Why Go to Haiti?

Most news agencies, whether they be CNN or Fox, focus on the temporal reasons for the world to reach out to ravage torn Haiti. However, there is another reason that seems to be mundane and without reason for rushing to the aide of those millions. Certainly there is death and pain due to injury, but there is much, much more.

Amid the rubble of destroyed buildings and among the dead and injured of Haiti is heard the message of the Christ of Hope.

And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." Luke 4:17-19.

Almost daily there are messages of news that creates sympathy among the hearers, and news agencies dutifully share the horrid details of life, death, murder and terror. But very little is said of the world-wide efforts of Christians volunteering time, effort and resources to bring the message of hope and eternal salvation to those who are afflicted.

The people of the world, represented by governments and social agencies such as the International Red Cross, hold out to the injured a sense of well-being and hope for the moment. These international efforts are newsworthy as are the presence of untold sources of Christian organizations who do much of the same and more. The note of assurance that goes mostly unnoticed is the Gospel Message that is shared by the hundreds of Christian volunteers who are on site, too.

So why go to Haiti and other places like that who fall under the illusive hand of pain and suffering?

The Apostle Paul simply wrote in Galatians 2:1-2; 7-10:

Vv 1-2. Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

Vv 7-10. "But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They only asked us to remember the poor--the very thing I also was eager to do."

A Note of interest:
Paul uses the Present Active Subjunctive which is best translated “that we should keep on remembering”, and this brings the up the issue of how long should we remember those among us who are ‘poor’?

But, what about the poor, “Who are they?”

The Greek word translated as ‘poor’ is best translated as one who crouches and cowers, and therefore the short meaning of beggarly or poor. The normal use of the word is only for those of material poverty. However, I would submit that the New Testament use of the word must include and emphasize spiritual poverty as well.

This summarily brings us the intent of Christians traveling very long distances and using enormous amounts of resources to unashamedly proclaim the Gospel Message.

"So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Romans 1:15-17.

Unselfish and meaningful proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus is the most noted event in the lives spent in eternal Glory.

Jesus is Lord

BobW