Living...and Obeying Jesus Among the Least of These

A key truth Jesus taught about the Day (from Matthew 25:40)  is "...whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did for me."

That teaching has become more and more important to us in recent years.

As we have distanced ourselves from institutionalized Christianity, we have moved further and further into the universe of the least of these.

Trust me: The universe of the least of these is an immense and diverse place with nice and not so nice people in it.

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As I've mentioned here a few times, Evie and I accept the reality that Jesus endorsed tithing, that is, the practice of donating one tenth of one's income.

We don't see any reason to believe, however, that Jesus intended the tithe to be given to the organized church as it exists as an institution today.

Our gathering doesn't have a budget. It doesn't take an offering. Evie and I don't contribute to the work of any religious institution. We give to advance the cause of the Kingdom of God, and we struggle to do it to the best of our understanding.

So, even though Evie took social security early and has a part-time job and I work in a grocery store and our income is a fraction of what it was when Evie worked full-time and I was a full-time parish priest in the institutional church...

...ten percent of our income is a decent amount of money if none of it is diverted to the religious institution.

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Imagine living in the world as a tither and feeling empowered by the gospel to contribute ten percent of your family's income directly to the needs of the people you meet!

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The truth?

There are so many people who have health problems not covered by insurance or government programs, so many people who are unemployed or underemployed who live frugally and can't pay bills for life's legitimate necessities.

There are, anyway, when you live in the world.

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One of the values that our community at Faith is built on that is missing from the institutional church is that Ephesians 2:10 describes a key element of the life of a disciple of Jesus:

"...we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God created in advance for us to do."

Living among the least of these, it is absolutely necessary to pray, "Lord, as I live here, among my friends and colleagues and acquaintances, show me the good works you have prepared in advance for us (me) to do."

There's so much going on around us, so much more than our resources can touch, we can't even begin to touch the need.

These days, I am feeling the pinch of the need of the least of these who are right in front of my nose. There are so many people who need to receive grace and others who could receive mercy.

And having wisdom for this moment is beyond me.