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The Gospel and a Heart for the Poor
"Like nothing else could ever do, the gospel instills in me a heart for the downcast, the poverty-stricken, and those in need of physical mercies, especially when such persons are of the household of faith.
When I see persons who are materially poor, I instantly feel a kinship with them, for they are physically what I was spiritually when my heart was closed to Christ. Perhaps some of them are in their condition because of sin, but so was I. Perhaps they are unkind when I try to help them; but I, too, have been spiteful to God when He has sought to help me. Perhaps they are thankless and even abuse the kindness I show them, but how many times have I been thankless and used what God has given me to serve selfish ends?
Perhaps a poverty-stricken person will be blessed and changed as a result of some kindness I show him. If so, God be praised for His grace through me. But if the person walks away unchanged by my kindness, then I still rejoice over the opportunity to love as God loves. Perhaps the person will repent in time; but for now, my heart is chastened and made wiser by the tangible depiction of what I myself have done to God on numerous occasions.
The gospel reminds me daily of the spiritual poverty into which I was born and also of the staggering generosity of Christ towards me. Such reminders instill in me both a felt connection to the poor and a desire to show them the same generosity that has been lavished on me. When ministering to the poor with these motivations, I not only preach the gospel to them through word and deed, but I reenact the gospel to my own benefit as well." - Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians
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Comments (2)
That's a great quote, it's actually what we use to describe mercy ministry at church.
Just so well said.
Posted by Zac Martin | October 24, 2009 11:53 PM
Dear Josh,
I don't normally comment on your blog, but I wanted to mention something here. I find this quote really problematic. It seems very condescending and patronizing to people experiencing poverty, while maintaining a care for the poor. Poverty, in this quotation, seems to become a heart issue and a charity issue, rather than a justice issue. Vincent seems to ignore the reality that people are poor because of systemic injustices in our society. I wonder, too, if Vincent acknowledges that there are poor and impoverished Christians? That perhaps, worldwide, there are MORE poor and impoverished Christians than there are middle and upper class Christians...?
I haven't read your blog in a few weeks, so, starting at the top, I first read your post about "How to Insult God." Reading this post, with the patronizing quotation...it felt really discordant, and I just wanted to draw that to your attention. Thanks for reading.
Shulamit
Posted by Shulamit | November 1, 2009 4:01 PM