In an article entitled “We Are Not Commanded To Be a Docent in the Art Museum, We Are Commanded To Love the Poor”, Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision takes the western churches to task for their lack of commitment to the developing world.
In response to a question about whether the western church’s focus on buildings, self-help and aesthetics is really just an American problem, he responds:
“I don’t think it’s uniquely American. I think what is unique about the American church is the incredible wealth and resources that we possess and control.
While we’re going into our huge megacathedrals in the United States, African churches are suffering greatly. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are meeting under trees. They are dying of HIV and AIDS. Their children are dying because of unsanitary water, lack of health care, and lack of nutrition. This disparity in the body of Christ alone is appalling. I am sure it breaks the heart of God that Christians aren’t even taking care of Christians as we could, let alone taking care of non-Christians.
It’s not that churches are doing nothing. Obviously we all know churches that are doing wonderful things. Most of our churches have missions programs and programs focused on things like Darfur.”
Read the full article here.