American Christians

on Feb 03 in Church, Everyday Life, Faith, Third World

What’s that Lee Greenwood song? Oh yeah.

Proud to be an American.  I hear it every July 4th.

But I confess that, over the past ten years (give or take a few years), I’ve been less than proud to be two things:

* An American.

* A Christian.

I have my reasons for both.  Some are good reasons, and some are simply excuses to continue being cynical.  And I’m working on that.

But…

From the moment the earth shook in and around Haiti, I have watched American Christians respond with sacrifice, courage, and love.  And I’m blown away.

And they’re making me proud to stand with them.

I’m proud to be an American Christian as I watch Storme’s father travel to Haiti with Samaritan’s Purse Ministries, providing much needed medical supplies the day after the horrific quake.  Storme’s father is in his 70′s.

I’m proud to be an American Christian as I see the group of Christians currently being detained in Haiti.  They’re all from the Central Valley Baptist Church in Meridian, Idaho; and they’re being held for trying to get Haitian children some help across the border.  I’m extremely proud because last night, when Larry King interviewed their family members here in the States, they didn’t utter a single negative comment about the Haitian government, or the US Government.  They simply communicated love and grace.  I don’t think King knew what to do with their answers.

I’m proud to be an American Christian as I watch Lars and Rhett leave their jobs, their wives, and their children to minister to the people of Haiti.

I’m proud that Jason helped our company (Floodgate) see that we didn’t have an option NOT to donate funds the day after the earthquake.

I’m proud that churches everywhere are giving millions of dollars to help.

I’m proud that the church I now attend already has an ongoing mission in Haiti, and that for them, an immediate missions trip was a no-brainer.

So if you’re like me, you walk through some of your day asking when Christians will stop arguing about doctrinal issues, and start doing the things Jesus talked about – feeding the poor, clothing the naked, ministering to the sick, and becoming a voice for the unheard.  And perhaps like me, you wonder when Americans will give up their pursuit of wealth in the suburbs, and start to give their lives away to the lost and the least.

I think we’re seeing something special right now.

And I wrote this post to simply confess my own cynicism, and to focus myself and others on the astounding work that God is doing through…

American Christians.