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For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
I have been thinking about this since it first came up.
Someone commented that the money would have been better used to feed and clothe the homeless, or something to that effect. I sort of agree. Boy, what I could have done with the money they spent on that statue! But then it would have been gone, this statue will be around for a long time, and everybody who sees it will be reminded that Jesus had no home, and he says so in Luke 9:58 and Matthew 8:20. The statue also reminds me that whatever you do for the least of these you have also done for him. I don't know if the people I knew at St. Alban's are still there, but I know at least three of them were active in prison ministry, a cause near and dear to my heart. In any case, God has apperently used the gift they offered in ways we could not have expected - people are touched by the sculpture, people who have never been to St. Alban's or Davidson, N.C.
I caught myself thinking of my own response to one of the comments about the money spent. in Matt 26:11 Jesus says this about the woman who annointed him at the home of Simon the leper:
The message has outlasted any offering that could have been purchased with the money the ointment would have sold for. The sculpture is larger and has reached more people than the money they spent on it. Maybe they didn't plan it that way, maybe they did. But God appears to be using it.
Homelessness is something I think the Church needs to focus on more, not just bandaiding it, but systemically addressing it.
Homelessness is something I think the Church needs to focus on more, not just bandaiding it, but systemically addressing it.
It's similar to the conundrum with mission trips. The trend of Christians going on short term mission trips doesn't make a whole lot of economic sense. People spend thousands of dollars travelling to remote regions to do things they could have hired local laborers to do for a tiny fraction of that cost. You can send a team of 15 people to a remote region to build a well at a cost of $75,000 or you can just send that money to a missionary or pastor living in that region and they can hire laborers to build 10 or 15 wells for that amount. It makes no sense to waste that kind of money sending people to do things locals could do. But that's only because we aren't taking the human psyche into account. After those people return from their $5,000 mission trip, they return with a renewed sense of purpose, a passion to help the needy, and a love for the region they served at; many of them will begin to contribute regularly towards the long term projects and ongoing needs in that region. Some of those who go on such trips will even spread the word about the work being done in that region and will get others to give or to sign up to go next time. Having names and faces to go with the people they are helping boosts the giving tremendously. That wasteful $5,000 mission trip often turns into a lifetime of financial support for the region.
I can see the same occurring with a statue like tihs one. It may seem like a waste of money, but the inspiration it provides for people may wind up having a bigger and longer lasting impact than if that money had been spent directly on the homeless.
If you look through the bible, you see often people helping Jesus. They wash his feet in wine, they give him their last money for a burial cloth. Literally this man is helpless but that he can cast demons out of pigs and walk on water.
I have been thinking about this since it first came up.
Someone commented that the money would have been better used to feed and clothe the homeless, or something to that effect. I sort of agree. Boy, what I could have done with the money they spent on that statue! But then it would have been gone, this statue will be around for a long time, and everybody who sees it will be reminded that Jesus had no home, and he says so in Luke 9:58 and Matthew 8:20. The statue also reminds me that whatever you do for the least of these you have also done for him. I don't know if the people I knew at St. Alban's are still there, but I know at least three of them were active in prison ministry, a cause near and dear to my heart. In any case, God has apperently used the gift they offered in ways we could not have expected - people are touched by the sculpture, people who have never been to St. Alban's or Davidson, N.C.
I caught myself thinking of my own response to one of the comments about the money spent. in Matt 26:11 Jesus says this about the woman who annointed him at the home of Simon the leper:
For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
The message has outlasted any offering that could have been purchased with the money the ointment would have sold for. The sculpture is larger and has reached more people than the money they spent on it. Maybe they didn't plan it that way, maybe they did. But God appears to be using it.
I also thought of Matthew 26:11. The sculpture is beautiful and provocative, and you're right: You cannot put a price on the changing of just one human heart.
Christians are pretty self righteous when it comes to helping the homeless or giving food to the needy. Its hard to understand, but these whitebread Americans believe only they are the true benefactors of the needy, and that if a Krishna or Buddhist feeds the poor, then they are not doing it right, because they are not somehow doing it for the Christian God, which to me sounds like they are doing it for some kind of fringe benefits in heaven rather than feeling sorry for the poor, even though Hare Krishnas have a vast international network that feeds the poor and those pushed down by military strife.
Hare Krishna Food for Life - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christians are pretty self righteous when it comes to helping the homeless or giving food to the needy. Its hard to understand, but these whitebread Americans believe only they are the true benefactors of the needy, and that if a Krishna or Buddhist feeds the poor, then they are not doing it right, because they are not somehow doing it for the Christian God, which to me sounds like they are doing it for some kind of fringe benefits in heaven rather than feeling sorry for the poor, even though Hare Krishnas have a vast international network that feeds the poor and those pushed down by military strife.
Hare Krishna Food for Life - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Moderator's Warning: |
Homelessness is something I think the Church needs to focus on more, not just bandaiding it, but systemically addressing it.
Homelessness is something I think the Church needs to focus on more, not just bandaiding it, but systemically addressing it.
Homelessness is very tricky. Have you ever tried to think of a solution for it? You could build a million houses and give them away to the homeless but many non-homeless people will end up with these free houses. I was reading a thread somewhere in here about Utah having a successful strategy for combatting homelessness but I can't remember what it was.
And as I have shown--a single teaching from Jesus would solve manys problems--but teachers of darkness refuse to teach it--
Matt 6:33--Therefore, keep on seeking first the kingdom and his( Jehovah) righteousness, and all these other things will be added.( matt 6-Sustenance, covering, spirituality)==this is a promise from Jesus that his Father( Jehovah) would provide all 3 things daily if needed if they applied that single teaching) and its 100% truth--but they will not teach it.
Its as Jesus taught---- You do not know the one who sent me( Father=Jehovah)
Jesus as well called the one who sent him( Father) THE ONLY TRUE GOD( John 17:1-6,26--verse 6=Jehovah, 26=Jehovah)--- they refuse to believe Jesus over schooled mens dogmas.
This is the true God--John 4:22-24
they are pulling in billions to hide the true God to tickle ears with--you are saved or born again--yet not one of them has seen a single name written in the book of life, nor can they read anothers true heart, nor do they have a clue who can endure till the end( death or Har-mageddon)Matt 10:22---- from these I say---RUN.
Homelessness is something I think the Church needs to focus on more, not just bandaiding it, but systemically addressing it.
not really. only the people that want help will get it. those that don't won't.
you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
I have been thinking about this since it first came up.
Someone commented that the money would have been better used to feed and clothe the homeless, or something to that effect. I sort of agree. Boy, what I could have done with the money they spent on that statue! But then it would have been gone, this statue will be around for a long time, and everybody who sees it will be reminded that Jesus had no home, and he says so in Luke 9:58 and Matthew 8:20. The statue also reminds me that whatever you do for the least of these you have also done for him. I don't know if the people I knew at St. Alban's are still there, but I know at least three of them were active in prison ministry, a cause near and dear to my heart. In any case, God has apperently used the gift they offered in ways we could not have expected - people are touched by the sculpture, people who have never been to St. Alban's or Davidson, N.C.
I caught myself thinking of my own response to one of the comments about the money spent. in Matt 26:11 Jesus says this about the woman who annointed him at the home of Simon the leper:
The message has outlasted any offering that could have been purchased with the money the ointment would have sold for. The sculpture is larger and has reached more people than the money they spent on it. Maybe they didn't plan it that way, maybe they did. But God appears to be using it.
Interesting.
With all due respect - I don't understand why you need a statue to remind yourself of any of that since you're a believer. Throughout religious history a lot of religious sculptures, effigies, and reliefs were never to give more support to the followers, but to witness to non-believers and send a deeper message.
If Christ was on earth and we asked him 'do we use this money to erect a statue to you? Or this money to feed the homeless?' what do you think he'd say? I don't think he'd really be too concerned about yet another idol to himself.
When it comes to money and religion - having been raised by a religious family - I always found it offensive that people would give us things like free dental care and discounts on store bought goods because my father was a minister. I saw it as my father taking advantage of people even though, I'm sure, they did it willingly on their own to show appreciation and gratitude. Still - it always rubbed me raw. I favored charity - helping others, not us.
Throughout religious history a lot of religious sculptures, effigies, and reliefs were never to give more support to the followers, but to witness to non-believers and send a deeper message.
Homelessness is very tricky. Have you ever tried to think of a solution for it? You could build a million houses and give them away to the homeless but many non-homeless people will end up with these free houses. I was reading a thread somewhere in here about Utah having a successful strategy for combatting homelessness but I can't remember what it was.
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