Rough neighborhoods need church presence

Now that Leonard Pitt Jr. has been away from his piece about the Liberty Square Neighborhood for a while (The Gazette Nov. 20), he should read another account of very poor people by another gifted (this one God inspired) writer of long ago. This account is found in II Corinthians, Chapter Eight.

Though these people were not dodging bullets, they were “living in most difficult circumstances” (The New Testament in Modern English) or “in a great trial of affliction” (King James Bible). Yet, they did not pity themselves and ask for or expect others to develop the “wit and will” to help them. They already had the attributes of wit and will, knowledge, enthusiasm, love and generosity. And none of these came from government. They came from God, because the apostle Paul says they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (V. 5).

So, one has to ask, Where is the presence of the modern day church in inner city neighborhoods? Unfortunately, most mainstream churches left the inner city years ago. These places probably receive less attention the foreign missionary fields. Government should uphold religion and ethics but it can't be their arbiter. The church bears responsibility here.

Vince Lombardi is quoted (from a short practice speech) as saying, “Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it. But in the process we will catch excellence.” If we were chasing perfection in religion and the church as earnestly as we chase it in most other areas of life, the plight of inner city neighborhoods might be quite different.

Government can build a house, but it can't build a home. It can build a school, but it can't “give” anyone an education. It can assess taxes, but it can't make anyone a generous and cheerful giver.

Alvin Cummings

Walker