Robert Smith
February 9, 2001
10:30 am
Becoming a Global Community
Message Summary
Each one of us, as a believer, is a part of the worldwide community. What the Western part of that community often fails to remember is that our abundance and prosperity is the exception in this community. Bob Smith's message paints a picture of the grim reality of a world outside our realm, outside our sanitary luxury; a world whose depths of war, poverty and disease we cannot even fathom. The ultimate victims in this world, Smith points out, are the children who ask only for life.
What on earth do we do? In answer, Smith went to an unusual but appropriate passage. 2 Kings 6:24-31, 7:3-9 are about the devastation of siege on the city of Samaria. The Aramean army held the city in abject fear and famine for so long, the people were not only eating donkey's heads, but also their own children. Then, God stepped in. The Aramean army fled in fear, the remains of their camp to be found by desperate lepers. First, these lepers hoarded their newfound fortune, exulting in their much-needed bounty. However, in verse 9 of chapter 7, we see that they realized three important things. First, what they were doing was not right. Second, this was a day of good news that they must share. Third, the time was short and they needed to tell the city quickly.
Smith applied this to our modern world, placing the two-thirds of the world living devastating lives without Christ in the role of the starving city and the healthy and wealthy of the West in the role of the lepers who had found what they needed and more. In light of this situation, he exhorted us to do four things: go to those who are downtrodden and oppressed, tell the good news, share what we have with those in need, and pray for all involved. In closing, he emphasized this need for action, that doing nothing is not an option. Each of us has a moral obligation to extend our hand to the hurting of our global community.
Student Response
As I listened and responded internally to this message, my gut reaction is, how convicting. Smith referred to Revelation 3:18, saying that we need an eye salve so that we might see through our materialism. To me, his message showed me the comfort and complacency of my American Christianity and my need to react positively with my wealth to help those who need it, to leave my fears behind for the cause of Christ. Here is a vitally necessary reminder to all of us of our obligation to "get busy about Jesus right away."
—Nancy Spooner, Senior, Communications major