I don’t remember most of the sermons and speeches I’ve heard, but I clearly remember a lecture given by Dr. Helmut Thielicke. This German theologian, part of the Confessing Church that opposed Hitler, gave a lecture in 1977 that dealt with the touchy issue of the church’s involvement in society.  Some argued that worldly issues were no business of the church.  Others insisted the main task of the church was to transform the world. Thielicke was somewhere in the middle.  He said “We cannot create a Paradise on earth. We can only do a little bit to make life better, but we must do that little bit.”

I agree with him. I have seen too many “grand programs” of the church go nowhere. On the other hand, I have seen churches make life better for people by concentrating on doing their little bit.  I have seen the difference made by paying to send a kid to Luther Springs camp for a week.  I have talked to people who received food from Interfaith Emergency Services.  I have read about villagers in Africa who have a safe supply of water thanks to a well dug by Lutheran World Relief.

I think about this frequently.  Life would be better for people if every Christian did their little bit to help someone in need.  Suffering could be diminished if every church addressed one need in their community.

We can’t be intimidated by the scope of problems in the world.  We have to do what we can. We must do our little bit.

Wayne

Read Matthew 25:31-36 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.