Helpless, continued...
I'm beginning to realize the reality of my situation. I am not only helpless to make the life of those in poverty better, but helpless to make the lives of anyone better. I can't help the poor. I can't help the rich. I can't even help my own children. Like Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate, all I can do is offer Jesus. Jesus is the helper. He is the healer. To expect more of myself is pride. To expect less of Him is blasphemous. That is the simple burden of the Christian...to carry Christ to others.

I can't help myself...I can only receive Christ, the helper and healer.

Bonhoeffer would say that is why the fellowship of believers is so important: that we offer Christ to one another. That the Word of Christ sometimes seems more trustworthy coming from others because we don't have the strength to believe it ourselves.

Added Note: Great comments/questions on this post, so I thought I would add something to clarify more of my thoughts on this. The question is basically, "Does that mean we do nothing?" I would have to say, "No!" Because I am helpless, all I can do is act on Christ's Word. My helplessness and my need for Christ--the Helper, Healer, and Saviour--compels me to act. I cry out for mercy and salvation because I cannot save myself. Likewise, I speak words of forgiveness to my brothers and sisters in Christ, not because I am able to forgive but because Christ has forgiven already. I offer aid to those in need, not because I can do anything but because I believe Christ works through his Body. I learn to turn the other cheek, not because it has pragmatic results, but because my only hope is to trust the Word of Christ. Does that make sense?
posted by Jimmy at 11:35 AM | |