28 CityLight.org
february 2012
There are numerous reasons for the stronger to
care for the weaker. Foundational to them all is
the issue of the kind of person the caregiver is
now and desires to become. This columnist main-
tains that the voluntary care of the person with
need is in great measure more profound and ben-
eficial than the government's intervention in the
life of that person. Because many individuals and
churches have lost or never found their way in the
mercy ministry that Jesus endorsed, the govern-
ment has stepped into the vacuum. How sad that
the church and many of us individually has ab-
dicated their role and accepted the less effective
involvement of the government.
There was a TV commercial extolling the idea
that each one has to look out for "numero uno"
because if you don't look out for yourself no one
will look out for you. This is a very sad commen-
tary on a philosophy of life that is bereft of trust
and much of human kindness.
Those of us who believe in God know that at least
we can trust in Him. His love and grace, his infi-
nite kindness and patience, his absolute wisdom,
and power give those of us of faith in Jesus Christ
a firm foundation upon we can build a life of car-
ing and self-effacing sacrifice. We have the Lord
looking out for us and pleading our cause.
Most often the Lord wants our hands and feet to be
his hands and feet in this world. After the 2nd World
War some young volunteers were working in Great
Britain to repair the extensive damage caused by Ger-
man bombs. One statue had them at an impasse. It
was one of Jesus Christ with his arms outstretched.
A bomb had blown off both hands and these young
people did not know how to replace them. They came
upon an ingenious solution. They had a plaque made
and attached to the image which said "Christ has no
hands in this world but your hands." This is indeed
what we Christians have learned from the Lord.
Here are a couple of supporting excerpts from the
Word of God. "Open your mouth for the speechless,
in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open
your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of
the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9) "Open your
mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are des-
titute." (Proverbs 31:8)
Many have literally become mute. They must have
someone speak for them. Part of our privilege and
responsibility is to become their voice. I have worked
as a Hospice Chaplain with voiceless folk. But one
can see implications regarding speaking for those
with no voice in much broader areas of life.
Because I am white and currently am consulting
in an almost entirely black church I at times find
myself unable to fully speak for myself. Converse-
ly the black Pastor, my friend, finds my voice to be
helpful to him in some of the contexts in which
we interact. There is the reality of cultural and
even racial differences that in some ways make us
mutually dependent.
Let us renew our efforts to speak kindly but dili-
gently and as necessary strongly in behalf of those
who cannot speak successfully for themselves. As
we work at these kindnesses we will be helpful
and can expect God in heaven to look down with
a smile and with strong encouragement in our ef-
forts for those who need us.
"But be doers of the word and not hearers only, de-
ceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the
word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks in-
tently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at
himself and goes away and at once forgets what he
was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law,
the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer
who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in
his doing." - James 1:22 25.
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J
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Founder/President
Jesus Every Day Ministries, Inc. | www.jedministries.com