... to minister to the impoverished.
When I used to teach philosophy, it was sometimes a challenge to help students see that the "impoverished," for lack of a better word, are often not equipped or able to take the steps necessary to empower themselves. It is not enough to say, "Why don't you get a job?" even assuming a person would be in a position to take one if it were available. The "impoverished" often would not know where to start to become empowered.
But it occurred to me today that I am the same way as far as equipping the impoverished. I want to see those in need helped. I want them to be able to support themselves and contribute to society. I want to see people lifted out of cycles of despair. I don't know where I would start to contribute to society myself in this way.
So I am impoverished in my own way, caught in a cycle of unhelpfulness.
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4 comments:
Ken,
We will always face despair if we look at every single problem in the world. Your pick was educaton. That is your choice, and value of ultimate concern. Therefore, you are helping the impoverished. Those that are uneducated and don't understand intellectually how to think, and understand that things are not always black and white...that is of value to society, don't you think?
At my church we are and have attempted to help the impoverished. Not only working with the many homeless in our city, the poor and those addicted to varioius substances. We offer different "skills" classes. i.e. parenting, job seeking, how to shop for food etc. We have even tried teaching partner finding skills for poor women. We will keep doing as much as we can, but I have found that the best way is to find a "impoverished" person and mentor him/her one or two at a time.
Yes, Ken this narrow minded conservative who would never vote for a Democrat probably makes more effort trying to help the impoverished than the average Democrat who feels good because he or she cares.
I am not surprised your church has this ministry Craig--and I'll take your real life ministry over my personal guilt over ineffectiveness any day.
Thanks for having the courage to name your own brokenness. Keep up the fight, brother.
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