Caring for your neighbours in need: a task for every Christian

To a large degree, our society has handed over the task of caring for its fellow men to the medical profession. It seems like there is a very clear divide: spiritual care is the church's responsibility, physical and psychological care the practitioners', hospitals', et cetera. However, you could question this development. People may expect more from Christian churches and congregations than just telling how to view the world's need. All Christians in all areas of society may be expected to care for their fellow men and the society God has placed them in. This requires active compassion. How can you put active compassion into practice? Lets take De Hoop Foundation as an example.

If you do not deliver them...
Throughout the years, the key quotation from the Bible for De Hoop has always been Proverbs 24:11: "Rescue those being led away to death. Hold back those staggering towards slaughter." (New International Version). In the older King James Version, it even says: "If thou forbear to deliver them..." (i.e. ‘if you do not deliver them...'). The latter is crucial for De Hoop. The task is clear. We cannot just withdraw from this task. Knowing how a person can be saved but refusing to tell this to him, is a serious shortcoming.

A saving hand
As a Christian care institution, De Hoop experiences the call to lend a saving hand to those who are lost. Caring for fellow men in need is not only a task for professional (Christian) care institutions, however: it is a task for every Christian. The world should see some of the hope that is within us. It is our deepest conviction that only within a Christian setting, people can address certain issues in the right way. For example: what can secular professional care really offer with respect to deliverance from moral guilt? And what about deliverance from demonic possession? However, the influence of Christians does not limit itself to care and attention. In the area of politics, business and culture, Christians should actively participate and be influential. This influence is crucial for this world. Only Christians are really capable of indicating the rights and wrongs in our society, based on the Bible.

Do not hold back
Christians do not have to hold back, Christians should not even hold back! Of course, this does not mean that we as Christian should stampede through the secular world. After all, the apostle Paul orders us to walk in wisdom: "Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." (New International Version, Colossians 4 verse 5). He also says: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." With this attitude, we should go forward and persevere.

Be of service to each other
As Christian organizations, churches or Christian political parties, we can be of service to each other. After all, looking after your own interests, trying to get concrete results is not something you can do alone. Often, in order to progress you need partners. People or organizations with which you can have a stronger and deeper influence. When Christian social organizations and political parties together realize their Christian ideals, they are a real help to each other. Churches, Christian social organizations and Christian political parties should find each other in putting the Christian witness into practice: that will be a living testimony of the hope and promises God has offered the world through Jesus Christ. We must guard ourselves from a deeply introspective Christian faith; a faith that ignores and does not want to bear responsibility for an active presence in our society. A faith that does not deal with the need in this world. Christian social organizations and Christian politics should not restrict themselves to just being a witness. They should act as well.

To not be paralyzed
As Christians, we should let ourselves be paralyzed by the social or political reality of today. As churches. Christian political parties of organizations, we should not strive for immediately solving all current problems in a Christian way. That is not possible. From our Christian charisma, however, we should take the responsibility for making as much effort as possible to provide answers to the existing need. It is important to set realistic goals. Nevertheless, this enables us to make a real difference in this world. Lets take every opportunity to reinforce the Christian presence in our society. This requires a commitment, choices as well as an active involvement and cooperation. Christians can offer reliable alternatives, alternatives that radiate the Christian testimony. We should not get stuck in how not to do it, but also indicate and show how to do it differently.

To the outside
As Christians, we are often very introspective. We have much attention for matters concerning us or our group. However, it is not right to remain stuck there. About us, Jesus Christ said that we should be a salt and a light. We cannot be salt if the salt stays in the salt bottle or if the light remains hidden. In order to be a salt and a light, we should actively participate in as many areas of life as possible: in the area of care for our neighbour, politics, professional care, et cetera.

How to do it differently
A powerful testimony against the wrong developments nowadays continues to be important. However, it is equally important to voice alternatives. For example, Christians could devote themselves for expanding and improving of care facilities for mothers with unwanted pregnancies, pain relief, terminal care, educational support, et cetera. In this world that is ruled by economics and figures, there is a desperate need for real compassion, attention and warmth. Christians can offer those things.
Put into practice
Issues, such as command, authority, support and influence should be earned by what you achieve in a certain area. The Christian testimony of individuals, social organizations and political parties should, therefore, be put into practice. The challenge lies in making concrete and realizing mutual ideals and objectives and through that, putting the Christian testimony into practice. Christians need each other, not only to talk about the light, but to be a light. This is a task for each of us. By going into unusual directions, we can share an unusual Message.
This requires people that - through their relationship with God - are willing to devote their lives for the benefit of other people.

Published in De Hoop Magazine, no 1, 2006