어이, 나는 그 가난한 사람들을 역시 걱정한다!

나는 영세민에게 무관심의 고소에 피로하다. 프린지 사람과 급진파는 (여기에서 독자 같이) 보통 저에게 어려움을 준다. 확실히, 나는 강포하게 성공한다. 확실히, 나는 $140벌의 바지를 착용한다. 그렇습니다, 나는 Audi 및 또는 나의 아내의 Lexus SUV를 몬다. 그러나 나가 빈곤을 걱정하지 않는다는 것을 다만 나가 이기 때문에 교외 megachurch의 풍족한 주임 목사는 의미하지 않는다. 나는 그 가난한 사람들을 역시 걱정한다!

매주마다, 나는 그들이 예수를 따르는 것을 의미하는 무슨이라고 이해할 것을 도울 것을 저에게 보는 얼굴의 전면 수천을… 본다. 우리는 모두 예수가 가난한 사람들을 걱정했다는 것을 알고 있다. 그리고 나의 자신의 방법으로, 나의 자신의 교외 문맥에서, 나는 영세민에게 너무 내각이 있다.

어이, 어쩌면 그것은 것은 모두 그 외에 그것 이 당신 사람 한, 너희 중 몇이 도시 인근에 있는 영세민 중 당신에게 뜰을 만들기 살도록, 거리 떨어져에 있는 사람들을 시키는 항의 작동해, 또는. 그러나 나머지 우리는 영세민을 걱정의 실제, 주류 방법을 찾고 있다. 10의 것은 I 여기에서 이다, 또는 나 교회는 작년에서 빈곤을 완화하는 것을 돕기 위하여, 했다:

1. 고자세 스피커 및 또는 음악가를 의식을 올리는 것을 돕기 위하여 초대하십시오. 지난 주 우리는 교회 특색짓기에 거대한 젊음 연주회가 있었다 Derek Webb. 저 녀석은 빈곤 같이 것을 위해 전부 대략 caring 이다. 지난 해에 우리는 게스트 스피커가에서 있었다 세계를 위한 빵 그리고 사회적인 행동을 위한 Evangelicals. 우리는 있었다 조차 Shane Claiborne 오는 특별한 젊음에 말하거든 젊은 성인은 작년에 재편성한다. Sure, these sorts of events are expensive. But you can’t put a price tag on awareness.
2. Promote the One Campaign. In the southwest corner of our lobby (by the E parking lot), we have an information kiosk where people can learn more about the One Campaign. And every quarter, we include a blurb about the One Campaign in our projection announcements.
3. Give some of your church budget to global poverty. We set aside 1% of our multi-million dollar budget for World Relief. That ends up being a lot of money. And when we spent $19 million on building expansion last year, we put $190,000 towards organizations like Compassion International and Bread for the World. At our church, we have particular concern for foreign poor people.
4. Do a sermon series. Last year, I did a sermon series called “Poor People of the Bible.” Each sermon began with a hilarious little skit featuring different poor Bible characters. At the end of each sermon, I offered practical steps for faithful living. Sometimes it was a hard task…especially with the teachings of Jesus. Jesus overstates things a lot and it takes serious translation work to help it apply to my congregation.
5. Serve the poor. Since there aren’t any poor people in our suburb, we have built partnerships with urban soup kitchens and shelters. My small group, for example, helps serve breakfast to the homeless every month. It makes my heart feel warm to help out. Afterwards, as a reward, we treat ourselves to a swanky brunch at our favorite restaurant.
6. Buy Fair Trade. Most people are poor because of bad choices. But some people are poor because they can’t get a decent wage. That is why it makes sense to buy Fair Trade goods on occasion. For example, whenever I order a double mocha at Starbucks, I make sure that they use Fair Trade Coffee. My wife could spend hundreds on new purses, but sometimes she make a sacrifice by making hand made purses from women in Peru. Since they only cost $90, she usually buys two at a time.
7. Put pocket change into those little cans at grocery checkout lines. I think that money goes to alleviate child homelessness. Every little bit helps.
8. Create jobs. Most of our janitors at church were unemployed for a long time before we hired them. Sometimes people need a helping hand. And personally, by utilizing a gardening service and a maid service, my family is employing exactly the sort of person who would be poor without a job.
9. Don’t throw it away, donate it. It may be junk to you, but often times, poor people aren’t that picky. Consider donating it to Good Will. After all, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
10. Vote for Obama. While I can’t official endorse a candidate as a pastor, as a person, I am endorsing Barack Obama. In the past, I’ve always voted Republican. But Obama fills me with such hope. A vote for Obama is a vote for hope. If you vote for anyone else, you don’t care about poor people.

for further reading . . .

• Interview: Becky Garrison, Satirist