My brother posted the following quote from Stephen Colbert on his Facebook page that quickly garnered a bunch of 'Like's.
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it."
- Stephen Colbert
Since Colbert is both a comedian and a political pundit, we have to assume that he is exaggerating something (that we as a nation don't give to the poor - look up the numbers, we do) and making a dig at someone (no surprise that his target is the Republican Party).
But let's just step away from all of that, and instead of choosing to point our fingers at the other guy (the other political party, our leaders, the government,, the rich, the poor, the whoever) and realize he has a profound point to be made when it comes to each and every individual.
A Christian nation must include Christian individuals. Each person reading Colbert's quote should ask themselves, "Am I personally giving? Do I care about the poor?" If the answer is, "I'd like to, but I just can't right now..." then we have forgotten the "unconditional" part of God's love, and our own call to be generous.
In spite of what some televangelists would have you believe, Jesus and the disciples were not rich. And they gave - if not of their money (though some did, like Matthew, the former tax collector), then of their time, talents and love.
Let's forget for a moment to point our fingers at the rich, and imply only they should pay their "fair share", what about you? (And yes, I have to ask myself the same.) Are you giving your "fair share" when it comes to helping the needy?
I know that the word 'command' is a dirty word in a democracy, but if the commandment is to love - what's there not to 'Like'!
Heather J. Kirk, Photographer, Author, Graphic Designer."We..." an e-book at: photographicartistry.citymax.com/BooksFind her art at: Artist Websitesand HeatherJKirk.com
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it."
- Stephen Colbert
Since Colbert is both a comedian and a political pundit, we have to assume that he is exaggerating something (that we as a nation don't give to the poor - look up the numbers, we do) and making a dig at someone (no surprise that his target is the Republican Party).
But let's just step away from all of that, and instead of choosing to point our fingers at the other guy (the other political party, our leaders, the government,, the rich, the poor, the whoever) and realize he has a profound point to be made when it comes to each and every individual.
A Christian nation must include Christian individuals. Each person reading Colbert's quote should ask themselves, "Am I personally giving? Do I care about the poor?" If the answer is, "I'd like to, but I just can't right now..." then we have forgotten the "unconditional" part of God's love, and our own call to be generous.
In spite of what some televangelists would have you believe, Jesus and the disciples were not rich. And they gave - if not of their money (though some did, like Matthew, the former tax collector), then of their time, talents and love.
Let's forget for a moment to point our fingers at the rich, and imply only they should pay their "fair share", what about you? (And yes, I have to ask myself the same.) Are you giving your "fair share" when it comes to helping the needy?
I know that the word 'command' is a dirty word in a democracy, but if the commandment is to love - what's there not to 'Like'!
Heather J. Kirk, Photographer, Author, Graphic Designer."We..." an e-book at: photographicartistry.citymax.com/BooksFind her art at: Artist Websitesand HeatherJKirk.com
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