Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. -James 1:27
Relationships, acts of service, caring for those in need. Does this verse challenge your understanding of true religion?
During Christmas time you hear songs about peace on earth and good will to men and all that great stuff but how come when it comes to this time of year that is the last thing I see? Yea I mean people get really generous they buy gifts for all their loved ones (even when it's out of obligation), but I mean where is the love really? Take a look around and you'll see business, hurry, impatience, fighting, selfishness, all that over presents? Maybe my view is skewed but I don't think it is. What if people put as much time and energy into actually creating peace on earth as they do into their shopping lists and waiting in retail lines? What if everyone just stopped and looked outside our windows at our brothers and sisters around the world suffering from hunger, unclean water, lack of education, human trafficking, inequality, discrimination, unclean environments, child labor, poor criminal justice systems, and HIV/AIDS? The injustices occurring in this world are outrageous and I don't think people take the time to learn about them or even realize how much of a difference we could make if we would just lift a finger or a voice to help.
I want to tell you a little about the last one I mentioned, HIV/AIDS:
- In some places basic information about how HIV is transferred just doesn't exist.
- People who have the virus are often shunned and stigmatized, which only discourages others from being tested.
- Myths such as having sex with virgins will cure HIV have resulted in significant increases in child rape in Zambia.
- Despite the gains and increased awareness being made AIDS remains the fourth leading cause of death in low and middle income countries.
- In 2005 AIDS killed approximately 2.2 million people- every hour nearly 230 people die.
- A few years ago it cost around $10,000 for antiretroviral medication per person per year. Now it costs as little as $140 per patient per year. To many in sub-Saharan Africa the sum of this life-saving medication is a staggering impossibility.
I don't say these things to bring about despair. I say these things to bring awareness and simply address it. After all, AIDS is a threat, in some cases, to entire civilizations and it deserves to be acknowledged. For people choosing to follow Christ apathy is not an option. I pray you will open yourself to respond in whatever way God may call you.
I want to invite you to share in this ministry with me. I will be going into countries where AIDS is very very real. This is something my heart is drawn to. I want to hold and love the child who lost both parents to AIDS, I want to care for the family that already lost two children to AIDS while their third grows sicker. This is real. I read somewhere that AIDS is considered the modern day leprosy from Jesus’ time. If this is something you want to help me do I pray that God would lay it on your heart to help me financially throughout the race.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!" John 16:33
Some additional resources to check out if you feel yourself being called to action:
www.one.org
www.unaids.org
www.worldaidsday.org
www.wr.org
www.zealouslove.org/aids
*Most of this info comes from the book Zealous Love by Mike and Danae Yanoski.
