Junkies, Saints and Signs of Love

Brown Sugar Junkies by Kevin Sites

Last week I was touched by Kevin Site's article 'Brown Sugar' Junkies which focused on the the problem of heroin addiction in Iran. (I've posted the link above if you want to read the article) Not only is it great journalism, incorperating the story of a heroin addict named Ali and the controversial doctor who helped him get free, but it also sparked some thoughts in my mind about reaching the lost and seeing transformation. Dr. Bijan Nassirimanesh, who Ali now works for, has developed treatment centers in Iran which include both a needle exchange and methadone programs under the same roof. The needle exchange program serves to decrease the spread of HIV through the use of dirty needles, while the methode programs is for addicts who want to come clean. The doctor points out that when people come to the clinic to get fresh needles for their habit they see the other addicts who have enrolled in the methodone program. Seeing the the improved state of the addicts on the methode program helps to encourage some of the addicts, who are there for fresh needles, to reflect and ask themselves "Why don't I give that a try?"

Though the analogy is not a perfect one, perhaps we, as the church, our those on the methodone program. We were enslaved, addicted and in mess because of sin but God has put us onto an amazing treatment plan called salvation through which we are being transformed into his likeness. Our role as those in the church is to demonstrate to the lost souls still searching for fresh needles that there is a better way. Our witness should be radiant, demonstrating the incredible ways in which God has saved us from death and brought us into life, not only eternal life but a full and exciting existance to be lived out everyday on this earth. Of course often times merely having a joyful disposition is often not enough to make people notice the fullness of life we have. I fully believe that our witness must be both based on our actions and by proclaiming to people the goodness of God in our lives. I know I have often taken St Francis' words, "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words," as my get out clause in order to avoid speaking to people about Christ. As I studied St Francis and how he went from town to town all over Europe and the Middle East preaching in voice and deed I realized his statement did not prohibit us from using words, which often seems to be the way I and many others have interpreted it. I mean the guy even preached to the birds for crying out loud, he was not some silent monk who just did nice things for people, he was a street preacher.

Kevin Site's article ends with a great expression of love. Ali is HIV positive and scared that his children might get the disease from kissing him. Yet when he tells them to stop they reply "'No, we don't care, We love you.'" Not much needs to be said about the children's comments other than, I wish I had that kind of love for the broken and addicted souls that surround me during my day. I'm quite sure if the church began loving like Ali's children our preaching would be much more effective and also much shorter. We might only need to say a few words, but a few words we would still have to say. Perhaps, "Jesus cares, we love you" would be enough or perhaps there would need to be more, but let us not limit our witness to actions when salvation is a few words away. Let us also live like we are truly alive, indeed it is usually in the rare moments when I act like one of Ali's children that I truly begin to feel that I am living.