 Notre Dame was a tragedy. The fire destroyed years of history. How is it though, that it has become such a politicized issue? The ash hadn’t settled yet before the global outcry began. How can you give money to rebuild it when the trees are dying? How can you finance a rebuild while refugees need to resettle? While there is war in the world, and the hungry need to be fed, how dare you? In other corners there was a not so silent rejoicing as social media lit up with those who celebrated the destruction of a symbol of the west, or France, or the church, or colonialism, the list goes on.
The debate raged about how best to use the money, each donation fanning the flames. Why? I get that each person has a cause, has compassion, has something that tugs at their heart more than anything else, but does it need to be at the exclusion of everything else? The underlying worldview is that “there is only so much” and that portion, or at least a portion, must go to that which I care about. My feeling is that the anger is misplaced. It shouldn’t be about the money. Money doesn’t solve the world’s problems because the problem with poverty is not a lack of money, there is a lot more to it than that. The same is true that no government will ever be the answer. Saturday was the 23rd week of continuous anti-government protest in France. Government will never solve all the world’s problems, neither will money, because neither are God. When we expect either to do this, we are placing them in a position that should only be occupied by Him. What is sad though, is how tragedy can be used to divide. What is sad is that our idea of justice involves sacrificing one good thing for another. It’s the poor, or the building. It’s us or them. If money is your god, then maybe there is a limit on the resources. God’s love however, extends to everyone. Sri Lanka, Christchurch, the hungry child, the dwindling rain forest, the homeless, the polluted ocean. Disaster, tragedy, a world shaken. When we become aware of the fallen nature around us, what should the response be? Division or hate is not the answer. Love is. Rather than look at the world in its darkness and hate humanity, God chose to die for them. For God so love the WORLD that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV, emphasis added) God loved the world. Everyone and everything in it. After all, He created it all. This is the good news of Easter. It isn’t a limited portion, a pie where only some get a slice. There is more than enough for all because Jesus died for all. Let me say it again, more than enough for all. There is love in abundance, but many don’t know this yet. Their slice has been cut, it’s sitting on their plate, ready to eat, but they don’t know. The good news is only good news if you hear it. When I look at the world today, how desperately does it need to be heard? Read more... |
