buildings? Why are there men suffering from addictions with no one there to help them? There is no excuse except the unwillingness to step back from one’s own luxuries and see the need that is surrounding them. Everyone is guilty to some degree. It’s easy to get caught up in work and school, to simply forget that there are people whose suffering is greater than putting up with an awful boss or a challenging teacher. Christians need to take a step back from their busy lives and look at what the LORD instructs his followers to do for the homeless and needy. To love, to clothe, to feed, to serve, to invest in them on a personal level: this is what the LORD commands.
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