Pure religion

[*AQuietPlace*]

But is it necessary to seek out widows and orphans, specifically? If I want to practice pure religion, do I need to seek out a widow or an orphan, or can I do it by extending a hand to anyone in need?

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

But is it necessary to seek out widows and orphans, specifically? If I want to practice pure religion, do I need to seek out a widow or an orphan, or can I do it by extending a hand to anyone in need?

What did Jesus do?

[scotty]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

But is it necessary to seek out widows and orphans, specifically? If I want to practice pure religion, do I need to seek out a widow or an orphan, or can I do it by extending a hand to anyone in need?

Originally Posted by nahkoe

What did Jesus do?

I think what Miss Nahkoe is try to say is ... YES!

After all, you quoted the scripture.

[Innocuous]

Afflicted widows and orphans were among the most marginalized and abandoned people in Christ's world. I think the larger idea to be drawn from this command is to that we're to minister to the most marginalized and helpless people in our culture. These people have nobody else to help them, nobody cares about them, and there's nothing they can do to repay what you have done to them. And when we do these things to them Christ considers it the same as if we'd done it to him and he expects us to serve them with the same fervor that we'd serve him. Tall order.

[Sister Alvear]

I wonder what is the percentage of little ladies that give their all to churches and then almost go hungry?
Taking tithes is easy being a sheppard is another story...

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Innocuous

Afflicted widows and orphans were among the most marginalized and abandoned people in Christ's world. I think the larger idea to be drawn from this command is to that we're to minister to the most marginalized and helpless people in our culture. These people have nobody else to help them, nobody cares about them, and there's nothing they can do to repay what you have done to them. And when we do these things to them Christ considers it the same as if we'd done it to him and he expects us to serve them with the same fervor that we'd serve him. Tall order.

Matthew 25:40 the KJV records Jesus as saying:
"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

In The Message, that verse reads:
"I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me."


Proverbs 19:17 says in the KJV
"He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again."
In the Message it says:
"Mercy to the needy is a loan to God,
and God pays back those loans in full."

In a couple of my Bibles, I have a note near Proverbs 19:17 which says:
"If you help a poor person in the name of the Lord, you are making a gift and at the same time granting a loan. You are making a gift because you have no expectation of of being reimbursed by that poor person. You are granting a loan because the Lord will settle the account." St. Basil the Great (329-379)

[Pro31:28]

There are opportunities all around us...
This was a blog I wrote last summer, I may have posted it here, i can't remember;

I had an experience today that made me think alot about people.
I was on my way to take my daughter to a day camp at the school were I work, from there the campers were going to a baseball game. On the way my Suburban broke down. I pulled over to the side of the road and lifted the hood. I called my husband and told him that the "spinny, spokey, fan-looking thing was smoking really bad" (now try to say that fast while you are in panic voice!). The most intelligent man that I know, could not make out what I was saying and so he asked me to take a picture and send it to him. After I did he said, "it's the alternator, call road-side assitance (he works an hour from home). So I called and my 10 year-old daughter and I proceeded to wait on the side of the road for an hour. Not a single person stopped.
In the meantime I was 3 miles from the school and I proceeded to call anyone I could think of to come and pick her up so that she could make it
to her camp. most people didn't answer their cell phones and the ones who did answer, didn't offer. I was so frustrated! unfortunately I didnt have the numbers for our pastor with me (he would have come!) I also didnt have my best friends' work number, she would have come too.
So the truck driver pulls up and he is a ringer for the actor, Michael Clarke Duncan (look him up). All 7 feet of him! He proceeds to take our Burb home and when he found out that I would have to take a taxi to where my husband's truck was parked, he insisted on driving us "because the little girl can't miss her ball game". He was my 7 foot tall, sweaty, Angel!
But to the point, I was relating this story to a friend and she said, "well what do you expect, people don't want to stop, they are scared". I said, "I realize that we are people with a sin nature, and so the "right thing"
doesn't always come naturally, but I want to live in a 9/12 world".

She replied, "a 9/12 world?"

I said, "remember the day after 9/11 and months following, people gave their own blood, and money, and homes to help others" What have we come to that people won't stop for a woman and a little girl....

[Innocuous]

Originally Posted by Sam

Matthew 25:40 the KJV records Jesus as saying:
"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

In The Message, that verse reads:
"I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me."


Proverbs 19:17 says in the KJV
"He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again."
In the Message it says:
"Mercy to the needy is a loan to God,
and God pays back those loans in full."

In a couple of my Bibles, I have a note near Proverbs 19:17 which says:
"If you help a poor person in the name of the Lord, you are making a gift and at the same time granting a loan. You are making a gift because you have no expectation of of being reimbursed by that poor person. You are granting a loan because the Lord will settle the account." St. Basil the Great (329-379)

Dang it, I thought that stuff was original with me. Thanks for popping my bubble Sam!

[LaVonne]

My husband, our boys and I have been know to help out the elderly, especially the widows/widowers by helping them with their yard, spending time talking to them, taking meals or inviting them over for a meal. We have not done much for the orphans, I'm afraid.

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by LaVonne

My husband, our boys and I have been know to help out the elderly, especially the widows/widowers by helping them with their yard, spending time talking to them, taking meals or inviting them over for a meal. We have not done much for the orphans, I'm afraid.

There is no doubt a facility not far from you, that cares for orphans.

99.9 % it's not sponserd by us. Another 90% chance that your church won't become involved in helping out there....but don't let that stop you, from your personal involvement.

We are not located in a location that a soup kitchen or meal site would be of benefit BUT several from my church volunteer their services to help out at meal site that serves 150 at a "Methodist Church"

No..our church does'nt get any "credit" for it...but God does.