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And I thought those automatic political phone calls where bad enough. Well, I discovered something even more infuriating....and they were calling my CELL PHONE. (Even though I placed that number on the "Do not call list.") "Need a miracle, ladies and gentlemen? Here's your opportunity to attend...." I stared at the phone in disbelief and passed it over to Jay. A nefarious grin spread over his face. (He later told me he's was waiting to see if there was an opportunity to refer phone numbers. He was going to give them your phone number, Joe.  )It was an tele-marketing ad for a Benny Hinn rally. God Lord in heaven. Now I just finished writing a feature article on Jared Miller and Sisters of Rwanda. It's an outfit in Rwanda that provides economic opportunity to the desperately poor. I have wept reading some of their stories. And then I get this glitzy (there was snappy music playing in the background) phone call basically telling me of an opportunity to come bribe God. What a contrast. Jared explains life in Rwanda as raw and honest. Not dependent on "stuff." Gratitude for the days they have food to eat. "God is everywhere," he says. So as I was thinking early this morning. I think it is very hard to walk an honest-to-God walk with God here in America. I pondered, when was the last time I was truly grateful for daily bread? No, dammit....I want perfect health, a rich bank account....and I WANT IT NOW! It's my right! It's my right as a believer! It's my right as an American! The expectations aren't that overt....but they're there alright. But back to Benny's phone call. I'm sure the discussions behind the scenes sort of go like this: "Well, you know. It's going to cost 2.3 million to pull this rally off. (What, with Benny's dry cleaning bills and all.) The phone calling alone will cost $250,000. But if one person gets saved....it will be worth it." Oh Puh-leeze. Tell the kids dying in the streets in Rwanda. Or the single mom struggling to pay her light bill. Or the inter-city black men who desperately need mentors. (Did you know that 70% of black children are born out of wedlock?) I'm sorry people, aint' no miracle at a Benny Hinn performance going to address those needs. What a mismanagement of money and time....in the name of God. If we as God's people would simply follow Jesus' mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves...we'd run the Benny Hinns out of business. And our cell phone bills would be less too. |
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