THE CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE OF HUMANITARIAN AID
By Shannon Hurley
Why is it that I so often feel sheepish about expressing our ministry's humanitarian needs? Why do awkward feelings accompany requests for helping the needy within my community?
I believe it is because “humanitarian aid” has received a bad rap or an unbiblical perspective. Properly and needfully, Bible-believing, Christ-proclaiming churches emphasize the importance of eternal objectives. They rightfully warn their church people to care more about the spiritual than the physical.
But unfortunately, I believe this has led many to see humanitarian aid in a bad light. They deem it as unimportant or even as unbiblical. But after having lived in Uganda for almost 20 years and having read my Bible more closely, I realize that caring for the physically hurting and destitute is essential, right, and should describe the lifestyle of all Christians.
The Bible actually is critical of those who just see their brother in need and simply say, “'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' without giving the things needed for the body" (James 2:16). The act of neglecting the physical needs of your brethren is expressed as not loving God (Matthew 25:45). The Bible actually calls caring for the needs of others as part of "pure and undefiled religion" (James 1:27).
Without question, God's mission is to build His Church and so humanitarian aid should have that as its greatest aim. And without question, the poor will always be with us (Matthew 26:11), but we should never forget that humanitarian aid is love. It is Christian. It is an essential expression of the Christian witness. And it is an important part of the ministry of SOS. And it has proved to be an overwhelming, credible validation to SOS's Christian witness. They know that we are Christians because of our love.
Thank you for making this possible, and let us all not get weary of doing good (Gal 6:9), but let us continue to let our light shine before others so that they may see our actions and glorify our Father in Heaven (Matt 5:16).
