I saw a play back when I was in high school called Texas Meg. It was about an upper crust aunt and uncle who HAD to take in their niece, Meg, who was a country girl, because it was their CHRISTIAN DUTY. That phrase has resounded with me on more than one occasion. DUTY. Something that MUST be done, and not lovingly.
It was brought to mind the other day when I was e-mailing a friend talking about someone who coordinated a project in one of the neighborhoods here in town and that somebody needed to be in charge otherwise all the do gooders would be running into each other and duplicating efforts. But that’s not what I meant to say.
In my mind, I equate do gooders with the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. They do good to be seen of men. They think of the act and not the recipient. Need shoes, here, I don’t wear these anymore, you can have them. Not thinking about how that person feels getting second hand shoes. That’s not to say if I was barefoot and it was 20 degrees outside that I wouldn’t wear hand me down shoes, I’ve not been in that situation. Doing their Christian Duty, marking it off of their “to do” list and feeling rather sanctimonious that they gave up X number of hours on a Saturday or X number of dollars to help those poor people. Christian duty. Pharisees. Do Gooders.
I corrected myself and said that Christ doers also need to be coordinated to keep from duplicating efforts, but in my mind’s eye I see a completely different mind set. I see helping others while leaving them with their dignity in tact. New shoes still in the box or bag from the store, making sure they are the right size and fit. Not just, here, get rid of those ratty old things on your feet so I can feel good about helping, but let me help you try these on, if they don’t fit we’ll find some others. Things that Christ would do, in the manner that he would do it. And I think that is what sets do gooders and Christ doers apart.
Having been in and around churches most of my life, I’ve seen plenty of both. Working in Royal Family Kids’ Camps for the past 10 years, I saw the do gooders get weeded out pretty quickly because being a Christ doer is a bigger investment. Part of you gets left with the ones you help, and part of them comes away with you. That’s not to say I haven’t ever been a do gooder, I’m wired to fix things, so I will try to fix something even if it’s not best for that person, without a thought to manner in which I may be doing it. I shudder to think how many people have been “helped” by me in a fashion that dented their dignity, and that was the furthest thing from my mind. My intention was good but my execution wasn’t. Jesus is working on that with me and slowly I’m seeing the person first, and the needs second.
Do gooders also practice “checkbook charity”. The old, I’ll write a check but I don’t really want to get dirty premise. And yes, I’ve done my share of that as well, although most of the time my checkbook hasn’t been flush enough, so I’ve had no choice but to get my hands dirty. But that’s what Christ doers do. They are right there in the dirt and cold ministering to those who need. Jesus Christ didn’t sit in the temple and dole out miracles from afar, he was right there on the dusty roads, standing on the seashore, surrounded by the poorest of the poor, giving them what they needed most, a loving look, a helping hand, an acknowledgement that they existed in a society that ignored them.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve averted my eyes from the homeless begging for money on the street corners, refusing to look at them because I might see a person. Someone that society ignores. Something Christ would never do.
I understand that being a Christ doer is a lot more involved, more intimate than being a do gooder. I have to get closer than arm’s length, I have to get my hands dirty and maybe even my heart broken, but in the end, it’s easier, because I have a helper, an example, a savior to show me how. And after all is said and done, the reward is eternal.
Shalom
Stevie
Copywrite © 2010 Stevie Stevens Fort Worth, TX. Contact information: faithleap@sbcglobal.net
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