Today's pic is the first submission we received from one of our communities using the newly harvested and distributed maize. We began sharing funds for grinding early in the week and suggested they do the July feeding program as quickly as possible so we can get back on track in August, and we have been receiving pictures like this daily ever since.
Maybe I explain this more often than I realize, but do you ever wonder WHY we started Shoulder 2 Shoulder and WHY we have been working hard to share with our Zambian brothers and sisters for nearly six years now?
LOVE.
As Rog and I have studied the life and legacy of Jesus, we have determined that a bit of GOOD NEWS focused on telling a destitute brother and sister, "Hang in there, if you embrace Jesus the NEXT life will be much better" doesn't really seem to fit with the GOOD NEWS He taught and exemplified.
One of the difficult problems with interpreting scriptures written between 2,000 and 3,000 years ago is trying to figure out when is METAPHOR being used and when should we just accept the text for what it says. I believe the modern American church has done some backflips with this problem to get to that emphasis on the NEXT life. One fascinating example of the difficulty telling when to interpret as METAPHOR versus interpret as LITERAL is in a story Jesus told in Matthew 25. In this story, Jesus seems to tell of a future day when He will JUDGE all nations based upon how they treated the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, and the prisoner. At the end of the story those that SHARED are ushered into everlasting life. Those that DID NOT SHARE are sent away.
Many have taken the REWARDS literally - meaning literally two eternal options resulting in everlasting life or everlasting punishment. But because the TEST doesn't match the expected test, it must be spiritualized in some way. I wonder if that has been interpreted entirely opposite of the intended meaning. What if the eternal rewards are hyperbole intended to get our attention, but the TEST is exactly what it sounds like?
One reason I tend to think the TEST should be considered literally is right out of our 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 text on which our organization was founded. After Paul tries to encourage the Corinthians in their generosity using the example of the Macedonians, he says this:
2 Corinthians 8:8-9 I say this not by way of a command but rather, by the diligence of others, proving your love genuine as well. For you know of the grace of our Lord Jesus [the Anointed]: that, being rich, he impoverished himself so that you might be enriched by his poverty.
In this text, it is almost as if Paul has Matthew 25 open (I don't think he does, because I think his letter to the Corinthians was written before Matthew was written.) and is reminding the Corinthians of the TEST. LOVE. The TEST is about LOVE. In Matthew 25 the test is about LOVE. And in these two verses Paul suggests he wants them to SHARE in order to "prove" their LOVE. But he doesn't stop there. The very next verse he reminds them that Jesus himself PROVED HIS LOVE in a similar way. He was rich, but he impoverished Himself so that we "might be enriched."
I'm tempted to jump, once more, to First John 3:16 & 17 again right here. But I think it would be redundant. And I have shared it many times. And you know where to find it if you want to remind yourself why I would consider using it again in this blog post. John also seemed to be interested in a LOVE that was PROVEN by SHARING.
LOVE. It is THE command.
Do we LOVE by saying to our destitute brother and sister, "Here is the way to a better LIFE in eternity?" Maybe. But that doesn't seem to be how Jesus loved. And it doesn't seem to be what Jesus taught. And it doesn't seem to be how Paul interpreted the life and teachings of Jesus. And it doesn't seem to be how John interpreted the life and teachings of Jesus.
This is why there is a Shoulder 2 Shoulder organization.
LOVE.
We believe those of us who claim to be following the life and teachings of Jesus have the opportunity to DEMONSTRATE the love of Jesus flowing through us by SHARING with those in need. If you interpret the life and teachings of Jesus differently, but are open to considering a fresh perspective, we enjoy those conversations and would be happy to have you in our community that is trying to go deeper into LOVE. Thanks for being interested enough to give this blog a read. I try to give an update weekly, and I often devolve into spiritual considerations like today's post.
