One book I made time for this summer was Richard Stearns' The Hole in our Gospel. It has been out for a while ... I had been meaning to read it for years. But, the book never took priority until recently, and after reading just the first few pages, you quickly discover why. It's not an easy book to read! It's written to make you feel uncomfortable with the way things are, and motivates you to do something about it!
Stearns' essential message summed up in a sentence is this: The gospel -- God's good news! -- is not simply something we believe; it is to be lived out.
After all, if we were starving, sick, lonely, or treated unjustly, would we want to hear the "good news" from people who are blind to our physical needs? Doubtful. But if those same people reached out with their actions and helped to meet our daily needs, we might care to listen.
Stearns writes, "We are the carriers of the gospel - the good news that was meant to change the world. Belief is not enough. Worship is not enough. Personal morality is not enough. And Christian community is not enough. God has always demanded more. When we committed ourselves to following Christ, we also committed to living our lives in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God's character - His love, justice, and mercy - through our words, actions, and behavior. ... He called us go out, to proclaim the "good news" - to be the "good news" - and to change the world. Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option" (page 3).
The author goes on to write about how God transformed his heart (and his life) to do just that. His journey is an incredible story, and when combined with shocking realities about our broken world - one filled with heartache, disease, poverty, and injustice - you can't help but be moved. Especially when we acknowledge that Jesus was the perfect example of how to share the good news of the gospel. Jesus sought out the people who were overlooked by everyone else -- the lowly fisherman, the tax collectors, the sick, the poor, the lame, the orphans and widows, and so many more on the outskirts of their society. Why should we not do the same?
This book was especially poignant for me because of where I live. I can walk 10 minutes in one direction and find myself in a quiet neighborhood, surrounded by large, beautiful homes with panoramic views, flower-lined yards, and three car garages. Or, I can walk 10 minutes in the opposite direction and find myself in an extremely urban area where the homes are overcrowded and falling apart, the streets are noisy, and trails of garbage and graffiti grab your attention. What a stark contrast between the rich and poor.
Then there's me. Living in the middle - wishing I could "even it all out." Dreaming of how supposedly simple it would be to take from the wealthy and give to those in need. But of course, I know it's not that easy. I can only do the part of one person -- and encourage others to do the same.
While reading this book, I also came upon a blog post from a favorite author of mine, Ann Voskamp. She recommended several ways we can help change the world (click here for the full post). Here were a few of my favorites:
1. Pray for those in need. I was reminded of how often I ask God for my own needs and for the desires of those I interact with regularly. Yet I so easily forget to pray for those around the world (or in my own neighborhood) whose needs are far greater than my own. I may not know their names or situations, but God does. Reading this book also prompted me to fast more often (maybe one meal a week or one day a month?). I know that fasting would not only remind me what it is like to be hungry, but also to pray for those who are truly hungry all the time.
2. Make it a goal to tithe 10% (or more). Now that my husband and I are both working and seeing larger figures each month, it has become more difficult to continue giving God's portion away. But we have seen first hand how God provides when we give generously, and we trust He will keep doing so!
3. Give wisely. It is important to us that the organizations we give to use our gifts in the most effective ways. It is worth the research to make sure that our money is used to have the largest possible impact.
4. Be near the poor. It is much harder to remember those in need when we do not see their needs. Now that my husband is working in a local nonprofit organization, we believe it is essential for us to live in the community where we can interact with his clients.
5. Sponsor a child. I am considering doing this with my class this year. My husband and I would provide the financial support, but my students could help us pray for the child and encourage him/her with drawings and letters.
6. Buy wisely. Wear justice by shopping from stores that do not exploit their workers. There are a few stores that we haven't shopped in for a few years now, after discovering some ugly truths about their business. Check out the Better World Handbook or the Better World Shopping Guide for tips on where to shop.
I highly recommend The Hole in Our Gospel. It was heart-wrenching, but also a great reminder that we should not just believe in the Word, but DO what it says, even when it's not easy.
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