Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27
“Our responsibility as Christians makes us tremble. The northern hemisphere, the developed area of the world, the 20% who possess 80% of the world’s resources, are of Christian origin. What impression can our African and Asian brethren and the masses in Latin America have of Christianity, if the tree is to be judged by its fruits? For we Christians are largely responsible for the unjust world in which we live.”
Hélder Câmara (1909-1999) in “A Christian Commitment is Needed for Latin American Development,” in Latin America Calls March 1970, as cited by Michael Novak in The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism (Seattle: Madison, 1990) 404-405.
Most people think my travel is glamorous. While I go to amazing places and see some cool things, mostly great people of God, the hardest part of my job is reconciling the global inequity and injustice.
The answer is not to take from the rich and give to the poor. The answer is to remind the poor not to focus on what they cannot do because of what they do not have but to give God what they have and watch Him work.
In case you missed it, I shared the stats from the Palmful of Maize movement in Malawi as few days ago. Find them here. The vision has directly engaged 1+ million children in Malawi in only 3 years.
It’s bringing about revival in Malawi and encouraging mindset change in the next generation. So for the poor, my work reminds them to look to God and use what they have faithfully rather than look to the rich which fosters toxic dependency.
Simultaneously, my work with the rich or the places with churches relates to reminding them to live out their calling and fulfill their responsibility as disciples. Consider these stats from the Lausanne, State of the Great Commission.
I departed from USA, which represents 9.79% of the global church. Guess what country is #2 on the list: Brazil at 7.70%. When this posts, I will still be en route.
I am thrilled to connect with the top Christians in the country for two weeks to focus on shaping stewards and setting up a peer accountability group like ECFA in USA.
The countries with the higher percentage of Christians need to get their act together.
As I looked at the chart, and where I have spent most of my year, I found it ironic that the three countries in the top four with the most unreached peoples are India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Why is my heart drawn to those places?
God has a heart for those places! And receptive workers have called for help, so it’s been a joy to serve them in dark places. But a few Americans have questioned my judgment for traveling to these places due to potential dangers.
They always add to let someone else go there. That’s the problem. We push our responsibilities to others.
What’s my point today? I think the greatest act of generosity any of us can do as part of the global church is to fulfill our responsibility. If we have been blessed with little, we must use it faithfully.
And if we have a lot, we need to empty ourselves like Jesus and take a posture of responsible service. Otherwise we give God a bad name and reputation and we produce no fruits. God help us!
God bless my time in Brazil. Reply if you want a copy of my prayer schedule.