I was sitting here watching a documentary about something that happened in the late 1930s called the Holocaust, with my husband this morning and I found myself crying. So I thought well, I will get on the internet, and try to take my mind off of the television show we were watching. The homepage was showing pictures of San Francisco and the trash and filth that was on their streets in some of their neighborhoods. Tenderloin, Chinatown, and Mission District are the names that were mentioned. I could not believe what was left on their streets. The downtown slums were, by some, compared to the world's poorest slums. I found myself crying over that. I turned my attention to Facebook, as I was looking at all of the posts that they were posting, I asked myself what is happening to the world I thought I knew? Such hatred seems to have happened overnight. I know that people have their politicians they like and those they don't, but, this is more than distaste for someone, it's deep-seated hatred. I know that people are coming across the border illegally, but not for refuge, but for taking over America. They come bringing their home country's flag waving it and yelling. We have people in our own US Congress that are not for America, and our good, they are wanting to change America into the parts they liked about their home country. I know when people are United States Citizens their voice should be heard as well as mine, no more than mine though. I matter just as much as they do. I get offended as well as they do, but I don't hate them. Why am I seen as a Hater, when I say what matters to me? They don't want to hear a different view from theirs, they will scream at you and try to overtalk you. They will flat-out curse at you. Vilest of words, that come out of the mouth of a lady. I believe everyone elected must love America and want the best for all of the people, not just a few. I believe an elected person should go by our Constitution. One Nation Under GOD means united as citizens praying for each other. I know GOD is JEHOVAH and HIS SON IS JESUS THE CHRIST. The lost pray to their god all they want, I know not all people are saved, but that is to the Christians' shame. We are not doing our Missionary duties in America, we are trying to reach the lost in other countries instead. I believe we Christians here in America can reach every soul, feed every mouth, find housing for every person and get medical attention for everyone. Where are we? What are we doing with our time? Are we doing our duty, when all we do is sit in the building of the Church on Sunday, or Saturday, or Wednesday? Do we say Bless GOD a lot, and do nothing else. Maybe we say we are Blessed beyond measure, and not being a Blessing to anyone? When the store clerk asked how we are, we say, Blessed, how are you? Do we ask because we care, or do we want to make a show of our "spirituality"? Maybe we care about the lost, -out there-in the other parts of the world because we aren't able to do anything for them. Our souls are at ease because we send a few dollars to a charity once a year, we feel great about ourselves, we have helped those poor people. It is easy to puff ourselves up wanting to think we are doing our best. Our best only means helping, without putting ourselves out, inconveniencing our own selves. We do our best only when we take action to the lost, poor, and homeless close to us.
I Pray we will not forget about them any longer, after all forgetting what Christian Charity is, is why AMERICA is in the shape it is in.
Read below what Paul says in The Holy Scriptures about Charity.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, and have not Charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all Faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; Charity envieth not; Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the Truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, Hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth.
I have often wondered about the word CHARITY, and what exactly did Paul mean when he used it instead of the word LOVE.
He knew the word LOVE but chose not to use it. My definition of CHARITY is giving to others when they are in need, but as you can see where Paul said, THOUGH I BESTOW ALL MY GOODS TO FEED THE POOR, so it is not just giving If your things.
Paul says Charity suffers long and is kind, doesn't envy, doesn't brag about the things that are done, isn't doing it for self-glory, it acts with decency or morality, not seeing what it can be gained for self when doing, doesn't get riled up easily, thinks only good things, doesn't take joy in evil but REJOICES IN THE TRUTH, it endures and doesn't stop, it believes, hopes, it stands through everything, CHARITY NEVER FAILS.
So I come to believe that CHARITY is more than love and giving, IT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF AN EVERLASTING LOVE, THAT GIVES CHEERFULLY FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS. CHARITY GIVES, BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO TO DO, NOT FOR ANY ACCOLADES OR PRAISE. CHARITY IS ALWAYS, NOT JUST WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT. HEARTILY, AS UNTO CHRIST!!!
Donna Purifoy