"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day!

As an elementary school-aged boy our family attended a presentation of Handel’s Messiah, presented by the Pershing High School, a public school in Detroit, Michigan. Gloria, my sister, was an alto in the chorus. A love affair with fine music wedded to Scripture was born.

Since that first hearing of Messiah when listening I have anticipated being moved again by the chorus first penned by Isaiah.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)
It is as if heaven opens its jaws widely and drops eternities of gracious promise onto the earth! The possibility for peace is poured out in a torrent of mercy and grace.

As I write I am reminded of contractors pouring the foundation of Philadelphia’s newest and tallest skyscraper. Last weekend over 400 transit mix trucks emptied their payloads in one continuous pour of concrete. The task lasted for more than 12 hours. In contrast, God has been pouring out assurances of peace on earth for centuries and sealed his promise by sending the Prince of Peace.

In completing the vocation assigned to me by the Prince of Peace, I wrote more than 40 Christmas Eve candlelight services. We read the salient prophecies, sang traditional music, shared God’s Word and lighted candles while singing robustly "Joy to the World." We also frequently sang Henry Wordsworth Longfellow’s poem, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:"
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Longfellow’s poem is often overlooked, but deserves careful consideration each Christmas season. Longfellow wrote the memorable words as a twice widowed, sorrowing husband whose son had enlisted in the Union Army and was then mortally wounded. In addition, Longfellow suffered from Neuralgia, a stabbing, burning, and often severe pain that occurs along a damaged nerve. For Longfellow, like us all, peace is elusive.

Two verses of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" are almost always omitted. The stanzas face harsh realities of slavery and war. Longfellow, the news of a son’s death, noisily plowing deep furrows of painful grief into every waking moment wrote:

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn, The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Thank you Mister Longfelllow. You remind us that the Prince of Peace has come and the Message of the season trumps cacophonous cannons, dirges of despair, disease and death.

This year we are praying for the families of several friends who are now listening to heavenly choruses. We miss our friends, but not like their children and spouses. My prayer is, "Lord, especially this year, make sure my friends’ families Hear the Bells on Christmas Day! May Isaiah’s prophecy prove powerful and real for those of us who await reunions in heaven." And, let us remind those who need the reinforcement to faith challenged by great loss, "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep!"

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

A favorite hymn celebrating the Incarnation is Emily Elliott’s, "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne." The enduring tune was first sung in 1864, in St. Mark’s Church in Brighton, England pastored by her father. Emily Elliott may have been influenced by her Aunt, Charlotte Elliott, who penned, "Just as I Am," the song often sung at the end many services in my boyhood church and the invitation the Holy Spirit used to woo thousands at Billy Graham crusade altar calls.

The language is quaint, of middle 19^th century vintage, but the message is timeless and forever speaks to a world distorted by human error and wilful sin.
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee."
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.
When one considers the verses with care one notices that "Thou Didst leave Thy Throne" presents a powerful series of contrasts in each stanza. Notice the stark differences between "throne and crown" with "Bethlehem’s home and no room." The "living word that should set thy people free," with "mocking scorn and crown of thorn," leave me gaping in wonder. The marriage of lyric and tune calls me to thoughtful consideration of contrasts between my way and Jesus’ way.

After completing more than 48 years as a pastor and missionary, and now living in my eighth decade, I have observed that in all relational problems between individuals or groups of any size the root cause included arrogance and pride. Someone always stubbornly insists they have a special privilege, are privy to a divine insight or elevate a personal viewpoint to "the will of God." The truth is, we all graduated summa cum laude at the "College of Me First." Humility is constantly in short supply and Emily Elliott’s hymn calls us to deal with the issue!

 The refrain is simple, "O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee." If we welcome the Jesus defined by Scripture, we will welcome Him of whom it is written, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:6-8, NIV)

When we kneel before Jesus, make room for Him within, we open the door to powerful possibilities for reconciliation between warring factions, we become vulnerable to the point of admitting we are wrong, and we give Jesus an occasion to teach us what we have not yet learned.

Emily Elliott’s "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne" is worthy of learning and singing!

Joy to the World

The last post to our blog, “Renewed Cities,” was in May 2014. We resume our bit of writing during Advent for a few reasons. The first is, I have a little more time. For the majority of this year we have filled the Philadelphia pulpit vacated by the untimely death of a dear friend, Abe Oliver. We have enjoyed the assignment, but preparation and travel time left little time for writing.

Pat’s health has been declining and my father-in-law, Roy W. Kolas Sr., passed away on Flag Day, June 14. Several trips to Indiana left us exhausted and still less discretionary time than usual. We miss Roy’s presence and rich contributions to our life. Pat’s health remains a challenge, and we are making new attempts at establishing routines to help us negotiate the ever-changing byways of Parkinson’s Disease.

We received little feedback to most of our “Renewed Cities” posts and I was secretly hoping someone would say, “We miss you!” Alas, few did and I spent some time evaluating whether or not we should stick with the exercise. 

 Then the “last straw” that set aflame a writing mood, Advent. The nearly total secularization of the glorious and eternal truth, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth, (John 1:14 NIV) is too much for me. I cannot remain silent. At the risk of being tagged as an irrelevant Neanderthal, I will consider ten important Advent hymns we ought to learn and sing. A song is an effective communications medium. The truth of Advent is too important to follow the lead of Radio City Music Hall’s spiritual neutering of the great Message, God has cared enough about us to become one of us so that He could save us!

 We took our grandchildren to Radio City a few days ago. The last scene living nativity left me with a bit of hope after Santa and his elfish minions had center stage for more than 95% of the production. Pat and I attended a brilliant church Christmas pageant but I only recognized one singable song celebrating Jesus’ birth. I don’t expect too much from the secular stage, in my opinion, this is prime time for the church to get her Message out! If the church will sing the Message at her Advent events, in community marketplaces and at her neighbors’ doorsteps, the material on which faith rests will at least be heard once in the year. The songs of Advent have the potential of saving those floundering in darkness.

 The first of my ten selections (with a tip of the hat to David Letterman), is Isaac Watts’ “Joy to the World.” This Advent hymn is important because joy is on equal footing with love, peace, and the other fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22ff). I offer little commentary on Watt’s enduring lyrics, they speak eloquently and effectively and I have nothing to add.

 

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

 
I beg the church to sing this faith-building anthem. Sing it often. Sing it well! Sing it until tears well up in people’s eyes. Sing “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground.” Hope warms, then seeps and finally spews as a geyser as the Word that became flesh is discovered. Friends, let’s sing Joy to the World! All together now . . .   

Soft Edges

"Soft edges" is a feature on one of my computer programs I use. With a few clicks of the mouse photos can be edited to look like a real professional had produced the work. In my opinion the "soft edges" makes for a more attractive presentation.

While driving home from this morning’s errands, I was reminded of "soft edges." As my little Ford pick-up used for errand-running bounced along the radio was tuned to a station that plays Christian "Golden Oldies." Anyone younger than 50 years-old wouldn’t even hesitate at the radio’s frequency. I listen to some great preachers, Erwin Lutzer, pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago, if the timing is right. After Dr. Lutzer signed off the sounds from a recording of a musical artist playing a pipe organ filled my truck’s cab.

The speakers aren’t too good and the sound bounced around for a few seconds before I was able to identify the melodies. I knew the tunes, but they were tucked far away in the recesses of my memory. The first tune in the medley was "Stand up for Jesus." It must be at least twenty years or more since I heard the tune, 30 years since I sang the lyrics. Peddlers of political correctness would never allow something so edgy to sneak into the contemporary church’s repertoire. "What would people who have never been to our church think?" Could they wrap their minds around such demanding orders?
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear;
If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;
Where’er ye meet with evil, within you or without,
Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.
Militancy is passe, unless one is motivated by right wing ideology. Being well prepared and engaged in spiritual conflict has been moved just outside the viewable Gospel picture presented. Has the message been "soft edged" a bit too much? "Till every foe is vanquished," is as quaint as a visit to an apothecary!

The second tune in the medley is filed in the basements of musical museums, well out of hearing range. It is less familiar than Sousa’s "Stars and Stripes Forever," in a White House gala which features raucous rock themes. The organist segued into "Onward Christian Soldiers!" Of all the audacity, a suggestion of military-like preparation for the most demanding vocation in life!

Some of my readers may have a hard time relating to the martial theme and hard-edged call to action.
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
this through countless ages men and angels sing.
Think of the hard edges of "Marching off to war!" Or, "Hell’s foundations quiver," and "One in faith and doctrine" have to be at the very top of soft-edged relevancy’s list of "no-nos!"

Saint Peter apparently didn’t know how to create "soft edges." After spending an evening in jail and being threatened by the religious establishment, Peter’s filled-with-the-Holy-Spirit, hard-edged response was, "Rulers and elders of the people!
⁹ If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, ¹⁰ then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone'. ¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Thomas Carlyle believed that people become what they sing. Generic, "soft-edged," lyrics touting a nameless god (Every culture has at least one god.) may generate warm, nonthreatening responses, but the Name of Jesus presented as the only Name that saves has a very hard edge.

Planning and Anointing, Conflict or Complement

Until I was a young adult, I had never heard the word "lectionary." I discovered that a lectionary is a book or listing of scripture readings appointed for worship. Many communions follow a lectionary to assure a balance of reading and preaching themes throughout the church year. In contrast, I was reared in and ministered in the Pentecostal tradition which emphasized being led by the Spirit, affirmed spontaneity and welcomed "freedom from forms and lifeless routines."

After nearly seven decades of living, worshiping and serving in the church, I have concluded that the human instinct to the comfort and security of rhythms and routines creeps into church life. We routinely sit where we usually sit, stand at what has become an acceptable time and fulfill the congregation’s expectations during public worship. The template for worship activity varies from one congregation to another, but is rather predictable within each group. People simply love the comfort of predictability.

Personally, I wonder if our being "led by the Spirit" tradition overlooks some of the values of lectionary discipline. An argument can be presented for preparation for significant celebrations within all communions. For instance, Passover was observed following a carefully dictated template initiated in Egypt and handed down and observed by Jesus. Passover was observed in hope and experienced during the first Holy Week, the week when Jesus offered himself as the Passover Lamb.

The disciples asked, "Where do you want us to prepare for Passover?" (Luke 22:9) Clearly, the Twelve were familiar with how the Passover would be observed. The preparations would take time and required ingredients. Passovers could not be observed haphazardly.

Most of the Christian world observes Lent, a time of preparation for the events leading up to Holy Week and culminating in Resurrection Sunday. Smudges of ash in the form of a cross were on the foreheads of fellow Christians. On Ash Wednesday they made a public statement about their commitment as Christians to spiritual preparation for the weeks ahead. To be sure, some may have been simply going through the motions, but I was inwardly asking, "What would happen if I went to Bible study tonight with the same mark?"

Isaiah announced that a plan was in place and preparations were being made for the One who would offer the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.
¹ Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? ² He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. ³ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53)
I argue, if Jesus’ sacrifice was promised and planned, and if the Passover was observed in anticipation for centuries, what could possibly be wrong with setting aside time to prepare for a more authentic spiritual observance of the Passover’s fulfillment, Jesus’ death and Resurrection? Is a season of preparation an empty routine devoid of value? Are we wise in discarding a season of thoughtful spiritual preparation to observe the greatest single event in history, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?

Maybe a smudge of ashes on our foreheads would have the right effect on proud people of the Spirit. Perhaps a discipline of reviewing the events leading up to and including Holy Week would slow us down and add solemnity to our Resurrection Day observances. Are we too proud to humble ourselves with a bid of ashes smudged to our forehead? Is it possible that "Spirit-filled pastors" would struggle less with building a special service, complete with obligatory religious bells and whistles? Following a season of serious spiritual preparation, would we dare to truly trust the "leading of the Spirit" to communicate the world-changing reality, "Christ is Risen?"

Great, far-reaching grace"

Grace is an important and frequent Bible theme. The simple, most frequently used definition of grace is "unmerited or unearned favor," which serves us adequately for our present purpose. Most frequently grace is considered in personal dimensions, and thanks for the grace of God is expressed for the favor of God on an individual. We appropriately sing, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see." While we sing the ancient tune in congregations, the focus is personal.

During recent readings of the New Testament Epistles and several books of American history I was challenged about the scope of God’s grace being experienced corporately, internationally and through many generations. For instance, when the first generation church was in the throes of her first wave of persecution, Luke records, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all (emphasis mine, Acts 4:32-33). Peter and John had performed the first public miracle after Pentecost and their lives were in jeopardy. The church prayed fervently and grace was experienced corporately.

The Apostle Paul often extended introductory grace greetings to the churches. To the Romans he wrote, "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:7). To the Corinthians he bid farewell with, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1 Corinthians 16:23-24). The whole church is blessed, graced, no one excepted.


Throughout history God’s grace has been manifested, and His grace remains and is active today, if we will reflect and remember the Sovereign’s interventions. The grace of God was expressed internationally when God intervened and brought Egypt’s reign of terror to an end. A small sample of the details surrounding the grace of God’s actions include the salvation of Moses from Pharaoh’s death order. Moses’ encounter with the Almighty at the burning bush is a grace experience much broader than the personal impact on Moses. Daniel’s story and the gracious activity of God in the judges reinforce the truth that grace is broader, more far-reaching and more frequent than personal experience.

In the 1960's the "military-industrial complex" was at a full throttle. President Eisenhower warned the nation in a farewell address that the "Cold War" required huge expenditures of the nation’s budget to make weapons that, if used, could potentially unleash world-ending devastation and contaminate the environment so that human life would not be sustained. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pounded the desk with a shoe while debating at the United Nations. The "nuclear clock" was at 11:58 P.M. and many world leaders were in despair and convinced that peace was impossible. Evangelists leveraged the "doom’s day" or "nuclear clock" to warn of the Lord’s coming.

Into the doom’s day environment, grace was extended. A Roman Catholic, President John Kennedy, one for whom God-fearing Evangelicals would not vote, made a speech at American University calling for our Cold War antagonists to sit down and reason together. Hot words and threats were set aside and a non-proliferation treaty was hammered out, a true expression of grace. Fifty years have passed. One may comfortably argue that God’s grace was delivered by a man who had been disqualified by good, well-intentioned people. Grace is too broad to be confined in the narrow limits of human understanding. Maybe Peter’s Spirit-given insight is applicable here, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." – 2 Peter 3:9


September 11, 2010 angry terrorists made a statement of hate which forever changed the way every person in the world lives today. On that day the Attorney General of the United States was John Ashcroft, a member of the Assemblies of God. I believe Dr. Ashcroft was a gift of grace God appointed to his post for that season in our nation’s history. The complexities of his Senate confirmation hearings, the first-of-its-kind attack, and the mood of our nation all required a special person to serve alongside the President and Congress. The emphasis is not on a man, but on the grace of God extended to a nation and to the world.

One last observation, since "9-11" one of the songs sung during Major League Baseball games, seventh-inning stretches, is America the Beautiful. I note that in each of the four verses a simple prayer is inserted, "America! America! God shed his grace on thee." We are as undeserving of God’s grace as any other nation who has rebelled against God. But, if we keep pleading, keep interceding, keep singing the much-needed appeal for grace, He may hear us and heal our nation.

Come, let us sing a verse together today!

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Generosity: A Mark of Authenticity

Generosity is a foundational value found in followers of Jesus. Because generosity is a core value demonstrated and taught by Jesus his disciples ought to embrace and practice liberality consistently.

Jesus’ teaching was blunt and forceful. He taught, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38) The parable of the man victimized by thieves and ignored by the religious establishment reprimanded those who withheld their gifts of comfort and help. The generous Samaritan was placed in opposition to the "I-don’t-care-stinginess" of those who took comfort in their orthodox legalism while disconnecting behavior from the nature of God who is full of compassion.

Following World War Two, George Marshall was invited to make a speech before scholars at Harvard University. On June 5, 1947, Mr. Marshall laid out a plan of national generosity which became commonly known as "The Marshall Plan." America’s World War Two enemies were restored to economic stability and foes became friends in one generation. Missionary societies and benevolent ministries based in the United States have unselfishly poured billions of dollars into the less fortunate and impoverished around the world. And God has blessed our nation because of that liberality.

In 1992 we were privileged under God to establish Vailsburg Assembly of God. Within the first six months we convened a missions convention and began teaching the infant church how to give generously. We recently learned that the congregation will give more than $100,000 in support of missions around the world in 2014. It is obvious that because of generosity God’s blessing causes the church to thrive in every measurable way.

The parable of the last judgment in Matthew 25 is one of His last before the crucifixion. People who appeared at the judgment were separated right and left and sent them away as one separating sheep and goats based on how they invested or failed to invest in others. A careful re-reading of the story always sobers me. How we treat people is important to Jesus and ought to be of highest priority to anyone claiming to follow Him.

I am troubled when I hear those who are sincerely following Jesus carelessly and without compassion rail against those who benefit from generosity. I am troubled because –
I can find no occasion when Jesus berated a person for being poor, ill or in need of help. Rather, Jesus used each occasion to demonstrate forgiveness, compassion and His willingness to improve the lot of those who were helpless to improve their lot in life.
No one has anything of any value which did not originate in the heart of a compassionate and forgiving God. Grace is "unmerited, undeserved blessing."
The excuse to refuse help because someone is "using the system" is a worthy risk, especially if one takes seriously Jesus’ assurance, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers." For someone to "use the system" because of laziness or other sinful choices may reduce that person to the "least of these," but, the promise of "inheritance, the kingdom!"
Each of the actions Jesus affirmed in His explanation of the judgment is a personal, people-touching action. Caring for people may be organized but is not at its best when it is institutionalized. In a hurry-up, growth and promotion oriented world, caring for others is usually inconvenient.
Generous compassion has been a hallmark of Jesus’ disciples through the ages. Love is always a giving action. Missions cannot be reduced to a budget number, but an expression of generosity, liberality and deep compassion flowing from deep within the heart of an individual and a congregation.

Pastors serve their congregations well when they create many opportunities to hear of needs and then lead the congregation in an appropriate response. The church that formed me in my youth did that and many of us have given our entire adult lives in God-called service as a result. The legacy of the church is known on several continents! The church thrives and will soon celebrate her 75^th anniversary of giving, serving, expressing the heart of Jesus to a world stumbling under the weight known to "the least of these my brothers."



"Stingy Christian" is an oxymoron, a world-class contradiction. Jesus taught his disciples in the shadow of the Last Supper, Gethsemane and the cross, How you treat people, your generosity in meeting human need, is a serious consideration at the judgment.