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Q. How's the church responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa?

A. We're mostly asleep or in denial. The greatest humanitarian emergency in history, affecting 38 million adults and children, has been raging out of control for more than 20 years. Sadly, for some, identifying the source of sin seems more important than responding with compassion. This culture of blame allows many to sit smugly on the sidelines. It drives HIV/AIDS sufferers away from us and into denial and secrecy.

But the Bible makes clear that people shouldn't have sex outside of marriage.

Of course. But this is a statement of the law, the way things ought to be. Fortunately for all us sinners, the gospel of grace has more to say; we need to begin saying it.

What should we do?

Discard any judgmental attitude, let our hearts begin to love our neighbors, and do what the church has done throughout its history: Disciple our members. Teach them the ABCs: Abstinence, Be faithful, and, if A and B fail, use Condoms. Care for the dying. No one should die alone, without a living expression of the gospel of eternal salvation holding his or her hand. Care for the widows and the orphans. There aren't enough extended families to care for the 25 million orphans there will be in Africa by 2010. If the Church doesn't fill the gap, who will?

Today, we're the hands and feet of the same Jesus who touched the leper and made him whole—who was the last one standing beside the woman caught in adultery.

Bryant Myers is World Vision Intl.'s vice president for international program strategy.

Adapted from MARC Newsletter (11/02) by permission.

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Prayer for the Week

Thank you, God, that Your purity never blocked Your mercy. Show me how to model Your compassion for the hurting.

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