North American Christians need to overcome the materialism of Western culture and see poverty in more relational terms. It requires us to understand our brokenness and to embrace the message of the cross in deep and profound ways, saying to ourselves everyday: ‘I’m not OK; and you’re not OK; but Jesus can fix us both.’
– Corbett & Fikkert, When Helping Hurts
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.”
– Jesus, from Mark 12:28-31, NAS
So fundamental to the life of faith are these twin teachings of loving God and loving neighbor that they are given top priority in God’s original handwritten instructions for daily living. Christ later underscored their central importance by declaring that the entire law is contained in these two inseparable commands.
– Robert D. Lupton,
Compassion, Justice and Christian Life:
Rethinking Ministry to the Poor
No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
– Isaiah 58:6-7, NLT
Jesus connected himself forever with Isaiah and his call. And by proclaiming it in the context of worship, he makes it clear this is a call that is to impact who, what and how we are Church. Jesus believed the words of Isaiah. They were the words of his childhood, the text of his training, the soil out of which he grew. He came to fulfill them. Jesus’ connection of himself with the words of Isaiah tell us that this is an important indicator of what Jesus is about and therefore what we are to be about.
– Karen Stiller, The Responding Church Network,World Vision Canada
In our engagement of human suffering, we discover the relevance of God’s suffering on the cross. In our relationships among friends who are oppressed, we discover that establishing justice is something divine and human – spiritual.
– Chris Heuertz, The Cry, Fall 2008
There are different kinds of poverty in India. Some people live and die in hunger. But in the West you have another kind of poverty, spiritual poverty. This is far worse. People do not believe in God, do not pray, do not care for each other. You have the poverty of people who are dissatisfied with what they have, who do not know how to suffer, who give in to despair. This poverty of heart of often more difficult to relieve and to defeat.
– Mother Teresa
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
– Micah 6:8, NLT
Unwrapping more of His love in this world.
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!
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