He's getting my vote...

I just finished reading this book and there are some very profound statements throughout and I found myself re-reading and savoring as I read. The authors have a lot to say and cover much territory from beginning to end. There is significant thinking "outside the box" that many of us call church. My church is no different than many others in that we have yet to grasp the necessity to break down the walls and put ourselves out where the needs are evident. We wax and wane in our desire to be outside the established safety and comfort of our building. Many of us, in the body of Christ, see the challenge to reach out in love as Jesus taught us but we falter. Why ? I simply don't know. But, I'm not giving up.
Anyway, back to this book... I was so struck by the following passage I have thought about it for days. So, here it is : "As Shane's mother says, " Perhaps there is no more dangerous place for a Christian to be than in safety and comfort, detached from the suffering of others." We're scared of apathy and complacency, of detaching ourselves from the suffering. It's hard to see until our 20/20 hindsight hits us, but every time we lock someone out, we lock ourselves in. Just as we are building walls to keep people out of our comfortable insulated existence, we are trapping ourselves in a hell of isolation, loneliness, and fear. We have "gated communities" where rich folks live. We put up picket fences around our suburban homes. We place barbed wire and razor wire around our buildings and churches. We put bars on our windows in the ghettos of fear. We build up walls to keep immigrants from entering our country. We guard our borders with those walls---Berlin, Jerusalem,Jericho. And the more walls and gates and fences we have, the closer we are to hell. We, like the rich man, find ourselves locked into our gated homes and far from the tears of Lazarus outside, far from the tears of God."
Is this really where we are at in our lives ? Everywhere I look it seems to be true but it can change...it has to. Can a presidential candidate change it ? Can a political party full of talk and empty promises change it ? Quite obviously the answer is neither can so why buy the hype and get swept along with those whose real agenda is personal gain ? Jesus spoke to this so many times that it should be ingrained into the fabric of this country, but it is not. CLEARLY, it is not. So, what's the answer ? PRAY with power. STAND and resist what is false and evil. LOVE like your life depends on it...because it does.