I am sitting here staring at a blank white page trying to find the words. How do you review a book you believe has changed your life? Sounds kind of dramatic, but it is true. I have recommended this book to anyone who will listen to me; I even emailed my pastor and told him about Richard Stearns “The Hole in our Gospel.”
I think I am still processing everything the Lord is teaching me and I have come to the point of saying, “Ok Lord I get it, what do you want me to do after reading this book?”
I am not an advocate, never planned to be one. About a year ago I wanted to quietly sponsor a child and keep it that way…quite. I did not even share with my parents when we decided to sponsor a child. Why broadcast it? Then the Lord had me read more about poverty and then led me to this book. And the Lord asks, “Lori can you really remain silent and not tell others about the children out there?”
And the answer is NO.
The human side of me would rather delete this post, this is not my comfort zone. I predict many will not read it all, they will skim and mutter “another charity post.” If I can challenge you, this summer read Richard Stearns “The Hole in Our Gospel.” I highly doubt you will walk away unchanged or unchallenged. The question will be what will you do with that challenge?
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Two thousand years ago, twelve people changed the world. Stearns believes it can happen again.
“Preach the gospel always; when necessary use words.”
“God is responsible for the harvest—but we must plant, water, and cultivate the seeds.”
“We have shrunk Jesus to the size where He can save our soul but now don’t believe He can change the world.” – Anonymous
“..the lesson I learned was that God expects us to serve Him on His terms—not ours.”
These are all sentences I have highlighted in “The Hole in Our Gospel.” Author Richard Stearns is the CEO of World Vision. He explains throughout this book his belief there is a large hole within our Christian community.
“If there is a hole in our gospel, in our understanding of the nature of God’s call upon us, His followers, it is not because Scripture is unclear about these issues. Rather it is because we have chosen…to pay little attention to God’s unmistakable message to bring the whole gospel to the whole world.”
Stearns goes on to explain, “…our problem is that the plight of suffering children in a far-off land simply hasn’t gotten personal for us.”
Whoa wait a minute, many of us Christians say in response. I give to missions; our church has a mission’s lunch, or a mission’s month. A survey of pastors was conducted and they were asked what they considered real priorities for churches. From greatest to least: worship, evangelism, children’s ministry, discipleship programs, and a low 18% listed helping the poor and disadvantaged people over seas. (pg185 Hole in the Gospel).
Why should we be concerned about the poor overseas, when we have so many in poverty right here? I believe that is valid question, Richard Stearns says, “poverty in America is just as real as poverty in Africa, and it is just as damaging to the human spirit.” But realize poverty is not just hunger it is also the bad water, famine, and epidemics.
Stearns does a beautiful job in breaking down the numbers for readers, but realize the United States only consists of 4.5 percent of the world. 4.5% of the world’s people live on $105 dollars a day, OVER 40% live on less than $2 dollars a day. (pg 122 The Hole in Our Gospel) The 40% who live on less than $2 a day also deal with bad water, famine, and various epidemics. I am not suggesting we stop helping the poor here in the United States, but I do believe the poverty over seas is larger and more life threatening.
I sponsor Mary through Compassion International. I would sponsor 10 more kids, 100 more kids, 1000 more kids if God allowed me to be able to afford it financially. We are not a wealthy family, live in a small house, and most of my friends have nicer stuff than we do….according to American standards.
Learning about poverty and hearing about it can be depressing and easy for us to become numb towards the numbers.
Often we think, what good will it do? The need is much to great.
What difference will it make if I only support one child?
Let me tell you to that one child, you are making a WORLD of difference. And if the Lord only blesses you financially to provide for only one child, then you have made a difference.
On the other hand, telling others about the children that remain…… is free.
Matthew 25:40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
The Hole in Our Gospel: What does God expect of Us? The Answer that Changed my Life and Might Just Change the World
can be purchased on Amazon or Christianbook.com
Why did Bill Hybels buy 10,000 copies of The Hole in Our Gospel?(see this video)
