President Jimmy Carter, probably the only president never to have lied to us, tells a wonderful story about his childhood in Plains, Georgia. His family regularly attended a black church with its traditionally long services. At one point each Sunday morning when the saints were stirred they lined up to bring their offerings to the front where the church steward loudly called out the amount being given by each donor.
It seems like a highly motivating method for boosting the weekly intake. However, I must add it does seem to fly in the face of Jesus’ counsel about giving secretly and not allowing the left hand to know what the right hand gives. See Matthew 6:3. I am often put off by photographs of individuals giving giant checks to some worthy cause. It smacks of “Look at me. See how wonderful I am.” And yet I am told by fundraisers such photos inspire others to give. Since I am not very wise I don’t know the answer to the dilemma.
What I do know is Jesus did not give Himself for us in a secret manner. Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32. The cross was so public it became the dividing point in history. Two thousand years later we still shudder when we think of the horror of humans torturing to death the Creator of all things.
Our task is to continue to uplift Christ before the world. We do so by being the kindest, most unselfish, gentlest people others will ever meet. What a contrast this is to those who want to kill and maim as many people as possible all in the name of their god. Note I did not capitalize god in that last sentence because such a being is not God.
Written by Roger Bothwell on June 6, 2017
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