Giving People What They Truly Need

“Even though princes sit plotting against me,

Your servant will meditate on Your statutes. 

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.”

Psalm 119 23, 24

When the government came against the Christians of old, they did not rise up and revolt; they did not boycott; they did not stomp upon the flag or symbol of that government.  They turned to God and the Scriptures for solace and guidance.  They did not act in vengeance, anger, or hate because they trusted God even to the point of martyrdom. 

Jesus taught, “Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”, Matthew 16:24.  This life in the flesh is transitory; life in the spirit is permanent.  That needs to be in our heart, mind, and soul continually.  Why is that not the message being proclaimed by the Churches today?  There is a lot of protesting and boycotting going on in support of human rights, but is anyone truly concerned about the spiritual orientation of people anymore?  Is there any concern for the souls of people, which is where the true needs are really located?

The concept of rights has been muddied through the years.  Where one was able to sit on a bus or eat in a restaurant is much different than one who is wandering around in the world trying to find fulfillment but is unaware that he or she has been created in the image of God, a God who has a design for each and every created life.  It doesn’t make sense to invoke God in matters that He is intentionally left out of or are contrary to His Word.  Protests and boycotts are not the work God had planned for His people. The work of God that men and women of God are to be doing is presenting the Gospel of God that offers reconciliation and a relationship with God through the work of Jesus.  That is the work that will heal and change lives.  That is the work that will change the culture.  That is the work that will change the world.

There are a lot of good people with a lot of good intentions.  But giving a temporary fix to the feeling of pain may, in the end, be more harmful to the person being helped.  Acting to heal the temporary symptom quickly can be harmful if we don’t get to the root of the problem.  The pain may go but the actual problem will never go away and eventually will grow worse.  So one needs to sit and think.  Is what being done the very best for the person in the long run?

The Bible tells a story that might be helpful in John 8.  The Pharisees drag a woman caught in the act of adultery, which is an unlawful act punishable by being stoned to death.  Jesus handled the situation perfectly, not only saving her life but in the end making her life better.

The story of this situation would have looked very different in our world today.  The Pharisees would have brought the woman who was caught in the act of adultery to Jesus’ disciples.  They would have surrounded her in compassion and said, “Don’t fear little lady.  We don’t want you to feel bad about yourself.  We’ll take care of these religious guys.”  Then they would have yelled at the Pharisees for bullying her and spoiling her fun, taking away her rights to be who she wanted to be and do what she wanted to do.  If the Pharisees didn’t change their ways and their laws the disciples would boycott the city of Jerusalem and at some point stone them for being mean.  Then they would gather together and rejoice with the woman and tell her to go back and be her authentic self and do what felt good to her.

The people who make up the Church are to be following Jesus and being conformed to Him in heart, mind, and soul.  Jesus loved this woman.  He saw beyond her faults and addressed the root of her need.  He looked at her with love and respect and told her he did not condemn her. Then He told her to go and sin no more.  He was thinking eternally, not temporarily; spiritually, not in the flesh.  That is the example the Churches should be following to make a real difference in the lives of people.