You're right, Buz. Talk is cheap. So why do you still own a computer? Why do you still waste your time here? Why do you sit comfortable, in America, when folks in Africa are starving? Oh, I'm sure you salve your concience with some tax-deductable donations, but is that really following Christ's example?
Okay, so I'm not buzz, but that's never stopped me from getting involved before....
I'm sure you know the story of the young rich ruler and how Christ told him that he needed to sell everything and follow him. He couldn't do it and went away. It's not about money, or possessions or about anything else external. The whole point is that he couldn't do it. His riches meant too much to him. That's what it's about. It comes back to the "You shall have no other God's before me." That money meant more to him then following God did. That's an idol. If Jesus had held onto possessions it would have hindered his earthly ministry, that's why he didn't. Strangely enough, for many people the opposite is true.
If there we're no Christians that had money, who would support those going to the other side of the world to minister to the poor? If there were no Christians with money, who would minister to the wealthy? If there were none who took the time and expense to become educated who would minister to the educated? We live in a world that puts a lot of value on position, on education, and on money. God calls each person to a specific place for a specific reason. The thing about true Christians with money is that the moment God asked them to give it up, they would. Without question. Quite often God asks you if you will give something up, just to remind you to keep you heart in check. Remember that He is first place.
In many ways I would prefer to be on the other side of the world. To live in a place where Christianity actually means something to the Christians. Where they truly understand the urgency of it. Instead of sitting in North America where the church is full of people who go because it looks good and not because of God at all. Instead of sitting where the majority of Christians are luke warm about their faith because we are comfortable and lazy. I'm not trying to minimize their suffering, but they understand faith. For that I envy their position.
The MINUTE God says go, I'm there. Instead right now he has me spending thousands of dollars to get a degree. Why? I don't have a clue yet. Maybe someday, he'll let me go. Maybe he wants me here. The main point of Jesus ministry wasn't that he didn't seek riches, or that he spoke of love. The main point of Jesus' ministry was his obedience to his Father, without that NOTHING that he did would have mattered.
The call of each individual is different. We are uniquely created to do a specific task, to have a specific path laid out for us. If I went to Africa to work in an AIDS hospital, or whereever else, I would be in sin because he told me to stay here. What your saying is one of the greatest sources of condemnation for truly committed Christians in North America. I decided a long time ago that I will not feel condemned for staying where I know God wants me.
Someone has to stay and minister to the ones in North America who are rich and say they have need of nothing. In some ways, my missionary friends say, staying here is harder.
"The life I preach I do not live...I follow at a distance crawling" - unknown
™ Version 4.2