Over the past 10 years, over 5 million have died in the Congo unnaturally because of Civil War, famine, and disease - all preventable. I wrote about this crisis about a year and a half ago. We continue to face an incredible humanitarian crisis. This is the largest death toll in a country since WWII - imagine the entire state of Colorado dead in a decade because of war, disease, and malnutrition. What have we been doing about it? Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Jesus also said, "whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me." Have we missed ministering to Jesus in the Congo? I don't know what the answers are, but I am at the point that I don't want to just write about such things anymore. I also don't just want to pray, as important as that is. I confess that I have done nothing. But, I must start asking, how can we be involved and give our lives so that the Kingdom of God will come, as Jesus told us to pray, in the Congo? What can we do? Can we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and bring peace to a war ravaged part of the world? It seems that the power of the Holy Spirit within us could make this possible. Have we raised up peacemakers to go to the Congo? Have we prayed? Have we given? Does our Gospel not move us to step into the hell holes of this planet and lay our lives down? This seems too difficult and too daunting for us, I know. But, nothing is impossible with God. Aren't we supposed to disciple nations?
One last thing: I am not speaking of the many missionaries who have gone to this land over the years. Many have gone and God has blessed their work. I am speaking to myself, primarily, so that I never grow accustomed to human suffering or turn a blind eye because it does not affect me directly.
May we not look forward to dying in a warm bed of old age in this country drawing on our retirement while children die because they can't get a bowl rice in a foreign land. If we know Jesus, our eternity is secure. What are we afraid of? What are we holding on to?
RESOURCE: My friend, Jay Lorenzen, is involved with a movement called Families For Africa. There are several practical ideas about things that individual families can do to begin to make a small difference in the situation in Africa. Perhaps you might pray about some of these things as a way to get started making a difference from where you are. I suggest that you think about the Congo.
A constant exposure to the world's violence and inhumanity, via the media, has deadened our hearts to the plight of those who suffer. We watch CNN and shake our heads, not knowing what can be done to help. You ask some good questions in your post. Exactly what are we willing to do while standing by and watching 5 million die in the Congo? Thanks for confronting us with that which we would rather ignore--or just as easily--change the channel.
Posted by: Guy Muse | January 26, 2008 at 10:49 PM