Do Christians Care about Pakistan?
I don’t read the Bible nearly as much as I should. I am not quite sure how often it “should” be read by Christians, but I am pretty sure it’s more than “never” which is close to where I am. I do have it permanently resting next to my bed though, so perhaps I am absorbing through osmosis. The paltry reason I have for not reading it too often is also a prideful one. I’ve read it all. Multiple times. Growing up in a Christian home with two parents who are very vocal in their faith means that by the time I was five I was naming all my stuffed animals “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (I still think, “and Abendego” would be a kick-ass band name.) However, even though my reading (I guess I should say re-reading) is infrequent, that does not mean I take lightly what is inside the Bible, or think that I don’t need to heed it’s instruction.
Which is why, after stumbling upon this verse, I am suddenly and powerfully filled with a sense of conviction. This is a verse that I have read dozens, if not hundreds of times, and while it’s always been something that I’ve found provocative, it’s never stirred quite the reaction in me that is has upon today’s reading, in light of current world events.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.’
According to World Vision, as of right now, one fifth of the country of Pakistan is underwater. Let’s pause there before moving on. Since we’re Americans, we have to think of everything in terms of “us”, so picture a map of the US in your head. Got it? Divide it into five sections. Now imagine if one of those sections was gone, forever underwater. And the rain is still falling.
20 Million people have been affected, and 6 million are in urgent need of assistance. To put that into a perspective for us over here, that would be like the ENTIRE state of FL losing their homes, jobs, and livelihoods, and the ENTIRE city of Miami without food, water, or shelter. Can you imagine the impact that would have in the news, and in the world? It would be a world changer, and would affect almost every American in some way. Undoubtedly aid would pour in from multiple countries, and every effort would be made to save lives.
The fact is, while I was typing that, people in Pakistan right now are hungry, thirsty, homeless, and in danger. Yet when I turned the news on last night I saw an update on Dancing with the Stars. When I logged into my favorite magazine’s website, I see an article on Glenn Beck’s rally last weekend, and when I survey the things that are most pressing on my mind, on the top of the list is my plans for dinner.
Why are we as a nation, and more importantly, we as Christians, not caring or reacting at all to what is happening right now to millions of people in Pakistan? Why is there not the global outpouring of support and attention for Pakistan as there was for Haiti? Where is George Clooney and the MTV telethon? Where is Kanye West making inappropriate comments on live TV? Why have I not received 15 text message forwards urging me to add $10 to my Verizon bill and send money to the Red Cross? Why is is that when the news is on, the computer is on, and the Christian websites are updating, we are mostly silent about this horrible disaster? More importantly, why don’t I care as much as I want other people to?
I have no answers, but I have guesses. It could be pure proximity, the fact that disasters like Katrina were personal, Haiti was our neighbors, and Pakistan is well…..a “terrorist” nation on the other side of the world. Or maybe it’s the chicken and the egg, did we care about Haiti and Katrina and that’s why it was all the world could talk about, or was the world talking about Haiti and Katrina, and that’s why we cared? Regardless, none of that changes the fact that right now people are dying, and very, very few Americans seem to care.
Which is why, upon re-reading this verse, I am struck with a horrible feeling of shame. Who else could Jesus be talking about in this, if not those in Pakistan? What are the ramifications for us not sending them aid, or at the very least, praying actively for them as a people and nation? What is wrong with us? And more specifically, what is wrong with me?
This also appears on my blog, EmilyThinksYoureAwesome.Blogspot.com.







