Theological Perspectives on Houselessness
If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-2
Today I would like to continue the conversation about houselessness. As a church community, it's important to consider a Godly response first and foremost. In the verse above, Paul reminds us that whatever we have – even faith – if we do not have charity and love, we are a resounding gong and clanging cymbal and we are nothing (1 Cor 13:1-2). The Old Testament prophets return again and again to the imperative of a society built on justice and equity; David, who erred often is remembered as a great king, partly because he “administered justice and equity to all his people (2 Samuel 8:15).
Jesus tells his disciples to pay attention to the poor and those society deems outsiders in both his words and actions, and he teaches us an expansive view of who our neighbor is in the story of the good Samaritan found in Luke 10:29-37. The church in Acts lived in true radical love, sharing all things in kind, eschewing private property altogether (Acts 2:42-47).
These verses and others paint a gospel message that is inclusive and encourages each person to bring all people – especially those our city might decry – into the fold of Christ. Some of our members have been houseless or are houseless; some of our members have been or are food insecure; some of our members have experienced or do experience trauma.
Caring for our neighbors can be exhausting. Sometimes people we encounter behave in ways in which we aren’t prepared to respond. Seeing the same issues arise again and again can be exhausting. But we don’t do this work alone; we do it in community and with God’s help. Praise be to God!
I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5
Blessings,
Mother Jenn+
