I work at a homeless shelter.
Matt 25:31-46
I work at the People's City Mission in Lincoln Nebraska.
I am no Saint. I am not very special. I don't want to be exalted or raised up because I am such a killer Christian. I am just a guy.
I also don't work in a Mission because I just read a Brian McLaren book. I am soaked up in middle/upper class christian guilt. I don't believe that the gospel should be expressed socially. I believe that it should be expressed with fullness (context), and as succinctly as possible. No post-modern rabbit trails down social justice.
I promise that I won/don't write stories from the mission to brag or to look cool. Because its not that cool. I just do my best to make it cool, and to see God's hand at work.
I believe that I am uniquely positioned in the mission to gain a more full perspective on humanity. Including sin and its affects on a human soul. And of course Grace and how it invokes a response from those who receive it (sheep vs. goats).
I also like people. I like making friends. I also find a deep satisfaction in practicing empathy. But only for the purpose of life transformation.
I like liking my job.
Ben
I work at the People's City Mission in Lincoln Nebraska.
I am no Saint. I am not very special. I don't want to be exalted or raised up because I am such a killer Christian. I am just a guy.
I also don't work in a Mission because I just read a Brian McLaren book. I am soaked up in middle/upper class christian guilt. I don't believe that the gospel should be expressed socially. I believe that it should be expressed with fullness (context), and as succinctly as possible. No post-modern rabbit trails down social justice.
I promise that I won/don't write stories from the mission to brag or to look cool. Because its not that cool. I just do my best to make it cool, and to see God's hand at work.
I believe that I am uniquely positioned in the mission to gain a more full perspective on humanity. Including sin and its affects on a human soul. And of course Grace and how it invokes a response from those who receive it (sheep vs. goats).
I also like people. I like making friends. I also find a deep satisfaction in practicing empathy. But only for the purpose of life transformation.
I like liking my job.
Ben
Labels: homelessness, missions, postmodern tendencies, social justice
posted by Ben at 9:46 AM
1 Comments:
Hey Ben! Great to hear that you are enjoying your work at PCM. I do hope that you will share some of your stories with others - especially in your middle/upper class setting - even if you don't feel comfortable doing it on here. It is my personal opinion that people need to hear it, not for your sake, but for theirs.
Hey quick question about the McLaren social gospel comment. I agree with you that the gospel needs to be shared as fully and succinctly as possible. However, wouldn't a full gospel include its social implications? And is it so bad that guys like McLaren are highlighting the parts of the gospel that the wealthy, healthy (physically speaking) Western church has historically forgotten?
p.s. If you had started working at the mission because you read a McLaren book, I would commend both you and McLaren, not be disappointed that it wasn't the bible. But that's just me.
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