Religion, Sex, and Politics

This is one of those things that will tick me off every time. When we see people in need, or we hear a call to provide essentials for people who need clothing, food, or other basics, there is a segment of the population - and, yes, even within the church - who gather up their dusty, stored garbage to donate to others.

The things they long ago decided were not worthy of their own use seem to them perfectly acceptable for others. Yesterday's scratchy polyester clothes with stained underarms, fabric patterns that scream "1980" or worse, broken appliances, old worn out shoes, an old work shirt that still bears the patch over the pocket reading "Smitty," and the cans and cans of food bearing long passed expiration dates. One fall, in a food drive, I actually received a box of candy canes from the previous Christmas. I've seen all of this and worse in the name of compassion.

Several years back, when Hillsboro sent a team down to help with Katrina clean-up in Louisiana, we announced clearly that we would not take clothes, but instead asked for food, paper products, cleaning products, etc. But guess what we found dumped on the Fellowship Hall floor prior to the trip... yes, a huge pile of old, worn clothes, which we disposed of rather than take with us.

And when we got to Louisiana, we passed parking lots where there were literally mountains of these old, worn, and worthless clothes being rained on where they had been pushed out of the back of a truck in the name of compassion. So in addition to cleaning up their damaged homes, they had to clean up the trash the rest of the country dumped into their communities.

And now we're seeing it again in the aftermath of recent floods. The news article chronicles donations of "broken toys and used underwear." Ah, just what I would hope for my family to receive if we were to lose everything. Not to mention the message of love and support it conveys. Here's the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110515/ap_on_re_us/us_southern_tornadoes_donations

What is wrong with us? (Sunday School answer = "sin") Such gifts show that we want to find ways to feel that we are taking care of others without having to make any real sacrifice. But it's worse than that. In the process, we are only giving to ourselves at others' expense. We are gaining for ourselves that formerly unusable closet space, that shelf in the garage where Billy's 30-year-old broken toys had been boxed up... because God knows we would never let our grandchildren play with those nasty, dangerous old things. This behavior says to me, "I have no real interest in helping you. My only interest is in gaining a feeling of charitable superiority without the bother of actual sacrifice."

If you want to know how God feels about that kind of attitude, read about Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts (Acts 5:1-11). And keep in mind that they did actually give some of the money from the sale of their property, just not all of it. In our case, we sacrifice nothing, but still want the accolades.

So, bottom line, neither God nor the latest natural disaster victims want your dirty, outdated, broken junk. Go to the store, and pick out something you would love to have for yourself. Leave it in the plastic wrapping, with the tags still in place. Or just write a check to a Christian relief organization that will be feeding and helping people face to face.

...because if you bring that old broken and dated junk to Hillsboro, I'll be tempted to put it on display with your name on it (which still beats being struck dead by God).

Link: http://www.HBCnet.org

It's raining this Sunday afternoon. So I reach for an umbrella as I head over to the office, and am reminded once more...

Dee and I have bought a number of umbrellas over the years: huge umbrellas that could shelter a family of five, regular "couple size" umbrellas, and the handy little umbrellas that fold up into convenient sizes that could be coupled with a briefcase or even slipped into a purse. We've purchased conservative black umbrellas, colorful red and white ones, and some in casual-but-not-flashy greens and blues. But, with the exception of one small umbrella, I don't think we have any of those umbrellas anymore.

Oh, it's not that we are understocked. No, my friends, we have an abundant supply of umbrellas. Our umbrella stand is full, and we have extras in each vehicle. In the trunk of my car alone there are three umbrellas. You see, we are members of that amazing club called "The Church Umbrella Exchange." We have gone to church with umbrellas and, as the weather has cleared, we've come home with none. And we've gone on sunny days only to find, when it was time to leave, that it was pouring. And in those times, we have found an ample supply of other "orphaned" umbrellas laying around the church waiting to be adopted. And we were more than happy to give them a home - if only as a temporary foster family.

So we have a fascinating collection of umbrellas. Some are emblazoned with logos of companies with which we have no connection. I couldn't even tell you what the company does. Some look brand new, right off the shelf from Target or WalMart. And we have umbrellas for which I feel some sympathy, since they have a missing end fastener allowing the fabric to ride up, or a broken or bent rib which throws off the symmetry and dignity of the poor little umbrella. Using these misshapen umbrellas is no source of embarrassment for me. "Any port in a storm," after all. And when it's raining vigorously, there seem to be few people who are inclined to lean their own umbrellas back in order to survey the field with a judgmental eye.

I know we are a long way from the days of communal living and common-pot finances that we see in the early church in Acts 2:44-45, and for understandable reasons. But I like to think that we still have a small vestige of that spirit alive and well in the Church Umbrella Exchange."