As previously stated, my husband is quite disturbed by the results of the recent Canadian Federal election. One of the things he has said repeatedly, and recently was this:
I’m very saddened that a man who hates poor people is going to be the minister of finance for another 4+ years.
That got me thinking. I’m the type who tries to find the silver lining in things. For instance, we had bought a little gift for a dear friend at church as it reminded us of him when we saw it in the store. I was hoping to bring it to church this morning, but as I was putting it back into its box after checking to make sure the price tag had been removed, it slid through the box and came out the bottom. Of course, I was in our kitchen which has new ceramic tile flooring, and the little ceramic plaque broke. Fortunately, it didn’t shatter and it might be possible to glue it back together almost seamlessly. I was pretty disappointed about it though. However, as I was in the midst of preparing a few other things for the morning, I realized that it just wasn’t the day to give that gift away and now I’ll have to fix it and when it is the right time, it’ll be ready.
So as I was reading this quote that my husband had posted on Facebook, some other things said recently by a pastor of mine (while we were visiting my home church last weekend) came to mind. Pastor Terry mentioned briefly how the Church (big “C” to mean the Bride of Christ as a whole, not just a local congregation) needs to start taking back some of its duties from the government.
To expand, some of the duties that the Church relinquished over the years include food banks (feeding the poor), family assistance programs (including providing clothing and shelter), orphanages (also providing adoption services), providing for widows, ministry to prisoners and the sick, and even education (although some might say that it’s been hit and miss for education).
More and more we’re seeing churches become involved in these types of programs once again. I know my home church has been running a food bank, a clothing swap program, a monthly dinner, and connecting people of fixed or little income with health-care professionals like optometrists for many years (I was actively involved in some of these services while I attended the church).
While there are some areas that I bet people would object to (like education, which is a very controversial issue long before bringing the Church into the discussion), there are others that I think we as the Church need to work harder to reclaim, like orphanages, and looking after widows and perhaps even more importantly, prison ministry.
I was thinking that if God sees fit to let Canada have its Conservative majority government, and that means a man who hates poor people is our Minister of Finance, then maybe God’s saying “People get ready!” In fact, I’m pretty certain that’s what He’s saying given the number of world events in the last few years that are pointing towards the end times. More specifically, given the foregoing, I hear God saying:
“Bride, get ready. I’m going to be sending people who need you and you need to be ready to receive them. You need to be prepared for the incoming barrage of the needy, of the orphaned, of the widowed, of the sick and the lame. You’re out of shape and too comfortable to let the government take on what has always been your responsibility. So, here’s your chance, whether you like it or not, to get ready.”
And do not forget:
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.
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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’-Matthew 25:34 – 40
So, Church, are you ready?
