I notice how the author deliberately keeps things cheap.
The Bible says we are to give sacrificially.
Why a mini meatloaf? A full size meatloaf could be divided into four or more portions and frozen for four times the meals.
So, who among the members of your church would be very blessed if you took them shopping, and paid for a week’s groceries?
Is there a single mom who needs tires for her car? A battery?
Is there a young teen whose family cannot afford to send her to summer music camp that you could help?
Several things about this article offend me mightily. One, the author’s assumption that Christians need to be told to do such things, and her very insistence that it be kept free and easy.
“... and her very insistence that it be kept free and easy”.
Just my two cents (no pun intended) but I got something a bit different from the article. Many people think in order to be kind, one must pay a lot of money. Financially... many people are struggling. Common kindness and civility costs nothing or very little. I couldn’t afford to send a child to a summer camp. However, I do drive children home when their parents can’t get off of work to come and get them. I can’t afford to pay for someone’s groceries but I do send in canned goods for the poor. Even a “good morning” or smile at someone is kind and makes their day a bit more pleasant. I guess my point is that being a Christian doesn’t have to be financially a struggle to someone. It is simply how one views an opportunity to help someone else.
“Several things about this article offend me mightily. One, the author’s assumption that Christians need to be told to do such things, and her very insistence that it be kept free and easy.”
I agree with you. Many people don’t recognize true conversion when they see it, and that includes A LOT of evangelical pastors. Because of weak modern theology we have scores of people in our pews on Sundays who have not been born again. Some congregations are made up almost entirely of the unconverted. The result is that “Christians” now need to be told how to be a Christian. The true Christian, the man Christ died for who is now indwelt by the Holy Spirit, will, over time, begin to display a Christ-like character. That’s what sanctification is all about.
Acceptance of so many false converts is a real blight on the church in America. We are trifling with men’s souls, convincing them they are righ with the Lord when they are not. And then there is the damage done to the name of Christ.