• Sick & Marginalized

    When Jesus walked this earth, he seemed especially drawn to those who were sick or marginalized due to some sort of disease.  However, one thing, that stands out about Jesus in contrast to those who claim to follow Him in today’s world, is that Jesus never seemed concerned with HOW they contracted their disease.  In other words, the HOW was not a buffer to the type of condition of his care.

    Back then, the disease was leprosy.  If the slow death and pain caused by leprosy wasn’t enough, it carried with it the condemnation, rejection, and loneliness.  Those with leprosy were quickly marginalized, and cast out of community.  Their families turned on them.  The leper ended up with something much worse than leprosy, they had the worse disease in the world – loneliness and rejection!  Today, we don’t have much leprosy around.  We do have another disease that seems to still be stigmatized and marginalized.  At Restore Austin, we have to ask, “If Jesus walked this earth today, how would he have responded to HIV/AIDS?”  The answer is not hard, all we have to do is look at the way he dealt leprosy – unconditional, no strings attached, love, care, and acceptance – period!

    Care Communities from Matthew Hansen on Vimeo.

    Here is what we know, AIDS is not the only disease in our world wrecking havoc on the lives of millions of men, women, and children.  Today, along with HIV/AIDS we battle against cancer, diseases caused by unclean drinking water, malaria, etc.  If there is anyone that should be leading the fight against these diseases, it should be those who follow the same Jesus that walked this earth with a message and life of hope to those suffering, for whatever reason, with life threatening diseases.  If you would like to find out how your life could make more of an impact on those living with HIV/AIDS, Cancer, or any variety of diseases, scroll down and visit a few of the websites we have posted!

    • Charity Water: Visit their website by clicking HERE.  Follow them on twitter, by clicking HERE
    • LiveStrong Foundation: Visit their website by clicking HERE.  Follow them on twitter, by clicking HERE.
    • Wish List Jersey: Visit their website by clicking HERE.  Follow them on twitter, by clicking HERE.
    • Care Communities: Visit their website by clicking HERE.
    • Gazelle Foundation: Visit their website by clicking HERE.

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