What does it mean to take justice to the next level?
Pastor Phil taught yesterday on the parable of a rich man and a beggar who end up on opposing sides of eternity.
We live in a wealthy county next one of the wealthiest counties in America. We should pay attention to this parable.
You don’t want to end up on the wrong side of eternity.
The rich man found himself on the wrong side of eternity because of what he did with the “good things” he received in his lifetime. Being wealthy was not the problem. Keeping it to himself was.
For those who have been blessed with much, our response to the beggar is important.
When you look at beggars laying on the ground, do you weep?
Pushing beggars away makes you more like the rich man, and that is a problem. In our county, panhandling is illegal. The City of Raleigh wants to ban the practice of feeding the homeless.
For those who seek next level justice, this is not acceptable!
We have systematically “cleansed” our streets of having to encounter panhandlers. If we do not see the panhandler, the beggar, we cannot weep. We are sanitized and do not recall the presence of the beggar in our community.
But legislation does not define our practice. Find a beggar and meet her or him. Ask his or her name, as Nelson suggests. Redefine dignity for the beggars, and you might just experience life in a new way.
How will you take your justice to the next level?
Looking for a way to meet the beggars and make a new friend?
In Central Virginia
Richmond Justice Initiative: https://richmondjusticeinitiative.com
Combatting human trafficking in Richmond
Reestablish Richmond: https://reestablishrichmond.org
ReEstablish Richmond’s mission is to aid in the successful resettlement of newly arrived refugees by providing initial housing and working with partner organizations to facilitate life skills programs.
The organization’s building on Broad Street at the Boulevard will house 80% of the refugees coming into Richmond each year!
Salvation Army: www.uss.salvationarmy.org/richmond
Ministry to the homeless and others in Our City.
Hands Up Ministries: https://www.huministries.org
Ministry to Richmonders who need housing or employment.
This organization is a high-impact, highly localized organization. Most of their work is in the Northside in a concentrated area, and is high-touch with the friends they work with.
Nationwide
International Justice Mission: https://www.ijm.org
Combatting modern day slavery across the country and around the world.
Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org
Disaster relief across the US, including flood relief in Colorado.
