Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Reflecting on Perspective


Last week I sat down to work on my Systematic Theology III paper on Jonathan Edwards. I found myself distracted as I wrote by World AIDS Day events.


ONE Campaign and (RED) ran a round table discussion featuring the last three presidents as well as Bono, Alicia Keys, Senator Marco Rubio, Coca-Cola's CEO, and others.

There are many misconceptions about AIDS, and the role the US plays in relief efforts abroad.
It is possible for mothers who are HIV positive not to transmit the virus to their babies. Anti-Retrovirus Vaccines save thousands of lives. The US spends less than 1% of its budget on foreign aid which saves thousands of lives.

I know the economy is the big issue of the day. Something Sen. Rubio pointed out, "The economy is tough, but it will be even tougher if we didn't have a workforce to take part in that global economy."

Watching this really put things in perspective for me.

My problems are that I had a 15 page term paper due the following week, I have to take my CDL test, and I still don't have enough money to pay for seminary.

Honestly, my problems are small compared to the 1000 who are born with AIDS every day, and the 24,000 who die due to conditions of abject poverty.

IT doesn't have to be this way. Most die because of the lack of clean water and access to waste disposal. The untreated waste in the world would fill up the Superdome in three days.

As small as my problems are compared to the greater ones faced by so many, our God is bigger.

This reminded me why I am going into ministry.

Kay Warren reminded me the church has always been at the heart of the community. Christ calls us to take care of the sick, the poor, the widows and orphans.

Francis Schaeffer told his students, we must make the distinction that we ask God to build His Kingdom here on earth and use us as He sees fit.

In my Father's Kingdom there will be no AIDS, poverty, injustice, slavery. By doing what we can here, by His grace, for His glory we will see His Kingdom transform our world. There will come a day where all wrongs will be settled and accounted for, either by the Blood or by wrath.

By doing what we can to end the injustices of our day, we are pressing into the Kingdom.

So what can we do now? Add your voice. Everyday, our leaders make decisions that affect the lives of millions. ONE has several opportunities to let our leaders know how we feel.

TEll someone else. WorldVision ACT:s offers advocacy kits to educate. We can see a generation free of AIDS.


And a bit closer to home, do something to serve someone you wouldn't normally.

I remember talking about some of these issues with someone else who disagreed with me. He told me, "We can't save the world."

I answered, "We saved the world three times last century and put a man on the moon while we were at it."

Sen. Rubio agreed with me, "This is the nation that ended WWII, that put a man on the moon. This will be greater than any accomplishment."

There's a new world for the winning. The day is here.

Edwards tells us to press into the Kingdom. "God is now calling you in an extraordinary manner: and it is agreeable to the will and word of Christ, that I should now, in his name, call you, as one set over you, and sent to you to that end; so it is his will that you should hearken to what I say, as his voice. I therefore beseech you in Christ's stead now to press into the kingdom of God! Whoever you are, whether young or old, small or great; if you are a great sinner, if you have been a backslider, if you have quenched the Spirit, be who you will, do not stand making objections, but arise, apply yourself to your work! Do what you have to do with your might. Christ is calling you before, and holding forth his grace, and everlasting benefits, and wrath is pursuing you behind; wherefore fly for your life, and look not behind you! But here I would particularly direct myself to several sorts of persons."