In the midst of this negativity, I feel like we need to remember that we’re still the church. We are still called to love like Christ at all times and in all places, forsaking selfish ambition and following after Him. We are still called to be a part of the kingdom of God right now, to meet the needs of others right now. The truth is, however, that it’s often much easier to criticize a group, polarize over a theological issue, or take exception with a fellow brother in Christ than it is to take his hand and be the kingdom together.
What we want is one sweeping solution that will easily allow us to be the kingdom. We want a law to be passed that bans homosexuality or abortion. Maybe we want the government to enforce prayer in public schools and the conservation of the phrase “one nation under God” in our national pledge. What we often fail to realize is that our vote on any one of these given issues is not our unique kingdom authority. We can legislate morality to some degree, and we can enforce that legislation by having consequences for lawbreakers. But what we cannot do through laws is share the radiant love of Christ. We cannot reach out to others who desperately need our help and His forgiveness.
There is no one sweeping solution that will allow us to be the kingdom. We must be like Christ every day: meeting the needs of others and proclaiming the kingdom is at hand. It’s not the way I vote; it’s the kindness I showed to that child who desperately needed a friend. It’s not the candidate I support; it’s the love God has given me for that elderly woman in my church that needs someone to pick up groceries for her once a week. It’s not the legislation I endorse; it’s the school that I helped to fix up through hours of hard work because I wanted to show Jesus to our community. These aren’t easy, sweeping solutions. Being the kingdom is hard work and it never ends. But we have to start somewhere.
That is why I am supporting, and hope you will to, the ONE Campaign. Every three seconds a human being dies needlessly of starvation or sickness that could have been treated. Poverty the world over has caused this epidemic, and now there is a group that is speaking up and asking our leaders to do more.
What can you do? The ONE Campaign is not asking for our money, but rather for our voices. I have been a part of this movement for three months now, and it’s as simple as signing up and sending emails to our nation’s leaders, urging them to help those in impoverished nations that cannot help themselves. This is not about a handout; it’s about releasing impoverished countries from debt so that they can use their money to pay for education and medical treatment instead of paying off loans. It’s about giving an individual with aids $6 a month for treatment so that they can live long enough to see their children become adults and instruct them the whole way through.
Movie stars and rock stars are supporting the ONE Campaign. Pat Robertson is supporting the ONE Campaign; so is Michael W. Smith. The Nazarene, Methodist, and Episcopal churches are supporting this potentially world changing campaign. Bill and Melinda Gates (of Microsoft) and Bono (of U2) were recently named Time Magazine’s “People of the Year” for their work with ONE.
It’s time for us to get our priorities straight and be the Kingdom. I heard more complaining about Wal-Mart from Christians over the holidays than I did complaint about the pitiful impoverished state that many of the world’s countries are suffering through right now. We have been given much so that we can bless others with it. Will you join me and Christians all over the planet as we stand with ONE voice and attempt to gain aid for a lost and dying world?
*To sign up for the ONE Campaign or for more information, visit www.ONE.org today.

Tags: ONE Campaign