I was watching the news this morning as commentators continued to bloviate about whether or not it was appropriate for the President of the United States to deliver a speech to school children. Some accused the President of political manipulation and attempting to create a "cult of personality." Others declared that this was a grand gesture of leadership. Personally, I don't have a dog in this hunt. I don't particularly care if he delivers the speech or not.
What got me thinking was this...what would happen if we took all the energy and passion being spent arguing over a rather innocous and uninspired speech and put it toward ensuring that no child in this country goes to bed hungry?
I recognize that on an issue like hunger (or homelessness, poverty, unemployment, etc.) there are many different opionions about policy and how best to resolve the problem. That is a good thing. Debate is a good thing. It helps us to sharpen our vision and devise better public policy. But we waste so much of our debating energy on silly surface things that, in the long run, make little difference.
As Christians it is easy for us to sit on the sidelines in most of these debates because, afterall, Jesus had very little to say about the speaking engagements of the President of the United States! He did, however, have a lot to say about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, comforting the afflicted and caring for those in any kind of need. Jesus commanded us to speak and act on these things as well. As long as one child goes to bed hungry, the church has an obligation to speak out on their behalf and do everything in our power to make sure that the sun never sets again on a hungry child.
Our concern is not HOW the problem of hunger, homelessness etc. get solved but THAT they get solved. The church is not and should not be about party politics or left vs. right. As the body of Christ in the world we are about proclaiming the Gospel in word an deed. Part of that proclamation is reminding the world that there are issues of great need that deserve far more of our attention and energy than a politician's speeches. What is a better use of our time and energy: using children as pawns in a game of political chess or caring for them as Christ commanded us to do?
