I was reading the Miami Herald online today, as I like to keep up with what's happening in South Florida. I used to live there and it seems to be that the coastal cities are an indicator of what eventually happens in the Heartland. The article I was reading focused on some Haitian immigrants that had arrived in Pompano Beach Florida, which is about 20 miles north of Miami. Most travel on makeshift rafts or stowed away in watercraft. Many times children drown or die along with their parents. Thanks be to God, these arrived safely. Illegal immigration and immigration in general has become a controversial topic in recent years. We hear much about it at election time, a lot of hot air from both parties, but no one really wants to confront the issue. In the meantime, emergency rooms are overcrowded , government funds are stretched to the limit leaving innocent children caught in the "crossfire." The problem is that the denominations which have their roots in the Wesley brothers have either become a denominational church which remembers the legalistic side of Wesley's teaching and forgets social activism, or a church of good works that has lost its moral compass.As Wesleyans we have a unique Christian Heritage. John Wesley believed there was a balance between personal heart holiness and a social Gospel of caring for the poor and disadvantaged. John Wesley believed the Christian could and should have it both ways. It is easy to look to a political party or leader to solve the social ills of our day. As Christians, we should give to Ceaser what is his and vote responsibly with Christian values in mind, hoping and praying the politicos don't turn on us as so many have done in the past. When Wesley started a "poor house for destitute widows and children," he had set it up so that he and the other Methodist preachers would also live with them, thereby maintaining solidarity. Here are Wesley's own words:
For I myself, as well as the other Preachers who are in town, diet with the poor, on the same food, at the same table; and we rejoice herein, as a comfortable earnest of our eating bread together in our father's kingdom. (A Plain Account of the People called Methodists, VIII:265)
In this day when many tele-evangelists are being investigated for misusing millions of dollars, it would be hard to imagine them living like this with the poor among us. What do you think?
