Home Updated October 27, 2007 David
Mays
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Feeding the (Spiritually) Hungry Christians
often struggle with why we should spend so much effort 'going over there'
when there are so many needs 'right around here.' Some are genuinely concerned about local problems
and people. Some don't have a clear
picture of what much of the world is like. This word picture is an attempt to help us
see the importance of going where the gospel is unavailable by comparing it
with an imagined physical situation. Imagine
three scenes: Scene #1. People nearby are starving. These are people in your neighborhood or
downtown. They are hungry,
malnourished. They need food. They need to eat. But they are not eating: they are starving. These people are surrounded by food - good, healthy,
wholesome food. Further, they know
many people who eat. But they don't
like food. They don't want to eat. Scene #2. People further away are starving. You don't see them, except on TV. You don't drive through their
neighborhoods. They are hungry, malnourished.
They need food. They need to
eat. But they are not eating: they are
starving. However, these people can't eat. They have no food. There is no food available. There is no food in sight. There is no food within walking distance
and they have no cars. There is no one
to bring food to them. There is simply
no opportunity to get food. Further,
they may have never seen food. They
don't know anyone who eats. They may
have heard rumors about eating but it is a strange idea to them. If
food were available some of them might not eat. But others would certainly eat and become
healthy -- and further, some would grow food, and feed others around them! Scene #3. You have food, plenty of food, good healthy
food, more than you can eat, food to spare.
Questions: 1. Would you take
some of your food to people who have no food, even when there are many people
nearby who aren't eating? 2. How would you explain this to people who
don't understand why you do it? 56565656565656565656 |