It's all about people. Right? Isn't that why Jesus came, born of a virgin, died and rose again? I believe it was. It's all about people.
I had the privilege of attending a graduation ceremony today for WorkExpress graduates. I won't get to detailed regarding WorkExpress, (what it is) but next to the LORD directing my steps into Father Bills and MainSpring, it was WorkExpress that intrigued me, that excited me. It is a social program with the express intent of equipping those that society deems "undesirable" with the skills to turn their lives around. It is impressive, it is innovative, and it is, as far as I can tell something that scripture mandates we do as Christians. I could spend the rest of this post detailing scripture after scripture from both the old and new testaments about why this is so, maybe soon, but not tonight.
I will give you this one:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them,‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,6 you did it to me.’-Matthew 25:31-40
and one more:
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.-James 1:27
It is amazing to me that there are those in the Christian community that would try and say that engaging people in this context is something that some are called to and not others. Wrong. There is no option given in scripture regarding that directive. You either do it, or you don't. Does it mean you're not "saved" if you don't volunteer at a shelter or pass out winter coats to men and women living in the woods of Plymouth? No, I wouldn't say that. I would say that if you or I don't in some way shape or form help those that are less fortunate, those that have been cast aside by the vast majority of the population, we need to check ourselves. Check to see if you're really in the Spirit, check to see if you're truly abiding in the True Vine. If you are, you should be producing those spiritual fruits that are evidence of the new birth.
Please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying that everyone needs to work in this environment as a full time job. I am fortunate enough to have been blessed by the LORD to get to do this full time and collect a pay check for it. You may not "be called" to do what my co-workers and I do, but you have been "called" to do something. Pray about what it is specifically and do it!
As the grads received their certificates today it was impressed upon me like never before the reason Christ has told us to go to the people like the widows and orphans, like the prisoners and the poor and it is all about image.
Imago Dei- the image of God. We are all created in the image of God and because of this we have worth and significance. Our worth and significance is not wrapped up in our accomplishments, our families, our status, our education or anything else, it is tied solely to Christ. This is why we serve others, because they bear the image of our LORD, the greatest servant of all. The one who came not be served, but to serve. The one that wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the filthy feet of his motley crew of disciples. The one that willingly laid down his life for you and me and the poor, the homeless, the addict, the prostitute, the homosexual, the heterosexual, the...you get the idea. We're worth something because Christ created us in His image and then died for us when we were His enemies, not because we deserved it, but because that is His nature then and now, and this is why we must serve others.
"But worth, value, and beauty is not determined by some innate quality
But by the length for which the owner would go to possess them
And broken and ugly things just like us are stamped Excellent"-propaganda
Grace and Peace,
Chris and Kelley
