Christianity the Answer

One cannot help where one is born.It is by God's grace you are where you are.If it happens to be a third world country , under a oppressive regime or the affluent west . But one thing is for certain , if you have been blessed to live in the west , you are living in a time of riches . The fact is while I sit in my living room,typing on a laptop ,sipping tea , while I watch a big screen TV would tell about 90% of the world I'm rich .

But in truth under the Canadian guide lines for poverty ,my family lives under the income measurement for poverty. In reality poverty has to  be taken in context. Granted the house we live in is a barn in winter(it was so cold yesterday in certain rooms you could see your breath) , however it supplies shelter,has a flushing toilet,clean fresh water.The fact of the matter , in the west you will not find the same type of absolute poverty you find in so many countries. 

But why is this so? Why has the west been so blessed that even the poorest of poor ,in general ,are well off if one does a comparison. Its the fact the west has been deeply influenced by Christianity . Yes that dastardly religion that is evil according to the new atheist . Of course they mock it all the while being blessed by the freedoms under Christian thought brings. Ironic is it not.

When the gospel of Jesus Christ impacts a person , it changes the way you see the world around you. You realize that there is a creator , that all humans are have value , we are not just evolved blobs . That women have value and are created in God's image as well. Then once you open the Bible you encounter that your are to love your neighbor , do good unto others as you would have others do unto you ,show mercy,forgiveness , help the poor,the orphan and widow,to protect the weak , to pay a fair wage,to be a giver , not a taker , do not murder and on the list could go.

From education to hospitals , to the ending of slavery, Christians have been at the forefront in history . It even stopped a revolution . When the France was in a bloody revolution , England was under going a revival of faith that many historians believe stopped what could have been a similar fate in England. The gospel radically changes things. 

Think about it , why should anyone be altruistic or giving if Darwinism is true.If we are no more than a random group of talking cells , who thanks to mutation and chance , evolved by survival of the fittest , then why should I care if you starve in Africa or China. Why should I care if you are born with a defect and want to see dollars spent over your lifetime to keep you alive . Your inferior DNA junk , if the species is to survive put it down. 

Jesus called His followers to be salt and light to a dying and broken ,sin tainted world. At times we have not fulfilled that role as well as we should have .Yes there have been things done that have been awful in the name of Christianity , but the good far out weighs the bad. The bottom line , when God's word is properly read and applied , it will correct and convict those who have done evil in the name of the faith . 

So whever there is poverty , injustice ,violence and oppression ,the gospel is the answer . It does something that education and programs can't do , change a dead and sinful heart , who's god is self and awaken it alive to God . That is the power of an encounter with the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse Of The Day  :  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one  another.” 
              (John 13:35 ESV)