Here is a recent post I really enjoyed reading from a guy named James. James did something potentially “crazy”. He decided to quit his job, sell everything he owned, and live in a van among the poorest of the poor in America’s cities and hidden places. Supported by a group of average people, doing small things, with great love, James spends his time sharing food with folks living on the streets and repairs their clothing with his trusty sewing kit. He knits hats for people who are cold and distributes donated clothing which helps people get jobs and stay toasty on cold nights. His perspective on what I think is a common phrase from our modern Christian language is insightful about the words “I am called to ______” or “He/She is called to ______”. Similar to a previous post on KTM by Jim titled “Jesus: Personal Savior?” about the phrase “Jesus as my personal Savior”, I think this post taken from James facebook page provides similar thought provoking challenge to words I have heard myself say.
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James Barnett: Why I’m Not Called to Homeless Folks
Wednesday at 5:21pm
People usually assume I am called to homeless people because of what I do. This, however, is not my calling- at least, no more than it is yours. I have come to see that one of the greatest travesties in Christian Fundamentalism is for one to assume that God has called them to a profession, a country, or a people group. A woman by the name of Tammy Hutchinson recently challenged my views on this. She stated that a Christian is called to Jesus and that everything else is simply context. So if Jesus spent time with those who mourn, you should too. If Jesus cared for the poor, you should too. If Jesus spent time with the sick, take some Airborne because you should too. In the twentieth chapter of Matthew, Jesus says our attitude should be like his. Had Jesus contexualized this, we would have ourselves a different story.
In the Gospel of Luke, a disciple asks Jesus who his “neighbor” is- in effect, who he is to love. As if to expose our myopic understanding, Jesus goes on to tell the story of the Good Samaritan.
There is a Jewish traveler who has been robbed and left for dead on the side of the road. First, a priest and a Levite walk by. The likely candidates ignore the man as if to ask themselves, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” Later, a Samaritan comes and by his good nature seems to ask a question diametrically opposed to that of the spiritual elite, “If I don’t stop and help this man, what will happen to him?” He then cares for the mangled traveler. This would have been an unlikely altruism considering the social aversion of Jews and Samaritans. But as Dr. Martin Luther King wrote in The Measure of a Man, “[The Samaritan] wasn’t great because he had ascended to certain heights of economic security, but because he was able to condescend to the depths of human need.” And like Jesus ditching a throne for a cross, the Samaritan traded his good for that of another.
You say you want to be like Jesus. Then sit at the feet of the poor. Touch the untouchables. Give a drink to someone who is thirsty and food to the hungry. Clothe with dignity those who wear depravity. Go, be like Jesus, and whomever you find yourself among will be to whom you are called.
James
http://twitter.com/JAMESBARNETTis http://clotheyourneighborasyourself.com/
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The words in James’ post are pointed, but no less pointed than Jesus first and second commands to us. Knowing God loved us before we existed, and has opened the way for us to choose and follow Christ even as we may daily battle our weak flesh. We can be encouraged by these pointed words to remember our primary calling to Jesus - our Lord, Master and source. Ephesians 2:8-10 8For it is by grace (we) have been saved, through faith—and this not from (ourselves), it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Hebrews 13:20-21
20May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
