Helping the Poor and Orphans: Stop Kony 2012

One aspect of the Christian life that I think in our culture is often forgotten is the command from Jesus to help the poor, orphans, and widows. It's so easy to forget about this if you're living in an American suburb where you rarely, if ever, see a homeless person or know of any orphans. However, when we read the Bible we are faced with the challenge to care for these people that often slip our minds. I was reminded of this truth when recently reading Money Possession and Eternity by Randy Alcorn. (I highly recommend this book, which is extremely thorough, theologically accurate, and challenging.)

In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to watch over the needy, since there will never cease to be poor around.

You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:10-11

Jesus set the example for how we should act, frequently caring for the poor and healing beggars and outcasts.

"When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Luke 14:12-14

James also encourages us with a theme seen throughout the Bible - to care for orphans and widows.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

I had just finished reading this chapter when I found this video online. If you haven't seen the original Invisible Children movie, make that a priority this month. It's shocking to find out what horrors African children are facing in their daily lives. This recent video is a campaign to not stop until the leader of the rebel army (who has captured thousands of children and forced them to become killers) is captured. The gist of it is that the African armies lack the strategic intelligence to find this man on their own. Obama has put American advisers in place to help them, but they could be taken away at any time. We have to let our government know that we as American people care about this issue. Kony is at the top of the world's worst criminals list. Take that in! It's pretty pathetic that this has been going on for 3 decades while the rest of the world stands back, not taking action because it doesn't involve us. As Christians this is UNACCEPTABLE. 

How can you be involved in helping the poor and orphans? Here's one way: be a part of this movement to stop Kony in the year 2012. I am expectant that this movement will be a game-changer. I want to be part of a generation that sets out to fight evil and wins. Imagine how many other issues could be solved if we as the people step up and demand action from our government, one of the most influential governments in the world. This is history.