The real problem with the structures of the Church is that they do not often allow us to become engaged in the anguish of people whose needs, and accents, and ways are different from our own. They do not allow us to feel. It was not enough for Moses to see the misery of a slave people. He had to identify with them---to be able to say, "My people."
I would disagree totally with the statement above. Church members have been in the forefront of helping the people of Mississippi and New Orleans and wherever there is 'disaster'. The idea that we do not care sounds like Obama talking about 'fairness' when arguing for illegal imigrants to be allowed to stay in Arizona where the state has the second highest kidnap rate in the world... My father was an imigrant and went through the legal process to become a citizen of the US. There is so much to do and we blame the church; why not government agencies here and foreign (Haiti, Mexico) governments that are corrupt? Sorry, but the statement above really upsets me.
Yes, I've heard it said that our institutions including the churches, isolate us from the poor by acting as agencies to funnel money and material aid, set up programs, etc. We feel good about that but in fact are missing the human connection that is so important. Writing checks is the easy part.
I often don't want to be engaged with others anguish. I have to remind myself that though my day began with beautiful blue sky and green grass as I drank my morning coffee in my rob at the breakfast table, there are others at that very moment who are struggling and over come. My church helps me remember this but not all do and not many encourage all attenders to be involved in it. I see that Church people are involved in help with disasters but it is also a place where Church people can keep an arms length relationship. I saw a shirt on children from an orphanage in India that said, "some give by going and others go by giving".
I am amazed at this comment, especially when it is credited to Elizabeth O'Conner.
Our church is very focused on helping those in need; not just with a check, either.
I have found that the structure of the church often does not even help those within the "my people" category connect deeply with eachother, let alone anyone else.
My experiences with church have been laced with one or other forn of rejection. Once I was too young to be treated with respect. Once I was the wrong age for their congregation. Once I was 'not one of us' from the moment I arrived and for a whole year it was made plain that I would never 'be one of them'. Finally I was only a voicce in the choir devoid of human needs for friendship, deepening relationship, opportunities to serve in other capacities.
For me church causes great grief. Intensified by the last congregations total disregard of a series of deaths in my family while I was attending there. Support during grief was obviously coming from friends who didn't go to church - so I quit. No one seemed to notice or care.
Post new comment