Pastor's Corner

22 Apr
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Mid-Week Challenge

As you might know, today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.  Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries.  Over the past few years this event has been marked with speeches, workshops and meetings.  Many in the United States have met this day with mixed feelings because it has been used by some as a political tool.  Global Warming and Climate Change are now buzz words that separate many down party lines.  Celebrities have cashed in by hosting extravagant parties where they rub elbows with other wealthy celebs and politicians spouting the evils of the industrialized world while at the same time enjoying many of the comforts that industrialization has provided.  Examining the intentions of the founders some 50 years ago we learn that the movement was in part to bring peace around the globe.  To accomplish this peace, one would think that the goal would be to find a way to work together and make peace with our fellow person but the modern emphasis appears to be to make peace, not with people, but with Mother Earth.  Maybe it’s because she does not talk back? Many in the movement appear to be willing to push the advancement of nature at the expense of human sacrifice.  We have to look no further than the details of the Green New Deal to see that some are willing to sacrifice the future of human existence for the sake of returning the planet to pre-industrial revolution levels.  Many organizations have claimed the “peace of humanity” as their motivation for radical methods but none have actually been able to follow through, why? I believe that there is a small group of people who will stop at nothing to see that those who disagree with them politically never achieve the very goal they say they are working towards.  Take for example the movement in New York City to remove Samaritan’s Purse from providing aid during the COVID crisis.  In the middle of the biggest humanitarian crisis we have ever seen one would assume that help from any source would be welcomed and celebrated, but that’s not true.  People like Whitney Tilson and his family are proving that peace will never be accomplished because of the haters (the leaders of the movements) will not allow it.  If the story of people like Tilson and his family were told the haters would be out of business.  Why is the Tilson story so important; because in the middle of the crisis this nonreligious man and his politically liberal family found a way to partner with the politically conservative Samaritan’s Purse to bring aid to the people of New York.  Tilson had never heard of Franklin Graham but as a businessman himself he investigated the construction of the white tents you have seen on TV in Central Park that has become the rollover hospital in the hard hit area.  Tilson and his family have volunteered each day, meeting the staff and reported them to be professional and friendly. When people criticized him for his work with the organization he said, “I’m supporting a hospital that is saving people’s lives. I’m not endorsing the ideology of the founder of the organization.” (Read the whole story here:  https://religionnews.com/2020/04/21/under-fire-from-many-this-new-yorker-is-a-stalwart-champion-of-samaritans-purse/) Now why would so many people think that Samaritans Purse would capitalize on a political agenda at a time of crisis, because that is exactly what they would do if they were given the chance.  Tilson’s story proves that an organization like Samaritan’s Purse can put politics aside and show genuine, unbiased, human compassion toward those with differing political beliefs and maintain a Biblical Worldview.   

In this time of need the Tilson’s attitude should be that of every person, but it’s not.  And that is the reason we will never have real peace.  Every crisis is an opportunity for some to capitalize on a personal agenda.  Isn’t time that we put our differences aside and stop listening to celebrities and those in the media with an agenda attuned to ratings and their financial gain?  Have we lost the ability to recognize something good and support it for the good of others? Isn’t that the idea behind the words of Jesus to “love your neighbor as yourself.”  If we want to make this world a better place we need to focus on human behavior and much less on political agenda.  The Tilson family has proven it can be done, Samaritan’s Purse has proven it can be done, but will their story be told? And now that we know it, will we follow their example?  

 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”  Luke 10:36-37

Serving the Savior

Bro. Jonathan

By: Dr. Jonathan Richerson

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