Radical thinking leads to radical action

When people ask me how Orphans Treasure Box started, I usually point to July 30, 2011 when I listed eight books on Amazon. But, the true heart of this mission awakened when I read the book Radical by David Platt.

Here is an excerpt of this powerful book.

“The Bible nowhere teaches that caring for the poor is a means by which we earn salvation. The means of our salvation is faith in Christ alone, and the basis of our salvation is the work of Christ alone….Yet even though caring for the poor is not the basis of our salvation, this does not mean that our use of wealth is totally disconnected from our salvation. Indeed, caring for the poor can be evidence of our salvation.”

When I read that paragraph almost six years ago, it was like someone hit me between the eyes. My life was very comfortable, all my needs were met. Vacations, friendships, trips to the spa, dinner date nights with my husband. Life was good. But, was it really? In my deepest soul, I knew I was created for something different.  Not to attain more but to give more.

Much of Christianity here in the U.S. is an American dream spin on salvation. Beautiful churches, well-crafted messages, engaging programs and promotion, coffee bars, uplifting music.  Have we lost something? Like maybe the whole point? Jesus calls us to radically follow Him. Abandoning our former lives of comfort and caution to step out in faith in the areas where people are dying, people are struggling and people are lost without a relationship with Christ. Isn’t this what it means to obey Christ in the Great Commission?  Consider these numbers. Current statistics tell us that there are 7.4 billion people in the world, and 1.1 billion of them live on less than $2/day.  They live on the edge of survival, without access to adequate food, clean water and education. And, the Joshua Project estimates the 6,700 distinct people groups in the world are still considered unreached with the Gospel.

Now, I can already hear some murmurings. This is depressing, what more can I do? I already give money, volunteer at the food pantry, donate my used stuff. What more can I do? I understand these objections because I myself have voiced them. Like a prepared debater, when the issue of poverty around the world came up before Orphans Treasure Box was born, I would have my set of reasons why I could not do more. We tithe, give beyond that, donate stuff, etc.What can one person do anyway? Won’t the poor always be with us?

Here is what changed for me radically. When I read this book and God truly pierced my heart, my defenses were down, my objections erased and it was no longer centered on how much more can I do, but it was focused radically on asking God what would He have me to do? And, it was then, and only then, that I was willing to listen to anything He had to say. Orphans Treasure Box could not have started before then because frankly I wasn’t listening. I was in charge of my own life and I invited God in when it fit. One thing I’ve noticed about the Almighty? He doesn’t do so well with getting pieces of us.  He is an all or nothing type of God. In today’s culture, giving everything of ourselves, truly making the Gospel the first priority of our lives can be a radical concept….but isn’t it also what Christ asks and continues to ask of us?

This article is frankly coming out of my weakness, not strength. Friends tell me I exude confidence (not sure if this is a compliment or a subtle complaint) but the truth is that as a child from an abusive environment, I learned projecting strength can be a lifesaver.

No, there is rarely a day that passes that I don’t feel inadequate to run this company. But, it is not about me. It is about radically following the God who creates, calls and commands His children into places where we are hopelessly lost unless He comes through…..and this is the kicker. He comes through, maybe not in the way we expect, or the timing we would hope for, but He does come through.

If we truly believe in the radical Gospel of Jesus, it must lead to radical action.