This past weekend - thanks to an e-mail from a blog reader - I listened to a sermon by Francis Chan (three times) called “Living To Display The Gospel” and was re-inspired by a new answer. In his message he told the story of how he decided to give away a large sum of money he earned. And he ended the story by saying that some people ask him if it’s wise to give it all away. “Shouldn’t you be more moderate in your generosity?” they essentially ask. “Shouldn’t you put some of it away in case of emergency?”
To which he answered, “Are you saying that what’s happening in ‘the developing world’ isn’t an emergency? ...Oh, you mean an emergency that involves me. Because if it doesn’t involve me then it’s not a real emergency.”
He explained passionately and gently that God is not moderate in his generosity toward us. Jesus didn’t look at the mess on Earth and say, “Well those problems aren’t my problems so I’m staying out of it.” No, he gave all because he loved the whole world. Love says your emergency is our emergency and then it sacrifices without moderation to intervene. Love, Francis believes, doesn’t save a sum so large for it’s own future needs when someone else is in tremendous need right now.
Francis reminded me that moderation isn’t a bad thing but even moderation must be pursued in moderation. And it’s thrown out the window entirely in case of emergency. And all over the world, this is an emergency.
4 comments:
Wow. Like I've said many times in comments on your blog, thank you for sharing.
That second paragraph should hit a person, whether a Believer or not! But especially those of us who know God's redeeming love and grace should be even more struck by it and see anew the needs, the burdens of our brethren which we are called by our Lord to share.
Awesome. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm reading "Crazy Love" for a second time...so much to take in and process. I haven't listened to any of his sermons yet and now I will. :-) Sweet blessings, Amy in OR
Interesting Ethos here...
Swing flu just across our border where there is little medical care available. We have a lot of flu medication to help if caught in the early stages.
Yet the talks shows and individuals say we need to hold onto it, we need to close the border, we need to protect ourselves.
In Case of Emergency, let them cross the border, let them receive medical care, let them have access to our supplies for their sake.
na'what'imasayin?
Francis has said some very powerful, challenging and thought-provoking things in recent weeks. I highly recommend the Gospel Conference (5 sessions online, 3/29/09-4/05/09). Two guys from the Acts29 Network spoke in addition to Francis. The recent message “Who’s the Cult” on 4/19 is in response to a *lot* of feedback he’s receiving on the direction he and the other Elders are taking the church, which is, to love one another in community and reach our neighbors with the gospel. It’s a really challenging message to try to get back to how the Bible says to live the Christian life in contrast to what’s normal and comfortable in the church today.
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