Shaun Groves
Just before our trip to India – thanks to an e-mail from a blog reader – I listened to a sermon by Francis Chan (three times) called “Living To Display The Gospel” and began to rethink the supposed virtues of moderation.
In his message he told the story of how he decided to give away a large sum of money he earned from a successful book deal. He ended the story by saying that some advocates of moderation have asked him if it’s wise to give all that cash to aid the poor. “Shouldn’t you put some of it away in case of emergency?”
To which he answered, “Are you saying that what’s happening in ‘the developing world’ isn’t an emergency? …Oh, you mean an emergency that involves me. Because if it doesn’t involve me then it’s not a real emergency right?”
He explained passionately and very gently that God is not moderate in his generosity toward us. Jesus didn’t look at the mess on Earth and say, “Well those problems aren’t my problems so I’m staying out of it.” No, he gave all because he loved the whole world.
Love says your emergency is my emergency and then it sacrifices without moderation to rescue. Love, Francis believes, doesn’t save a sum so large for its own future needs when someone else is in tremendous need right now.
Francis reminded me that moderation isn’t an inherently bad thing but even moderation must be pursued in moderation. And it’s thrown out the window entirely in case of emergency.
And all over the world, this is an emergency.
Tyson says:
Man, I loved his book Crazy Love. That guy has some good things to say.
Robin says:
When I think of you, I never think of moderation. While you don’t think of yourself as radical, I see you that way…the choices and sacrifices you’ve made (which I’m pretty sure you would say aren’t that extreme).
You challenge me; not just to think differently, to ACT differently.
I miss you & Becky…
Groovewoman says:
AMEN!! I agree so much with that statement from Francis Chan. There are emergencies all around us and we are the Lord’s EMT’s… it’s time to get to work.
brooke says:
Amen! I love that. I don’t know exactly what it’s supposed to look like in each person’s life … but I love it and I pray that I live it more and more all the time.
Emery Smith says:
Yep!
I had the same reaction listening to this admonition by Francis. I have thought like him for many many years but , surrounded by the middle ground, have not acted as much as I know I should have.
After all, we have to be reasonable right?
Christin Boyce says:
That is an excellent point. I’ve never quite thought about it that way before because I always hear the “moderation” thing so much. Thank you for sharing that!
Stretch Mark Mama says:
I listened to that message (upon your recommendation) and enjoyed it.
Personally, I’ve been thinking a lot about our own finances as it relates to buying a house. We chose to do 2.5 adoptions which ate up what most people commonly refer to “a down payment.” So now if we buy a house, we would have to pay $500 more a month versus renting. And I had to ask myself, “Is owning a house REALLY what I want out of life?” And it isn’t. It really isn’t. I have far different goals–everything from service projects in my neighborhood to travel-schooling across the USA to heading up mission trips involving my kids.
Mike Raburn says:
Awesome post. Jesus told more us to sell everything and give it to the poor. We’re so quick to say, “but what He meant was…” that we don’t Him much chance to have actually meant be radical in our generosity.
Kelly @ Love Well says:
This post showed up in my feed reader while you were in India, Shaun. I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
Like many others, I have been deeply disturbed by “Crazy Love.” God is using it to reshape so much of my thinking.
The church I grew up in—indeed, the evangelical world I grew up in—preaches moderation and common sense and preparedness with a loud voice. It’s startling to see that Jesus didn’t.
Amy Savage says:
I LOVE that message by Frances. How have we believers come to play everything so safe?? If anything, Jesus modeled loving people in radical ways. Radical love requires radical action. Thanks to Frances for helping to expand our thinking in this area. A single 20 – year old girl who lives “alone” in Uganda with 13 children she’s adopted was recently asked if she thinks it’s responsible to adopt so many children. Her response was “Is it responsible to let them die on the streets?” God, may we respond like her.
Owlhaven says:
Wonderful thoughts. A friend of my daughter’s gave away his car to a needy friend, then rode a bike for 6 months..am thinking he is more on track than I first thought….
Mary
Katy says:
Hello
Been reading your blog on and off since it was referenced at least two or three times at Without Wax.
After watching you all go through the trip to India – I have been wondering. About a lot of things.
How does a person become a Compassion blogger? Do you have to secure sponsors through your blog? (I’m very small in this great big blog world) Wondering how long each of these trips are in the planning?
Compassion has a special place in my heart as I’ve heard about it since I was a child and my uncle, Steve Wamberg, worked with and for Compassion. I’d love to add their button and make it a goal to go on a blogger trip down the road (as I’m sure there is imense savings involved).
I asked Pete to explain exactly what a Compassion blogger was and he sent me to you. Would you mind a producing a post that explains what it all is?
Thanks for taking the time to care and to share!
~Kate
Shaun Groves says:
Katy, you can be a Compassion Blogger without going on a trip with us. Just go here: http://compassionbloggers.com/get-involved
On that page you can grab a widget or banner for your blog. And you can sign up to get an e-mail “assignment” most months from me letting you know about something Compassion-related worth blogging about. Assignments have been things like a malaria net campaign and raising awareness and funds for the global food crisis.
Very few bloggers will go on trips…for now ; )
And, yes, the size of their readership is a very big factor in whether a blogger takes a trip with us. We have to make good investments on behalf of Compassion’s kids. The primary purpose of the trips is to get more sponsors so that more kids can be helped. If the trips don’t accomplish that, then we’re wasting money that could help kids.
I think we need to tweak the website now so that it’s even clearer what we are and how people can get involved. For now, I hope this helps unmuddy the waters for you. Thanks for asking!