If We Are Willing-Part 2

Last updated on: October 17, 2013 at 7:00 am by Guest Contributor

If We Are Willing-Part 2 2013-10-17T07:00:00-05:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

by Stacy Dandridge
R3 Contributor

In my last post, I suggested that GOP members who want to “defund Obamacare” remind me of the story of Jesus and the Leper. You know the lepers…those persons we push to the margins. You know the lepers…the mothers in our communities who come to church to worship God, but is made to feel less than because she has three children and no husband. You know the lepers…the man who comes to church, serves in leadership, but is dying inside because there is no safe haven for him to discuss his struggles with alcohol, sex, and drugs. You know the lepers…the teen that is visibly struggling with their sexuality, but can find no love amongst the people of God. The lepers…the child who comes to church, watches their mom or dad serve in ministry, but returns home only to fall prey to parents who give attention through physical and sexual abuse. The lepers…the ones who struggle financially while we continue to create programs and offer products that push them to live beyond their means. But the question I want to ask is “what role do we play in the leprosy within our own communities?”

The affairs in our communities and churches require us to take healthcare beyond giving coverage to patients for a doctor’s visit, but we must act to socially, economically, and spiritually restore the lepers among us. This can be done by touching them and meeting them at their need. No longer pushing them to the margins of society can place them on a path towards social restoration. No longer providing overpriced products and introducing programs that encourage stewardship can help them realize economic freedom. Opening up places of worship that are free of pretense can help prompt their spiritual growth.

Yes, it is true that as a nation we must follow through with implementing healthcare that provides coverage for all. But if we are willing to be more like Christ then we, the church and the sacred communities are responsible for providing healthcare that ministers to the mind, body, and soul. If we are willing to be His Disciples, we must be willing to do the work of ministry even if it means we become labeled as lepers ourselves. So, will we be willing to respond to the call of God to take care of the least of these? Will we respond to the lepers in our midst and say to them what Jesus says to this man, “I am willing; be clean.”

Will we be willing to give someone else a new reality? Will you be willing to extend moral, social, psychological, physical and even spiritual healthcare to the least of these?

Follow Stacy on Twitter @sddanridge

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 16, 2013

The Tea Party As A Religion

Next Post

October 17, 2013 Religious Liberty and Evangelical Identity Politics

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Amy Steele Andre E. Johnson Book Reviews/Series Brian Foulks Call for Chapters Carol Howard Merritt Classes Conferences Contributors Crystal St.Marie Lewis Daniel White Hodge Earle Fisher Eulogy Fredrick Robinson Guest Contributions Henry McNeal Turner Institutes Interviews Joseph Boston Katherine Whitfield Kimberly Peeler-Ringer Lectures/Roundtables Natalie Bullock Brown R3 Book Series R3 Contributor Rashad Grove Readers Reflections Symposiums Teaching Traci Ellis Travis Harris Uncategorized Video

Select a Month June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 October 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz