“When my goal is to change people, I subtly communicate: Something is wrong with you; I am okay. You are ignorant; I am enlightened. You are wrong; I am right. If our relationship is defined as healer to patient, I must remain strong and you must remain sick for our interaction to continue. People don’t go to doctors when they are well.
The process of “curing,” then, cannot serve long as the basis for a relationship that is life producing for both parties. Small wonder that we who have come to the city to “save” the poor find it difficult to enter into true community with those we think needy.”
From Robert Lupton’s Theirs Is The Kingdom.
So here is the question I am pondering today: How do we move from “curing” the poor to entering into true community with them?
Any takers?
Nice timing… Our small group Bible study is discussing Luke 18:10-14 tonight and talking about religious confidence turning into religious pride. I think there’s a bit of relavance to your post in that passage… I would venture to say that viewing ourselves as “curers” of the poor is a reflection of our own pride and a failure to acknowledge the role of Jesus. He is the only one who can cure; we are merely the vessels, and sinning ones at that. If we have the attitude that WE can fix everything, then we’ll continue to flaunt ourselves as the solution and never reach others. It is in recognizing the true Healer of all people, rich or poor, and being humble in our own circumstances that we are able to begin to relate to those around us. Adjust the attitude, then follow through with the action. Easier said than done, but that’s my 2 cents…
By: Gretchen on April 22, 2008
at 2:37 pm
I think you’re on to something there, Gretchen. The first and most imperative thing we can do is remember that God is the only true healer.
After that, I think there are several things we can do to foster community rather than a sick/poor relationship.
1) Learn from each other. Ask questions about the person and their life experiences. Believe that their is a lot of wisdom walking around this world that doesn’t look, talk, and act just like we do.
2) Find ways to enter into their world. Don’t just be with them at the fancy church or in your home but show them that you care enough about them that you want to see where they live, meet their neighbors, and spend time in their day to day.
There is so much more to do/say but I will save it for another post.
Hope the small group time was good last night.
By: chrisfield on April 23, 2008
at 5:25 am