I read a blog today which basically asked the question "Why can't Christians help...Christians?"I thought about this seriously because as far as I'm concerned Christians have been the most hands-off people I have every met. they want nothing to do with anything in which they can't personally benefit from. And God forbid if their involvement means suffering with another Christian.
The original post spoke about the Christian community as a whole. but I'm speaking more specifically about the urban Protestant Evangelical community. I remember my mother use to say you can tell when you are in a black neighborhood because you have a church and a bar on every corner. However that is not a testimony of our (Black People) faith it speaks about our failure to support one another. 50 storefront churches in a 30 block area can not serve the community as well as 8 churches in that same area can. If the major goal of the church is to pay rent and keep the lights on than the church will never be able to serve the community. We can't expect people that grew up in less fortunate urban areas want better when our churches and expect better.
In response to what was written on the global problem with Christian supporting other Christians I wrote this more local problem specific to the African-American, and non-catholic Latino Community.
below is my response. Please feel free to comment.
This problem [Christian fail to support other Christians] runs deeper that Christians failing to support our brothers and sisters in different country. I have seen Christian fail to support a dying Christian [that lives] right next door to them. We support anything the world says is ok but we forget to support our own.
There can be two Churches on the same street. On one corner a Pentecostal church, on the other corner Baptist church they pass each other going to worship each Sunday, yet they could not tell you the name of the Pastor of the church on the opposite corner if it wasn't for the marquee [on the wall]
They act as though their church is fighting the devil all by themselves and the world is just watching and waiting for them to realize victory. Most churches are not even able to pay rent on their building so they can't meet the needs of the local community. Is there any wonder they neglect the needs of their brothers and sisters around the world that are suffering for Christ?
There can be two Churches on the same street. On one corner a Pentecostal church, on the other corner Baptist church they pass each other going to worship each Sunday, yet they could not tell you the name of the Pastor of the church on the opposite corner if it wasn't for the marquee [on the wall]
They act as though their church is fighting the devil all by themselves and the world is just watching and waiting for them to realize victory. Most churches are not even able to pay rent on their building so they can't meet the needs of the local community. Is there any wonder they neglect the needs of their brothers and sisters around the world that are suffering for Christ?
I welcome and desire responses to this post.
Your Brother In Christ
T.Charves FireSpeaks
About the Author:
Troy Pearsall is the author of FireSpeaks prayer and meditation blog, a blog dedicated to the practice and discovery of Christian Prayer and meditation http://firespeaks.blogspot.com
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