Bart Campolo: Why Churches Shouldn't Care for the Poor
I got to talk with Bart Campolo on the phone the other day, regarding a project about poverty that I'm doing with Neue, a Relevant Media Group website. I thought you might enjoy a brief excerpt from the interview - a teaser, if you will, dealing with a topic I broach on this blog quite often - church.
In response to my question, "Why should the Church care for the poor?" Bart gave this informal answer:
"You know, I'm going to be honest with you: I don't understand the fixation that most of the people I know that follow Jesus have with the institutional church. I don't really see buildings, denominational structures, and doctrinal statements reflected very much in the life and teaching of Jesus."
He didn't speak with scorn or contempt for institutional church; he just seemed to have a much simpler definition of church than that, a definition many of us are longing to live out. "While lots of really cool things have come from the church, I've also seen so much pain come out of people involved in church and organized stuff. I don't necessarily feel that the church... is the basic unit of our Christian 'society.'"
He thought for a moment, stumbled over himself for a second as his mouth caught up with what his brain wanted to communicate, and then redefined church: "I don't know - maybe a bunch of people hanging out with each other... So, if you mean by 'the church' a collective group of Christians, they should care about the poor for the same reason that I care about the poor, the same reason that God cares about the poor. Because we're human beings; we're made in the image of God. It is our nature to love, to respond."
He thought again for a moment, possibly considering what he had just said and took the challenge a bit deeper: "Why should organized church care for the poor? I don't know," he admitted rather bluntly. "Actually, if you came to my neighborhood, I could give you several reasons why the organized church shouldn't care for the poor. Especially, economically it's not in their interest to care for the poor. It doesn't advance organized religion to care for the poor."
Even though Bart and I were hundreds of miles apart, talking to one another over not-the-greatest cell phone connection, his words moved me. They stung a little, but I knew that it was a good kind of sting. I silently wondered if I was contributing to a Church that didn't have it in its best interest to care for the poor. He continued, comparing the two "churches" he had been talking about - one being the institutional "church" with buildings, structures, and systems, and the other being the true Body of Christ:
"So, why should people who follow Jesus care for the poor? Easy. Why should an organization trying to get a thicker chunk of the American cultural landscape care for the poor? Gosh, I don't know. They probably shouldn't. You don't see the Democratic or Republican parties bending over backwards to give to the poor, because it's not really going to help their movement very much. Those people don't have anything to give, [and] they'll suck a lot of your resources. Organizationally, it's not really a good move."
The interview continued, and Bart went on to talk about how he got started caring for the poor, but the thoughts that he opened the interview with continue to haunt me as I seek to follow a Jesus whose way doesn't always seem safe or comfortable. I asked him if he had any advice for young believers wanting to "do justice," and he said to get together with a group of your friends, move to the inner city, live together, and begin to include the hurting, the broken, and the poor in your circle. He admitted that there wasn't anything too glorious about it, but he said that it was a life full of tremendous reward.
Check out Bart Campolo's website, and visit his blog to read more about him.
#182: Saying "Pot Blessings" instead of "Pot Lucks"
Once on the Simpsons, Maude Flanders told Homer, "Neddy doesn't believe in life insurance, he considers it a form of gambling."
Granted, despite sleeping with that lady on one episode, Ned Flanders was designed to be an amplified personification of Christianity. His moves were big and loud. If you went to his house you played Bible board games and ate "unflavored" ice treat instead of ice cream. His version of faith was bright and shiny and exaggerated. I thought it was fake until recently.
In response to a Pot Luck post I wrote lots of people started emailing me. They told me that in their church, they were not allowed to say the phrase, "Pot Luck." It's too worldly, too much like coincidence, too much like gambling. So instead they say, "Pot Blessings." And some people say, "Pot Providence."
I heart that. Hearing about that made me really eager to find other examples. I instantly wanted to add a glossary to the back of my book that was titled simply, "Christian Translator." Baking some devil's food cake but feel like that sounds too demonic? Call it "Angel pie." Daughter lost a tooth and excited about the tooth fairy? Call it the "tooth angel."
It's a weird thing to be fixated on, but there it is. I'm in love with the idea of having the world's most comprehensive list of Christian words. Let's do it, you and I. Let's change this crazy world.
We have a team in Swaziland, that nation in Africa where nearly half the adult population has the AIDS virus. I received this email from Gary Black in Swaziland today and it wrecked me:
"The team found a four week-old laying on its dead mother yesterday, they kept it - we are getting it to the abandoned baby hospital Friday."
What do we do with this? That's my son's team down there. I don't know about you, but I'm outraged by a world that produces situations like this. And while that may seem like a world away to many, for my son, it's as immediate as it is heart-wrenching.
The only thing that appalls me more is that so many of us Americans who can do something about this are more interested in stuff that will only ultimately burn up in the big fire. God help us. God, help us to wake up. Help us to see how much you love the widow and the orphan. God help us to break as you are broken up over this four week-old.
God, help me to lose this tortoise shell religion that sheds these kinds of tragic situations like water. Forgive me God for not praying more. Forgive me for not emptying my bank account for your little ones. God, we have lost true religion. We have sought finer sanctuaries and better parking lots.
We have tried to fill our church pews with seekers, but we have not sought your children dying on their mother's chests. We need to see a way out of this mess that we've got ourselves in. God, help us in this 21st century mindset that we've acquired. I don't even know what else to pray.
"Bah, Humbug", or "Merry Giftmas"?
So there I was, a few days ago, listening to the Staci Orrico Christmas album, when something I heard made me stop in my tracks. In her rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful", she sings an added line... "Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day". Sounds religious, right? Well, let’s stop and think.... If we have Christmas to celebrate Jesus’ birth, then obviously he couldn’t be celebrated until after he was born. Additionally, scholars estimate that Jesus was actually born in the fall, not on the December 25th date we hold so sacred. So actually, Dec. 25 was designated the day that we celebrate Jesus, but has nothing to do when he was actually born. Dumb song.
Ok, so it really doesn’t matter what day we celebrate Jesus, as long as we celebrate him, right? Well, yes. But you have to realize that Christmas celebrations are nowhere to be found in scripture. Christmas day is a tradition that wasn't celebrated by Christians until the 4th century, as they attempted to inject Christian meaning into the pagan holiday Saturnalia. We as American Christians have now adopted this time of year to be the ‘season of giving’, a time to spread joy by putting up cheesy decorations and spending money we don’t have to buy people we don’t like items that they don’t need (thank you, Tyler Durden).
Just think about these typical ‘holiday’ thoughts:
*When decorating my house, an 8 foot OC Chopper Santa will look much more festive then a nativity scene.
*I must bake cookies, even though I’m always complaining how I really should lose a few pounds!
*Gotta buy my kids some really cool stuff so they’ll know how much I care. Too bad I’ll be too busy working to see them enjoy it.
*I’m so stressed out. I wish my family wasn’t expecting me to spend the holidays with them.
*You should join me in boycotting this retail establishment because they won’t say "Christmas" in their advertising.
*If I don’t get such-and-such that I really want for Christmas, I’ll just buy it for myself. In fact, I may just hit those post-Thanksgiving sales and buy it anyways.
*I need to get those 200 Christmas cards in the mail, so all these people will know how much I really care (even though I haven’t spoken to them, well, since the last Christmas card I sent them).
How is Jesus possibly glorified by these things? Is this how you would want someone to celebrate your birthday? I think not. Why then, do we show such disregard for the savior of the world? This is such a shame, because there is a real opportunity to celebrate Christ in a spiritually meaningful way. I want to show honor to Christ, but I just don’t think that Christmas as we know it is the way to go.
Perhaps we should stop thinking we’re religious because we give so many nice gifts... wasting money to satisfy greedy selfish desires is not Christlike.
Perhaps, as G-Dub suggests, instead of buying stuff at Christmas, we should sell our own belongings and give the money to the poor.
Perhaps, instead of Christmas, we could celebrate Passover with the Jews, and celebrate the fact that Christ is the lamb of God, who shed His blood to purchase our eternal life.
Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
ht: Marko
Just thought I'd share the three challenges that are part of my year-long discipleship of my son, Parker. I'd love to help some other dads while I'm trying to figure out fatherhood myself! Parker and I signed a covenant and Parker committed to complete a physical challenge, intellectual challenge, and spiritual challenge. If he completes the challenges, I'll take him on a pilgrimage at the end of the year as a celebration of his accomplishment.
For the physical challenge, we are going to train for and run a 10K together. We're eyeing the Capitol Hill Classic next May. I think it will teach discipline and pursuing a common goal creates a unique bond.
For the intellectual challenge, I'm having Parker read a dozen books. I don't have all of them picked out, but I'm going for a cross-section of books that have impacted my life yet are age-appropriate for him.
For the spiritual challenge, we're reading through the New Testament together. I want to teach him spiritual disciplines so we'll also do a forty-day Lent fast. Not sure what we'll fast, but we'll both give up the same thing. And I want to help him come up with a code of conduct and life goals.
Honestly, I don't really know what I'm doing! I just figure that if we sweat together, talk together, and pray together we'll probably grow close together! Sure, I have a plan. But I'm not sure what this will look like six weeks or six months from now. One thing is sure: I'm not going to let our culture raise my son! I'm determined to disciple him myself!
Saint's Coffee - This is a brand-new Christian-run company that was started with the primary intent of raising money for orphans in Swaziland. Each purchase feeds an orphan for a month, and the website claims that in their first five weeks of sales, they've already been able to feed 270 kids 8,100 meals! That's great!
I've now sampled three of the blends that Saint's Coffee offers on their website. The mild and medium roasts are unfortunately too subtle to stand up to my Starbucks habit, but the St. George is not bad. If you'd like to sample any of the blends, please let me know.
Christmas in Africa - Children's Cup is a ministry that feeds children in various Care Points around Southern Africa. Each year they provide a huge Christmas party for the children, and this year they are encouraging a personal connection with sponsors around the world.
What you do is order a Christmas card from Children's Cup (preprinted in Siswati or Portuguese), write a note to a child, attach a picture of you and your family (if you like), and send it back along with $6. The money will cover the cost of a Christmas gift and dinner for the child. The child will then fill out a note and send it back to you. I just ordered a bunch to do as a youth group project, and am really excited to see our students connected to African kids.
5 for 50 - This is a charity that Tom Davis talks about in his new book Red Letters (I just received a copy - haven't gotten to read it yet). Each copy purchased results in a donation that goes directly to feeding orphans. On his blog, Tom talks about how they are able to do this: all the money raised pays for shipments of donated food. Not sure this is the right thing to do? Watch some of the videos posted on his blog. Keep tissues handy.
"If I'm not careful, I'll forget to live as if my choices have consequences for those on the other side of the world. I'll forget to notice the affluence that is so much a part of my daily life. I'll forget to let the contrasts break my heart."
Hi Seth,
I came across your site today in my desperate attempt to find anyone on the internet that wonders what happens when you are convinced God isn't listening. I couldn't believe I actually consulted the Google search box with that exact question… and to my further amazement, there were actual links!!! Ha! God is good. One of them led me to your site.
What do you do when you feel like the wife in Hosea and just know that God has done what He did so many times in the OT and turned His face from you. When nothing goes right? Nothing is blessed. Every wall is up and you just throw your hands up and fall on your face and whimper, "I give." Help?
“Religion that God our Father considers pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 NIVBefore I went on the World Race, I didn’t know quite what to make of this verse. I thought it sounded really good, but I didn’t even know of any distressed orphans. How then, could I look after any? I’ve had to accept the fact that even though orphans may not be running through the streets of Californian suburbia, that doesn’t mean I have no obligation to help them.
It’s just heart-breaking to see the numbers of widows trying to care for 8, 10, or 15 orphans in a tiny little hut with no support and no food of their own. Starting tomorrow we are beginning a carepoint from scratch. We'll start feeding the orphans in the community under a tent (the one I preached in from a video blog a few days ago), with a cast iron pot. We’re excited to get some of our programs underway in such a desperate place. We found 95 orphans living alone who hadn't eaten anything in 3 weeks.Wow… here’s a guy who is really living out the scripture. He has chosen to do what it takes to look after orphans and widows in their distress. I can’t read his words without wishing I was back there, alongside, providing food for the hungry and hugs for the forgotten.
