|
OthersMargin is “the amount available beyond what is necessary”. This week we’re talking about having margin - for others. Look around you - there are so many differences in people: looks, stature, weight, skin color, speech, etc. Then there are differences in politics and financial conditions, those happily married and ones who are divorced or single. Some are very committed to Jesus Christ, while others are just trying to believe. And outside of this room, this church, the differences grow exponentially. We often have a problem relating to people, because we have drawn conclusions about them based on differences. Many of us would be embarrassed to admit how we think about others – how we drive them away from even the edges of our lives, because we have evaluated them by the positions and opinions we hold. The Gospel calls us to develop margin in our lives for people and their differences. It challenges us to accept and to love those beyond the narrow borders of our perceptions and ideals, to care though we disagree deeply. Jesus made room, created margin, for all kinds of people to be received and accepted. Having margin does not mean that we shouldn’t have answers and opinions on issues. But we can have such strong opinions that we push them to the very borders of our life, leaving no space for conversation, ideas, or meaningful discussion. Certainly as a church we have positions on many issues, but that’s not what we want to be known for. Jesus was amazing at showing margin for others. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors In those days tax collectors were considered vile, despicable people. They were exploiters. When Jesus made margin to have a conversation with Matthew and his friends, it was beyond the pale. Jesus didn’t “belong” in that building with those people - obviously, he didn’t agree with them. But he had enough margin to allow them into his life, to touch his heart. It’s so easy when we live in a church environment to think “we have the answers, they don’t.” When that becomes our relational mantra, we disqualify people who are of a different opinion. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” …... The Samaritan woman said to him “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (for Jews did not associate with Samaritans.) To a Jew, Samaria was a loathsome part of the country. There was nothing about a Samaritan that was tolerable to a Jew. Also, at this time and culture, men did not speak to women in public. It was unheard of, unacceptable behavior. Jesus was a Jew. Think about the margin Jesus had in his life, to not only talk to a Samaritan woman, but to invite her into the conversation! 3 things to remember regarding margin for others: 1. Everyone is valuable 2. Everyone has a story 3. Everyone wants to be heard We need margin for others. The church needs it. America needs it. does not compromise our faith or opinions. It makes us more like Jesus, and causes others to see the grace of Christ that can be theirs. Last week I was in Haiti, in the village of Chambrun. The world has been responding to the suffering of Haiti without margin – without knowing or listening to what the needs really are. In Chambrun, a hospital building is being built – where there are no doctors or medical people. State of the art kitchen appliances were given to the little school – that has no electricity or running water. In a nearby city, a gated mansion was built to house the city government - in the middle of all the rubble. It was done with donations from people who had money to bestow, but no margin to give – no time to consider the differences between their ideas of help and the real needs of a broken people and culture. What can we, as a church, do? Over the last few years we have built a relationship with the village of Chambrun and the Haitian leader there, and through that relationship have gained some understanding of the needs of this village. Nehemiah ministries has 50 acres there where they have experimented with growing crops. Water is 90 feet down, and there is no well or irrigation. What we would like to try to do is dig a well for an irrigation system. We want to gather some engineers and talk about an appropriate solar-driven well pump, and an irrigation system that would work in Chambrun. We would go down and install the system with Haitians, and work with them on agriculture. This is going to take a long time. We ask you who are engineers and would have expertise in this area to pray about getting involved. Wednesday, June 9th we’ll have a meeting to begin forming a team to work to solve this irrigation problem and develop an economic engine that will allow this ministry to flourish. We’re not sure it’s the right answer - but it’s an answer born from margin, from years of listening and talking and building relationship with a people and culture very different from ours. Margin for others.
Feel free to forward this article. |
