When I am with those who
are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes,
I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 1
Corinthians 9:22 (NLT)
I’ve been reading a book lately about the pilgrimage of George W.
Bush. It is all about his life changes
as he found himself being propelled into the White House. He went from an aimless – almost pointless
selfishness, to a life of untiring, unselfish service.
In telling this story the author often refers to how President
Bush’s faith was “on display” (as was the faith of his Oval Office
predecessors).
However, George Bush brought faith into politics as none of
his predecessors had, effecting changes in the way government viewed the
partnership between faith-based organizations (churches, para-church
ministries, all non-profits) and Washington.
In short, a man saw how ineffectively the government provided
assistance to those in need; he also remembered that, historically, the church
is charged with the responsibility of seeing to the care of those in need…and
he wanted to change things for the better by bringing the church and other
faith-based ministries back into the picture.
What President Bush did was just that – allowing faith-based
ministries to efficiently deliver aid to those on the margins of society; his
guiding principle was Biblical, and that principle was: …the best of the past should be made to
serve the future.[1]
To say that George W. Bush was criticized for bringing faith and
government together is to hugely-understate the backlash of the left and right
on Capitol Hill.
(Imagine that – a leader tries to lead and is criticized!)
On the other hand, his effort mobilized thousands of charitable
organizations to help millions of people.
The lesson for the church is of incalculable worth: We should never allow the fact that things
have always been done one way, to prevent us from changing for the
better.
Rather, we must always be looking to put to good use that which
has served well in the past – but, like Paul, we must be ready to find common
ground between the ways of the past and the need of the present and future.
To resist change because we like things the way they are…or
worse…the way they used to be…is to die.
For You, Today…
Do you have any sacred cows?
They make great barbeque!
[1]
George W. Bush, Quoted
by Stephen Mansfield, The Faith of
George W. Bush, (Lake Mary, Fl, Charisma House, 2003), p.88
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