Love in Action

Our local paper features a call-in “vox” section for readers to anonymously voice their comments, opinions and complaints about everything under the sun. One recurring theme is the question, "What good is religion?" Some critics lump all religion together and argue that the world would be better off without it. The more cynical and hardened ones take it a step further and level that charge at Christianity in particular.

The argument is certainly not new, nor is it exclusive to the little local paper in my community. But there seems to be an increasingly vocal outcry, as evidenced by big-selling books such as Christopher Hitchens’ God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything and Sam Harris’s The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason.

Granted, religion has caused some problems throughout history. And some not-so-nice things have been done in the name of Christ. But to say the world would be better off without a belief system that mandates love of one’s neighbor – and not only that, but love of one’s enemy – is simply off base. Those who truly follow Christ and live out His commands have surely made this broken world a far better place to live than it would be otherwise. Just consider a few examples of Christian ministries that positively impact the world today:

• Samaritan’s Purse, devoted to disaster relief, HIV/AIDS relief, medical missions and children’s care both nationally and around the world.
• Wellspring International, providing care internationally for at-risk women and children, particularly those in prostitution and sex trafficking.
• Living Hope Community Centre, specializing in care and support for those affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa’s Cape Peninsula.
• Cry of the Orphan, a network of Christian churches and organizations devoted to awareness and advocacy for orphan and foster care.
• The good old Salvation Army, whose mission is “to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”

These are but a handful of examples. Obviously there are many more. And certainly there are non-Christian organizations that do good in our world as well. My point is that it is irrational to claim that Christianity makes our world a worse place rather than a better one.

On a local level, I’ve seen selfless love in action this week through the work of Family Promise. This is a nationwide interfaith program that builds networks of local congregations to care for homeless families. Each congregation provides overnight lodging and meals for three to four families for one week every quarter on a rotating basis. A day center hosts preschool children, provides showers, and serves as a resource center with phones and computers for adults looking for long-term housing and work.

LowCountry Community Church is one of 13 participating congregations in Beaufort County, and it was our turn to serve as host this week. Two families with children of varying ages were our guests. I’m pretty sure the hospitality was a blessing for them, and I’m certain it was for the volunteers who made it happen. If your local church is not involved in Family Promise and you would like to know more, go to www.nihn.org.