An Unlikely Action Hero asks, What does God expect of us?
“His form of worship is to be the eyes of the blind and the feet of the lame. Rich Stearns is much more than a powerful voice in the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty, he is an action hero.”
-Bono, Musician and co-founder of the ONE Campaign
In his endorsement for my new book, The Hole in Our Gospel, Bono calls me an ‘action hero’ in the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. While I love action heroes – Superman, Spiderman, Batman and all the others, (and even have my very own collection of vintage comic books) I hardly deserve such praise from the founder of the ONE Campaign.
Like many who read this blog, I am just one person who is deeply concerned about the poor in the developing world, and the world of frightening headlines in which we live: genocide in Darfur, violence in Gaza, and many, many others. Not to mention global economic crisis, and, here at home in the U.S., skyrocketing unemployment and increasing home foreclosures.
In light of these issues, my goal in writing “The Hole in Our Gospel” was to confront people with the implications of the Christian faith. Twelve years ago, I was living my own version of the American Dream as a corporate CEO. I went to church every Sunday and gave money to worthy causes. I was very content in my faith. But I had never truly answered what I believe is the most important question every Christian must eventually address: “What does God expect of us?”
My response to that question – and my career change in becoming the CEO of World Vision US – transformed my life and my world, a world I previously had never known. Rather than chairing meetings in the boardroom, this new world found me in meetings with AIDS orphans and impoverished widows living on less than $1 a day.
The Christian faith was never meant to be an anesthetizing tonic designed only to soothe our souls. Instead, it was intended to be a medicine so powerful that it could challenge the legion of social illnesses that plague the human race – poverty, alienation, hatred, corruption, apathy and injustice. If the gospel is the medicine, then we are the EMTs (emergency medical technicians) called to respond with urgency to the wounded and hurting in our world.
But it often seems that our sirens are turned off and our red lights aren’t flashing.
We have the power to change the headlines and even the course of history – but only if we take seriously the very specific things Christ asked us to do.
Unfortunately, action heroes like Superman, who fight injustice and change the world with their super powers, don’t exist. But what about you and me?
Can we make a difference? Can we change the world? I believe we can; indeed, I believe we must. As Bono repeatedly has said – “It’s really up to us.”
I’d like to hear what you’re doing to make a difference. Please share your thoughts. Maybe others can learn from you. Visit my website at www.theholeinourgospel.org for additional resources.
-Rich Stearns, President, World Vision, United States
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March 10, 2009 at 11:56 am
Thank you for sharing that. I completely agree with you, Mr. Stearns; the Bible really does challenge us to do more than just show up to church on Sundays. Christ taught us to care for those less fortunate than us. I love the way my own pastor says it,
“God wants us to be prosperous, but more than that He wants our prosperity to have a purpose.”
I hate that some people call themselves Christian, yet they look the other way when they see someone in need. That’s not how Christ would have responded, and, after all, we are called to be like him.
I hope many more people are challenged to rethink their own Christian faith, and what God really expects of them. It sounds like a great book
March 17, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Thank you for commenting on Rich Stearns’ new book, The Hole in Our Gospel. To find out more information about the book and Stearns, you can visit http://www.theholeinourgospel.com. You’ll find on this site a lot of great resources and supplemental material to the book. You can also read Rich’s blog and engage in a forum discussion there. It’s a fantastic site – I encourage you to check it out!
April 15, 2009 at 8:40 am
I read your posts for quite a long time and should tell that your posts are always valuable to readers.
July 18, 2009 at 2:21 am
I just finished reading “The Hole in Our Gospel” and found it to be very compelling. I plan to tell all of my friends about it and encourage them to read it. It is life changing! I recently made a feature film on the plight of Indian Widows called “White Rainbow”. I plan to partner with charitable groups to use the film as a tool for them to help explain to people the stigma that women face when they become widows in India and to also use it to help raise funds for their groups through sales of the DVD. Please visit my website http://www.whiterainbow.com and my blog http://www.whiterainbowproject.blogspot.com if you want to learn more.
Thank you Rich Sterns for writing such a wonderful call to action!
August 12, 2009 at 11:11 am
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
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I too agree with Mr. Stearns on the need to help with the poor. The people of The Way should be in the forefront. We should decry slavery, gential mutilation, beheadings, etc…
However, Mr. Stearns has stated that World Vision doesn’t bring up Christ when serving food and clothing. The GOSPEL is NOT serving food. The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ and salvation to all who accept His free gift. If the GOSPEL of Christ and SALVATION through Jesus Christ isn’t presented, then you’re not actually GIVING the gospel. Which is our 1st and foremost call.
If I eat today, but perish w/o the Gospel… I have gained nothing! If I know Christ and do NOT eat, I LIVE! We need to feed people in both areas.