God, Poverty, Mercy (Capstone Ministries)

This is a cross-post from the February 2014 (Volume 9 Issue 2) newsletter of Dan and Patty Schmelzer of Capstone Ministries in Kisumu, Kenya. You can learn more about the work God is doing through Capstone at: http://www.CapstoneMinistries.org/

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God, Poverty, Mercy "When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord...and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Luke 2:22,24

What is the best way to respond to poverty? Is mission work the same as poverty alleviation? Why did the Lord send Jesus to live in a family beset by poverty? 

The purification laws of Leviticus 12 required a Jewish couple to bring a burnt offering and a sin offering 40 days after the birth of a boy. A lamb was to be presented as the burnt offering and a dove or a pigeon as a sin offering. As devout Jews Mary and Joseph knew this and came to Jerusalem to present the required sacrifices. However we are only told that they brought pigeons or doves. Leviticus allowed for a poor family to present one dove or one pigeon for a burnt offering in the place of the lamb and the other for a sin offering. This is what Mary and Joseph did. This detail tells us much about the economic status of the holy family.

God the Father could have ordained that his only Son take on flesh and blood within a family with the means to support Him with all that he might require: a comfortable house, a good school, plenty of food and clothing. These are all things that every parent prioritizes for his children. But these things did not seem to be on the top of the Father's list for his Son. Instead he selected a poor couple with little in material goods to offer his Son. Joseph, his adoptive father was a common laborer. He does however show himself to be a man of integrity and sensitivity. When Mary is found to be pregnant, we are told "Joseph, her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." His human mother was a young, devout good girl. Mary's Magnificat recorded in Luke 1 shows her to be spiritually mature despite her young age. She knew her Lord well and links Gabriel's description with her words "my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Mary and Joseph were poor but Godly people.

So it is obvious that the Lord choose the spiritual over material. A loving and faith filled home was more important than a better house, more food or better economic opportunities. Even the message of the Prince of Peace prioritized the spiritual things of life over the material. He doesn't say in his Sermon on the Mount: "blessed are those who hunger and thirst for more stuff" but rather "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." Mt. 5:6

Capstone Ministries works with the poorest of the poor. Most are lucky to have one good meal a day, much less three. When we reconcile families with their sons from the street, the family is hard pressed to care for another mouth to feed. Most are challenged to provide the basics. Few can offer their prodigal son even a mattress to sleep on. The physical needs are obvious when our staff visit the families.

Even though we do, at times, help families with their physical needs, it is not our priority. Even as the Father wanted stable, righteous and God-fearing parents for the King of Kings as he grew and developed in Nazareth so Capstone works with families to establish the same for these reconciled boys. Parents who love God more than the trappings of life will also love their children more than anything else. This is why our budget plan focuses on home visits by staff. Encouragement, correction, reconciliation, Bible studies, and counseling all necessitate travel of our staff to the homes of reconciled boys. Sharing the Gospel is always best done face to face. People grow and develop in their faith when a trusted friend, pastor or counselor takes the time to visit with you, cry a few tears, laugh a little and talk over the important things of God.

There is a growing trend even in churches and religious circles to prioritize the physical needs of the poor. Some even call this "mission work." While caring for those in need certainly should be part of "loving our neighbor as ourselves", Jesus reminds us that "man does not live on bread alone." An empty stomach is a sad thing but an empty heart is even sadder. St. Francis was quoted as saying, "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words." I say "Preach the Gospel, and because it is necessary, use words."