 |
Why a Christian Should Care About Myanmar |
|
|
Posted By: blessings2you
The tragedy in Myanmar is slowly unfolding and in the process we are confronted with yet another agonizing challenge as Christians. Myanmar, or Burma as it was called, is NOT a Christian country by any stretch of the imagination. It is filled with Buddhists and other Eastern religions. It is run by a brutal military regime which suppresses human rights and rules the country with an iron fist.
When the tsunami first hit Indonesia and other surrounding countries back in 2004, the initial reports were of fatalities in the hundreds. With each day, as the scope and magnitude of the disaster became more and more apparent, the numbers multiplied greatly. No one can ever say for sure how many people were killed by that one huge catastrophe. It is estimated that well over 200,000 people lost their lives, but there were probably far more.
The humanitarian response in the weeks and months after the tsunami was incredible. Just in this country, we had two former Presidents work together to solicit contributions mainly for Indonesia due to the earthquake there. Millions upon millions of dollars was raised and sent to help truly suffering people. Major United States charities also sent millions of dollars as well as untold numbers of volunteers to help.
Still, there were many Christians who frowned upon the effort since Indonesia was a Muslim country and there were few Christians among those affected by the disaster. Some Christian groups went so far as to say those sending resources to a "heathen" country instead of a Christian one were guilty of sin. Unfortunately, in the field of disaster relief this happens far too many times.
I heard an incredible statistic last year. The country with the fastest growing Christian population in the world was-Indonesia. As it turns out, the poor peasants who were on the receiving end of all the aid and volunteers sent there after the disaster were so overwhelmed by the charity and love they SAW in the people helping them that they converted to Christianity. Lifelong Muslims became Christians because they saw the love which sets Christianity apart from every other religion in the world.
Those Christians who sat on their hands and refused to help the "heathen" missed out on the greatest blessing available in this life; that of genuinely and honestly helping people both physically as well as spiritually. Those Christians who feel all we need to do is put a Bible in the hut of a native and let him make up his mind whether to choose Christ or not are missing the whole point of what Christian love is all about.
Missionaries for years have learned that to really help the "heathen" they must help them build houses, dig wells, raise crops, get educated and receive medical attention. Words are simply not enough some times. Love in action speaks louder than words ever could, especially when overcoming language barriers, cultural differences and deep religious schisms.
As a Christian community we are once again confronted with the dilemma of how to deal with a disaster that is honestly beyond our scope of comprehension. Conditions in Burma were so destitute BEFORE the cyclone that what is left there now is not conducive to life. People had next to nothing before the cyclone struck. Now they literally have NOTHING in this life. Reports surfaced immediately after the storm of people spending their last money to buy ONE candle at super inflated prices.
Final fatality reports will never be accurate in a country such as Burma. God only knows how many tens of thousands of people lost their lives in the 12 foot storm surge and 120 mph winds of the cyclone. I would not be surprised to see the final total reach 50,000 or more. We in this country cannot fathom that many people dying as the result of one disaster. We are disturbed when 50 die in a bad tornado.
There are reports today that there could be well over one million people now homeless in Burma. The reason this figure is so high is because these people's homes consisted of a few tree branches and a tarp or cardboard. People living in the throes of abject poverty have "homes" made of whatever they can find at the dump or growing in the jungle. They sleep on the ground and eat whatever they can pick off a tree or rice. Everything they earn goes to finding enough food to stay alive. If they get sick, they usually die quickly through lack of medical care of ability to afford it.
When Jesus said what He said in Matthew 25, He was not just saying words to fill pages in the Bible. I beg you to read Matthew 25 and then read it again. Let it sink in what Jesus was telling us. I don't know about you, but I do not want to appear before Him and He say "I do not know you". The sad reality is that there are millions of "good Christians" who will hear those words one day because they refused to reach out to those who need it most.
Current evangelistic programs are notorious for wanting to have nice coffee shops in big beautiful new churches to bring middle class teens facing teenage crises to. This is all well and good, but who is reaching out to the homeless and destitute? Who is willing anymore to go to those who have nothing or have lost everything in this life? Who is willing to take off their nice Dockers and put on the old Levis and go get their hands dirty helping a family learn to plant a garden or learn how to fix their broken toilet?
Christians today need a wake up call to shake them out of their warm and fuzzy version of Christianity. They need to go spend a week in Myanmar and see what it is like to not have one ounce of fat on a body. They need to go spend a week helping victims of a flood or tornado who have lost everything and face endless delays getting assistance. They need to go to the local homeless shelter or food pantry or Gospel Mission and spend time helping those who no one else will help.
Yes, Christians have a decision to make about what to do with Myanmar. Do they "squander" their resources on "heathen" or give them to the local church to buy more coffee. Do they give money to build a bigger and more ornate church or give money to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and provide medical help to the sick? Do they take their next vacation on a cruise ship sipping martinis or volunteer to go help some of the thousands of Katrina victims still living in squalor.
Christianity is full of tough choices when it comes to where one invests their time and money. If the Bible is right, the choice should be simple; give to where those who need help the most can receive it from Christians who manifest the love of Christ. Please ponder what the Lord might have you to do in light of the incredible disaster unfolding in a place most of us never heard of until a few days ago. If nothing else, please pray for the millions who are suffering and who have given up hope of any help.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-By 2.5 License
permalink
Posted: 05/06/08 6:37am - Total Views: 556 - Category: Outreach / Evangelism
View: Backlinks
Similar Blog Entries: Quotes by Great Christian Leaders,
Christian Magazines,
Christian Rock music,
Christian Paradox,
ChristianBlog - A Christian Myspace,
Blog Tags: christian,
christians,
country,
disaster,
helping,
millions,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Membership Required |
|
|
Login to be able to view all the comments for this blog! If you are not already a member we invite you to become a member... it's free!
|
|
|
|
|
|
youaregolden |
|
|
Posted by:
youaregolden 
(Posted: 05/06/08 6:52am)
permalink
Amen Blessings... Thanks for hitting me with a brick this morning... definately made me think to where my heart is at.
YSIC,
-Golden 
|
|
|
|
|
^back to top^
|
blessings2you |
|
|
Posted by:
blessings2you
(Posted: 05/09/08 5:52am)
permalink
I must add that the ongoing refusal of the government of this country to allow relief workers and most relief supplies into their devastated land is something we should all pray diligently about. Until the iron will of the tyrants be broken, hundreds of thousands of men, women and children will suffer in ways unknown to any of us.
Unless the situation is resolved quickly, this cyclone will end up being a bigger disaster than the tsunomi was in '04. If aid does make it to these poor people soon, there could end up being hundreds of thousands of people needlessly killed by their own government's inaction.
B2Y
|
|
|
|
|
^back to top^
|
doulos |
|
|
Posted by:
doulos
(Posted: 05/09/08 12:21pm)
permalink
My church supports a few a churches in Myanmar and two of our pastors are going to Yangon next Wednesday with direct aid from our church. It is easier for a few people to get in inconspicuously and we can be sure that direct aid gets to the people because it isn't channelled through the Junta. It's slow but it's something. We are doing what we can and we should be following with more workers and aid soon. We've received an email from one of our outreaches and they are alright though without a roof over their heads. They have however found a place to stay. We haven't heard anything from them that isn't already on the news but I'll keep everyone updated should I have anything of interest to report. Keep praying...
|
|
|
|
|
^back to top^
|
kiwigirl |
|
|
Posted by:
kiwigirl
(Posted: 05/10/08 6:07pm)
permalink
Thanks, Blessings2you, for your challenging comments. I want to echo that our prayers are absolutely vital for Burma. Nor is it just a country of "heathen". Burma's Christians have an incredibly difficult time of it. They are second class citizens in their own country, known as the "C (Christian) Virus". They are not allowed to build churches, pastors are being imprisoned, and believers meet together at their own risk. The majority of Burma's Christians are from the ethnic minorities, such as Chin and Karen. The military junta (which is Burmese- the majority ethnic group, and strongly Buddhist) sees these ethnic Christians as a double threat, because they are fighting to hold on to their ethnic cultures, and they are Christians. To be a Christian in Burma is seen as anti- nationalistic; to be Burmese is to be Buddhist. These people's villages are being destroyed by the Burmese military, and they are on the run in the jungle. But it is not only the smaller ethnic groups who are suffering. The average Burmese are peaceful, faithful Buddhists, who also live under the oppression of a brutal dictatorship.
God has given me a real heart for Burma and it's people. After the riots of last September and the murder of the Buddhist monks (which no one ever believed could happen, because the Burmese have a high respect for their spiritual leaders), it became clear to me that there is nothing that Burma's leaders are not capable of, and I sensed that conditions in Burma would have to either become a lot worse, or begin to improve. It seems for the time being, that things have got worse. But I know God's heart breaks over what is going on in Burma, as does mine. But God is a miracle-working God. Please pray that in the face of this latest tragedy, God would begin soften the hearts of Burma's leaders, and also that he would continue to strengthen and grow the church- that there might be an oppotunity for the Christians to really reach out and show the love of God to those who are suffering around them.
God Bless you, and remember to pray.
Kiwigirl.
|
|
|
|
|
^back to top^
|
blessings2you |
|
|
Posted by:
blessings2you
(Posted: 05/10/08 6:44pm)
permalink
I am so thankful for you those who have a heart for this country. I am not personally involved but I have heard the horror stories about the country from groups working with persecuted Christians. I thank God some are trying to make a difference in one of the darkest countries on earth. Much prayer is needed and I hope will be offered up for these suffering people.
Thank you for caring and praying,
B2Y
|
|
|
|
|
^back to top^
|
|
|
Member Biography |
|
|
I served as an ordained minister for many years with a Biblical research and teaching ministry. Although I am no longer affiliated with the group, my love for "working the Word of God" and teaching it is as strong as ever. I belong to no specific denomination or organized group....
view more
|
|
|
|
|
|
ChristianBlog.Com is a ministry of 4CM Network.
goldie's bible study week 2 - 1 thess. 2 pt. 1
