by David Docusen | January 23, 2017 | Uncategorized
The Scriptures are full of stories about God’s heart for the poor. Does this mean, however, that God shows favoritism to those that are in poverty? Ronald Sider posits that while God has equal love for all people, he is not neutral in his passionate advocacy for those that are poor. He states, “God, however, is not neutral. His freedom from bias does not mean that he maintains neutrality in the struggle for justice. The Bible clearly and repeatedly teaches that God is at work in history exalting the poor and casting down the rich who got that way by oppressing or neglecting the poor. In that sense, God is on the side of the poor. He has a special concern for them because of their vulnerability.[1]”
It is imperative for Christians to have a robust framework in their understanding of poverty because the message of the Gospel reaches every part human life.
The book of Proverbs supports the cause of the poor by revealing God’s heart for those who have been marginalized and cast aside from the prevailing culture of excess and success. Proverbs 14:31 says, “Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.” Furthermore, Proverbs 19:17 states, “If you help the Lord, you are lending to the Lord – and he will repay you!” The form of repayment is not always found in financial gain. Conversely, it is rare that helping someone in need would increase an individual’s net wealth. However, the implication of these verses is that the blessings of God (in various different ways) will be upon those who turn their attention to the poor, and work toward their benefit.
The Christian theologian N.T. Wright says, “In a world of systematic injustice, bullying, violence, arrogance, and oppression, the thought that there might come a day when the wicked are firmly put in their place and the poor and weak are given their due is the best news there can be.”[2] The overwhelming nature of the issues that are present with poverty can be paralyzing. However, the Christian response must be one of hope for the future.
Christians believe that God revealed himself in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. In order to understand God’s work in the world, Christians must understand how the Incarnate One defined his mission.[3] The choice is given to the American church to either embody the work of Jesus, or to propagate a false doctrine that includes financial and physical prosperity at the heart of its message. When Jesus was asked what was most important to him in the expression of faith, he responded that he valued true love for God and others higher than anything else (Luke 10:27).
In light of this, it is important to remember that loving others was given equal weight to loving God in the opinion of Jesus. This should cause us to truly consider the holistic message of the Gospel in relation to the day-to-day realities of those living in poverty. Additionally, Jesus seemed to actually embody the plight of the poor as he told his disciples that any time they gave to the poor, they were actually giving to Jesus himself (Matthew 25:31-46).
This does not sound like the words of a distant deity that is aloof or disconnected to the cries of the poor. This sounds like God himself is present with the poor, and if Christians want to be present with their Creator, they can find him among those that have been marginalized.
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[1] Sider, Ronald J. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity. Nashville: W Pub. Group, 1997. 67.
[2] N. T. Wright. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. New York: HarperOne, 2008. 137.
[3] Ronald J. Sider. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity. 51.
by David Docusen | January 20, 2017 | Uncategorized
I have never been more uncomfortable, and I have never felt more alive. As it turns out, God is using tension to show me something rather beautiful in the midst of brokenness.
Two years ago, I got a call from my friend, Darren, which completely changed the trajectory of my life and ministry. Darren is a longtime friend that seamlessly transitions between his passion for entrepreneurship in both the business world and non-profit space in our community. “I’ve got a property that I want you to look at for your church. However, it’s not where you have talked about wanting to be in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. It’s just West of the city. There’s a businessman, Casey Crawford, that has purchased a 40,000 square foot property and he’s turning it into a non-profit hub, but they also want a local church in there that has a heart for the community.” I agreed to check it out.
Two years later, we are actively involved in the West Charlotte community, having renovated an 8,000 square foot portion of this warehouse into five classrooms and a 300-seat multiple purpose venue. Our church uses this on Sunday mornings, but in reality, that’s not the main event. Life is being lived in collaboration with people seven days a week in this building. The kingdom of God has no logo, and no church has a holistic grip on the fullness of the Church (the body of Christ). However, I’m grateful our church family gets to play our part in the beautiful symphony that he’s conducting in West Charlotte.
Each day, our building is full of kids from Ashley Park PreK-8 School, which is recognized as the highest poverty school in North Carolina. High school students from the community have been employed through UrbanPromise Charlotte to tutor, mentor, and befriend elementary school kids that are working hard and laughing along the way.
The Harvest Center (one of our partners in the building) has become a lighthouse for our homeless friends in the community that arrive on campus looking for a hot meal and leave realizing that there is hope for their future through Jesus.
Each Wednesday, our venue is full of friends from across the community that choose to pray together from 12pm-1pm. Pastors, non-profit leaders, business folks, and Jesus-loving men and women from our community gather and pray for God to establish the beauty and peace of his kingdom in West Charlotte as it is in Heaven.
In the past two years, I’ve never seen or experienced a more beautiful expression of the Gospel.
I am going to start processing some of what I’m learning in this space. Even though this blog has my name on it, I’m only one small piece of a great story, and I want to share this story with others. I’m praying that you’ll be encouraged to embrace the tension in your own life in regards to the division that has come across racial and socio-economic lines, both in Charlotte and around the world. After all, we’re not as different as we may have been led to believe.
I am so grateful that Darren called and that Casey bought this building. I’m overwhelmed in the best way that we were invited to the party. We all get to play our part, no matter how unqualified we feel. I feel that every day, and my life is better because of this tension. I have never felt more uncomfortable, and I have never felt more alive.
I hope you’ll join us on this journey.
by David Docusen | March 16, 2016 | Uncategorized
I get bored really easily. Conversely, I’m like many of you – drawn to the excitement of vision and new things. However, I’m realizing that most of my life is played out in the “in between moments.”I can’t think of many deeply meaningful things in my life that have come to pass quickly. Marriage. Kids. Friendships. Vision. I’m learning to simply be patient, and let God uncover the layers that I don’t even know exist in these areas of my life. Many times, these layers are uncovered in seasons of routine, day after day, learning to love God and each other well.
Do you feel bored in the monotony sometimes?
Ever wish that there was something more exciting?
If you do, welcome to the club. However, I think that the times of monotony are actually a gift from God. When we are in seasons of routine, this helps us to identify our own decision-making and patterns that will also lead to spiritual growth, and growth in our relationships with others. These seasons can be really challenging, because we are drawn to vision, the new and exciting. It’s a lot easier to celebrate the beauty of God when we’re seeing things come to pass that are fun and exciting.
Your disciplines are magnified when you are in seasons of monotony. You’re able to see how and where you’re spending your time. We learn to praise him simply because it’s Tuesday, and he’s allowing us to have another “day of meetings,” or whatever your Tuesday may hold (Tuesdays are my meeting days).
Proverbs 16 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible, and it reminds me to just chill out, be patient, and allow God to do what he’s going to do, even if it takes longer than I would hope. Here’s a few verses to chew on today:
**Proverbs 16:1 – We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.
**Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
**Proverbs 16:9 – We can make our plans, but the Lord determines your steps.
**Proverbs 16:32 – Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
These are all great reminders that we have our timeline for things, and God has his. When things don’t come to pass as quickly as you want them to, be reminded that boring seasons of monotony are laying foundations of faithfulness for the next seasons to come.
I needed to this today.
by David Docusen | December 30, 2014 | Uncategorized
Sara is one of my favorite writers…she posted our story on her blog today. Big honor to share that space with her.
by David Docusen | December 6, 2014 | Uncategorized
Today was one of my favorite days.
I spent the day with my family. All day. Dara, Max (10), Mary (9), Jack (7) and Ben (5). Max and Ben had basketball games. Friends and family joined us. Jack exploded in his first real game ever. He scored 14 of his team’s 20 points. Max played a solid game, hitting the only two shots he took, while playing great point guard and leading the team well. Ben and Mary played on the sidelines, stopping every once in a while for a hug.
Two of our friends (and leaders in our church family), Ryan & Calli joined us for all the festivities. I watched as they watched our family, with wonder in their eyes. Almost like they were observing our family while letting their imagination run wild. You see, they are pregnant with their first child.
I remember that look in mine and Dara’s eyes almost twelve years ago when we were first pregnant with Max. I smiled today. All day. God has blessed our family with love, joy, hope, and peace (all rooted in Jesus). And it struck me – this is community. This is family. This is what a church family is all about…enjoying life together (centered around our love for our Savior). Ryan and Calli (pictured below), you guys brought me back a dozen years today. You’ll be the ones sitting there in a handful of years, cheering your kids on. And, knowing you guys, you’ll have a young couple with you…watching as you beam with pride as little Superstar Fawcett hits his/her first fadeaway jumper.
I love my family. I love our community. I love Ryan and Calli and their baby we’ll meet soon. And I long for everyone to know this joy that we have found (all rooted in Jesus). So grateful.
