This coming Sunday, November 7th, is National Orphan Sunday. People of God's church all over the world will give pause to the many millions of orphans around the world. Some estimate the total crisis now includes over 150 million children. This figure is growing at a rate of nearly 12 million per year. This coming Sunday, many church goers here in America will be more bothered over the recent election results than the couple thousand children who will starve to death during our Sunday school and "worship" time. Nonetheless, we will give pause as we lift our pathetic worn out songs of praise. We'll oblige by airing a two or three minute video giving the fatherless a proverbial head nod. And most of us will walk away from that experience feeling better as if we have somehow contributed to the solution.
"Whoa! Slow down there, Duane. You sound angry." I guess I am. While I do not pretend to be the judge over anyone, we all stand before the one true Judge and He can see our actions. He can see our lives. He can see our hearts. He is watching as we indulge ourselves and ignore the needs of others around the world. He knows that His church is forgetting the orphan, the fatherless. And we will be judged accordingly.
Isaiah 1:17 urges the people of God, "Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. DEFEND the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows." Most understand that DEFENSE is hard work. In battle, in sport, and in Christ's community, defense is not for the faint of heart. If as a church we decide to remain weak-minded, fearful, complacent, silent and spineless, the blood of orphans will be on our hands.
Too many of us are unaware of, disconnected from, and completely uninvolved with the orphan crisis. Often we prefer to remain numb to the painful realities around us. So we settle for the status quo and avoid like the plague the rocking of any boats. Fact: God cares about orphans! Therefore, if I am going to be a God follower, by nature I must care about orphans. Is there any possible Biblical argument against this notion? More men and women of God must be willing to stand up and boldly proclaim the simple truths revealed in scriptures concerning this marginalized segment of the global population.
Do something! Today. Start asking questions. Begin praying. Consider emailing my friend at World Vision and sponsor a child on a monthly basis. Families - consider fostering a child or legally adopting a child. Network with others. Talk about the crisis at school and at work. Research the matter and come to your own knowledge and understanding of what's driving the crisis. Will it cost you? Absolutely. Can you possibly make a difference? Absolutely. Does the gospel demand it? Please...please believe that it does!
