'We Are Not Commanded To Be a Docent in the Art Museum. We Are Commanded To Love the Poor.' | Christianity Today

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Christianity Today, June (Web-only), 2009 |

'We Are Not Commanded To Be a Docent in the Art Museum. We Are Commanded To Love the Poor.'

World Vision president Richard Stearns says the greatest sin of our generation is apathy.

Interview by Mark Galli | posted 6/12/2009 09:53AM

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If I volunteer to help coach my kids' soccer team, or if I volunteered to be a docent at the art museum, it sounds like you wouldn't be happy about that. But such activities are helping the community in other ways—they're just not helping the poor as such.

It gets back to priority. There are certain things that really are not optional. We are not commanded to be a docent in the art museum. We are commanded to love the poor. To bind up the brokenhearted, to care for the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. Those are pretty strong commands in the Bible. So you almost have to do those first.

It could be maybe you are a great writer and so you write about these things. It could be that you're a talented musician; we have these artist associates that go around for World Vision and use their music as a way to attract people to a ministry to the poor.

It's a balance thing. You can say, "Well, Rich what are you doing about abortion?" Well, I'm not doing much, frankly. I've given to crisis pregnancy centers over the years, but my thing is what World Vision is all about. I do think that God calls us to different things. Someone else might be called more to evangelism. But there are some things that all Christians have some responsibility to do. Evangelism would be one. Caring for the poor would be another. We are all called to love God, we are all called to love our neighbor, and we are all called to the Great Commission. We are not all called to be a docent, but that's a worthwhile thing to do. But not if it excludes the other things.

Related Elsewhere:

The Hole in Our Gospel is available from ChristianBook.com and other book retailers. The book has its own website and blog.

Stearns was part of Christianity Today's "What is the gospel" panel at the Christian Book Expo (video, audio).

Christianity Today has interviewed Stearns several times: about his journey from the corporate world, the Global Fund, post-9/11 giving, and other issues.

See also our March 2005 cover story on World Vision, "The Colossus of Care."

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June (Web-only) 2009, Vol. 53

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James

Posted: June 15, 2009 5:54 PM


That's right. Don't be passive. For example, the People's Miss CA has gay marriage bullies on the ropes. What can you do? You can post comments at this link to let your voice for family and marriage be heard! http://tinyurl.com/mdmrxu

susan

Posted: June 15, 2009 3:55 PM

I am so tired of people pointing at the so called deficiencies of Christians. I am so tired of the accusations and generalizations which is a constant criticism of the Church, or maybe I should say, churches and Christians in this country. What happened to building up, and encouraging and gratitude for what God has done? Quit criticizing and trying to shame people in the church. You are not more important than the person who lovingly puts a homemade flower arrangement at the front of the church before worship. Your vision is narrow and seems to be ungrateful to me. Where is the love? Where is the love of all humans and there is nothing wrong with the ministries of caring for the person in each church community. Don't criticize and generalize and only look at what is lacking. I am so tired of uninspiring guilt producing words that are not even true. We are wonderful and loving people of God and each is doing the work that God has given. Let God be in charge...

Spage

Posted: June 15, 2009 12:50 PM


@wwilkie Why does how much the guy earns determine the truthfulness or credibility of what he said? It doesn't is the answer. "Richard Sterns is paid over $350,000 plus retirement at World Vision. I don't think that his argument holds much credibility with that salary."

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