Comments on: The Neighborhood is Changing http://www.contentunderpressure.net/2009/11/25/the-neighborhood-is-changing/ life. faith. action. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:12:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: April http://www.contentunderpressure.net/2009/11/25/the-neighborhood-is-changing/comment-page-1/#comment-20 April Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:21:36 +0000 http://www.contentunderpressure.net/?p=271#comment-20 Disturbing is an understatement, especially the resident's statement about the "appropriateness" of the situation. What could be more appropriate? No, we'd be more comfortable helping the poor from a distance in our planned devlopments, surrounded by our Pottery Barn furniture and flat screen television sets. It's easier to write a check and send it away. It's more convenient for us to go to the impoverished areas and offer help, then retreat to our homes. It makes us look more novel to go to the metro area instead of inviting the hurt, hungry and homeless into our own communities. Jesus is with the poor, not in a gated community. I'm not saying that gated communities, planned developments, or flat screen televisions are wrong. Pottery Barn may be evil, but that's another post. What is wrong is coveting our comfort and possessions over the needs of others. I am guilty of this myself....letting fear and comfort overrule my instinct to reach out to someone in need. As a woman, should I put myself in that danger? Well, we are called to be missionaries and servants. I think if there are individuals risking their lives to bring social justice in (insert underprivilidged society here, i.e. Darfur, Rwanda, etc.) then I can accept the risk in my own life to be a part of the Body. What is the answer? I'm not sure, but I think it's something other than turning the poor away for the sake of our property values and safety. We need to do better. I need to do better. Sigh. Disturbing is an understatement, especially the resident’s statement about the “appropriateness” of the situation. What could be more appropriate? No, we’d be more comfortable helping the poor from a distance in our planned devlopments, surrounded by our Pottery Barn furniture and flat screen television sets. It’s easier to write a check and send it away. It’s more convenient for us to go to the impoverished areas and offer help, then retreat to our homes. It makes us look more novel to go to the metro area instead of inviting the hurt, hungry and homeless into our own communities. Jesus is with the poor, not in a gated community.

I’m not saying that gated communities, planned developments, or flat screen televisions are wrong. Pottery Barn may be evil, but that’s another post. What is wrong is coveting our comfort and possessions over the needs of others. I am guilty of this myself….letting fear and comfort overrule my instinct to reach out to someone in need. As a woman, should I put myself in that danger? Well, we are called to be missionaries and servants. I think if there are individuals risking their lives to bring social justice in (insert underprivilidged society here, i.e. Darfur, Rwanda, etc.) then I can accept the risk in my own life to be a part of the Body.

What is the answer? I’m not sure, but I think it’s something other than turning the poor away for the sake of our property values and safety. We need to do better. I need to do better.

Sigh.

]]> By: Jason http://www.contentunderpressure.net/2009/11/25/the-neighborhood-is-changing/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Jason Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:01:15 +0000 http://www.contentunderpressure.net/?p=271#comment-19 I saw this article the other day as well. Its so sad how we just try to sweep the 'unpleasant scenes' of society under a doormat, and then pretend like it doesn't exist. I'm just as guilty as anyone else concerning this matter, but I just don't understand what will get our eyes to open to the fact that when Jesus said to love the poor, he really meant it. And not in a figurative way. I saw this article the other day as well. Its so sad how we just try to sweep the ‘unpleasant scenes’ of society under a doormat, and then pretend like it doesn’t exist. I’m just as guilty as anyone else concerning this matter, but I just don’t understand what will get our eyes to open to the fact that when Jesus said to love the poor, he really meant it. And not in a figurative way.

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