Category Archives: Poverty

DISCOVERING SPIRITUAL WIMPINESS

Posted on February 14, 2012 by stanwiedeman

“I realized that I do not really trust in God’s sovereignty on a daily basis, as I have sufficient buffers in place to shield me from most economic shocks. I realized that when these folks pray the fourth petition of the Lord’s prayer – Give us this day our daily bread – their minds do not wander as mine so often does. I realized that while I have sufficient education and training to deliver a sermon on God’s sovereignty with no forewarning, these slum dwellers were trusting in God’s sovereignty just to get them through the day. And I realized that these people had a far deeper intimacy with God than I probably will ever have in my entire life.” Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Poverty, Sovereignty of God, Spiritual Maturity | Leave a comment

RAISING OUR RELEVANCE QUOTIENT

Posted on November 23, 2011 by stanwiedeman

Should the Church become culturally relevant? This question gets kicked around by Christians. The negative side fears absorption into the world and apostasy from the faith. The positive side fears society’s disregard and the attrition of the Church’s mission.

The current economic crisis has laid cultural relevancy at the Church’s door. Throughout history, the Church has had a reputation for compassion and generosity. Christians took an active interest in the affairs of their communities, particularly in humanitarian causes. Continue reading →

Posted in Christians Engaging Culture, Compassion, Generosity, Poverty | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

ABOUNDING

Posted on November 15, 2011 by stanwiedeman

God shapes a grateful heart in many ways. Our consumer culture incessantly tells us that we are one purchase away from happiness. Marketers do not nurture contentment, much less gratitude. Sometimes comparisons jolt us out of a fabricated existence. Seeing what I have in comparison to what many others lack humbles me. It exposes how liberally I spend and how miserly I give. Continue reading →

Posted in Contentment, Poverty, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

JUDGING HYPOCRISY

Posted on October 18, 2011 by stanwiedeman

People just cannot resist misquoting the Bible in order to support their positions. The MSNBC host of Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough, fell prey to this temptation recently. While interviewing Tavis Smiley and Cornell West, two prominent African-Americans, Scarborough took a swipe at political conservatives for their religious hypocrisy.

In the interview with his guests on “Poverty in America,” Scarborough accused conservatives, who consistently refer to religion in their message, of missing the core of Jesus’ message. To support his critique, he referred to a section of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25. Continue reading →

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