By this time, my head is swirling with so much information, I'm afraid many things are losing their identity as they become part of a composite. I have multiple things I want to touch on in and as we are leaving tomorrow for Columbus I am rushing to add a few more posts to this blog.
As one might expect in a mission as big as the Katrina relief effort there is controversy in its miidst. In some ways it is a storm within a storm. It would seem that much of the relief effort being done by churches is being dictated by the government as it restricts the use of grant money for specific things. It is not allowable to use money or resources from these funds for rebuilding churches and one cannot use the opportunity such work provides to evangelize by sharing the Good News. This is a necessary part of the separation of church and state. One should not have to have religion forced upon them as they receive help. That is an essential part of government funded assistance. Thank God for the government assistance! It is helping so many people.
Yet we were reminded yesterday that the mission of the church is primarily to proclaim the Good News of Christ Jesus crucified and risen. Our acceptance of government grant money has limited the church's ability to carry out this mission. The work of social service is necessary, but should it be done in a way that limits our primary mission? Perhaps churches should not be afraid to stand on their own, trusting in the generosity from members of the Body of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit and forego the government grant money.
Mucked out and rebuilt houses etc. are part of the recovery, but as the Gospel proclaims and we experience in our own lives true healing comes from our faith in Jesus Christ. That is the Good News we must proclaim to a people broken by Katrina.
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