Caring about Others

"Well, no one really cares about other people. We only care about ourselves."

The words from my co-worker took me back. "I care," I protested indignantly. "I care about other people."

He looked generally surprised. Not so much perhaps because it was me, but because he honestly seemed to believe that people were only out for themselves and their own benefit. He believed people only care about what affects them personally. But I don't believe that to be true. Not for everyone, at least. I care. "You do?" he asked.

I do. I care a lot. Sometimes, maybe... too much.

All of the things that are happening right now: increasing prices because of tariffs and trade wars, innocent people being deported - even children with cancer, resource dollars being cut for cancer as well as other important scientific advancements, the destruction of our forests and public land, the increased pollution of our water and air, the violations of human rights and due process, the taking away food and support programs for millions of children here in the US and around the world... none of it affects me directly… Yet. But I care.

My heart hurts for those who are hurting. Organizations and people I know are having to shut their doors to important community services because their funding has been cut. That could be me next, but even if it's not, it breaks my heart all the same.

Shouldn’t we care about other people? Especially as Christians. Isn't that a part of our calling?

After all, the Bible tells us repeatedly to take care of not only our neighbors but the strangers among us.

The Bible says that people will know we are Christians by our love. This doesn’t mean merely if we are kind or smile at them in the street or are happy-go-lucky. This refers to love in action. Doing the things that Christ said to do. Helping. Serving. Caring. Having compassion. Feeding the hungry. Homing the homeless. Clothing the naked. Visiting those in prison. Welcoming the stranger. These are incredibly concrete things that we were called to do, and they require that we care about other people - not just ourselves.

A meme on Facebook the other day said, "I don't know how to convince you that you should care about other people."

I don't, either.

Does knowing we are loved by God create a sense of superiority?

Because it shouldn't. It's not like we're special. It's not like we've done anything to deserve that love. No, all of us deserve God's wrath. It's only by His grace that we receive His love. A love that is for everyone, not just us.

Does knowing we are loved by God create a sense of privilege?

Because it shouldn't. But being White in America creates a sense of privilege, for sure, one which we want to deny but which exists anyway. White Evangelicals, in particular, have enjoyed a level of privilege in America for a long time. 

Sidenote: This administration has been restricting refugee admissions, refusing to accept in the country refugees who were already screened and ready to come, refugees who are, by and large, brown or black and poor. And yet they have now opened the refugee admission gates to fast-track (meaning, fewer screens and protections), white South Africans, calling them "refugees" when really, they don't even qualify under the legal definition of a refugee. This is a clear example of bias and privilege.

What makes Christians think they can get away with not caring about anyone other than themselves?

Where in the Bible does it say "me first", or even, "America first"? Where in the Bible does it say, just kidding, guys, don't worry about helping the poor, it's okay if you just hoard money for yourself.

It doesn't say that.

In fact, it says the opposite.

This warning in James 5 could very well be spoken to the U.S. today:

"Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure during the last days. Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter."

In other words, if you are getting rich off the backs of the poor and vulnerable, God hears their cries and you will be judged for it.

The rich in our country right now are getting rich off the backs of the poor and vulnerable.

They are taking services, supports, freedoms, and rights away.

We should care. We should care a lot.

Because if we support what they are doing, we should not expect to be exempt from the judgment that is coming.

Also, we should care because that's what decent human beings do. They care about other human beings.

Certainly, Jesus cares. 

So, what are we going to do about it??

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