Silent Long Enough - Katrina

During the time Katrina hit, ironically, my children were with Heath’s parents in Disneyland. That was also the week I has ALL FOUR of my wisdom teeth pulled.

First a little about me…

Some know that I am not your typical American Christian. I usually vote democrat; in fact, I am a registered democrat. I strongly believe in social reform such as education for ALL children (regardless of citizenship). Public healthcare. Rehabilitation for non-violent criminals - instead of prison. And I am pro-life in every sense of the word. I don’t believe abortion is okay, but I also don’t believe in war or the death penalty.

So…

When Kanye West said, “George Bush hates black people.” I, for one, understood his message. I don’t necessarily believe that this is an issue purely about race, though. It’s mainly about the poor. And let’s face it, African Americans make up a huge portion of that class. We sweep them under the rug and pretend they don’t exist, but they do exist, they do! The attitudes of Americans - and perhaps the world – towards the poor is disdain and fear. Sometimes we accuse the condition of the poor to be of their own making – they’re lazy, they don’t want to work. I don’t believe this is how God looks upon the poor. If anything poverty stirs up compassion and action in God.

Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.

The poor of New Orleans did not have any way of getting out of that doomed city, nor were they offered any assistance for days on end. We can spend billions of dollars on rebuilding a country thousands of miles and way, and we can’t even offer Americans a lift out of targeted city or provide basic needs for survival.

I agree that we need to do all that we can do to help. Donate money, time, and prayers. However, it is imperative that we look at went wrong here. We need to point fingers to promote change in the system. There were gaps on all levels of government, local, state and federal. That is a HUGE problem, and one that needs to be handled so that those who are less fortunate are not forgotten and left in harms way again.

Luke 1:52 "He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were hungry. He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed."

Can you honestly say that you weren’t disturbed by the images of the young, helpless children and babies who for THREE DAYS did not receive ANY assistance?

I try hard not to share my political views simply because most people I know do not share my outlook, and that is okay. The fact still remains, we have been called to serve the poor. Protecting those who lead are nation in the name of God and then turn their backs on the poor is shameful.

And for those of you who say, “Well, there will always be poor people, and there is not much we can do about it”:

Prov. 29:7. The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such concern.

Prov. 14:31. He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

Mt. 25:31-46. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on His left.
Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite you in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
Then they themselves will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'
Then He will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."