Before becoming a photographer, I used to be a pastor in a Christian denomination.  With that explanation, I hope that those of you who may not be Christian will forgive me if my  writing sometimes sounds like a mini “sermonette”.  I guess it just comes out naturally sometimes.  I believe that there is wisdom in all belief systems and that there is much that we can learn from each other.  Most religions teach that people will be in some way held accountable for the actions of their life.   Christianity is no exception.  While some Christians like to minimize the seriousness or even the reality of this final judgment, it is an event that is spoken of often in the Bible.   Perhaps one of the most detailed references to this ultimate court of justice, is found  in  Mathew 25.  

The followers of Jesus had gathered around him on the mount of Olives.  As they looked at the beautiful temple, across the valley in Jerusalem, Jesus began to share with them many things that would happen at the end of time.  And then to wrap up what would be his last sermon before he died, Jesus said, “When the son of man comes, he will sit on his throne of glory with all of the holy angels around him.  All nations will be gathered before him and he will separate them just like a shepherd separates his sheep from his goats.  Sheep on the right, goats on the left.  Then the king shall turn to the people on his right, and invite them to enter in and inherit a kingdom that has been prepared since the foundation of the world.”  To the people on the left, the King  has some strong words.  He says, “Depart from me you cursed. Enter in to the eternal fire that has been prepared for the Devil and his angels.”

Over the centuries since Jesus uttered these words, many  people have developed complicated systems of religious practice and belief to try and avoid becoming one of those goats on the left.  Unfortunately, very few of these belief systems have managed to grasp the real reasons why the goats end up on the left!  Most religions seem to suggest that being a good sheep has more to do about things that we do to ourselves, with ourselves and for ourselves, rather then about our service to others.  It promotes the idea that the better we can keep a complicated list of  rules and regulations, ceremonial practices and rites and rituals, the more likely we will end up with the other sheep on the right. 

This is what we are good at.  We like to have our belief systems clearly defined and wrapped up in pretty boxes of doctrine and life-practice.   We want a list, so that we can be checking it off each day.   Like the rich young man who once came to Jesus, we want to know exactly what we need to do to be saved, and we will do it.  We don’t like the idea of ending up with the goats on the left and we are anxious to find out what it is we need to do to make sure that we are in the herd of sheep! 

The answer that Jesus finally gives the rich young man often makes no more sense to us then it did to him, “If you really want to know what to do, sell everything that you have and give it to the poor.”

That’s not a list!  Like the rich young ruler, many of us are looking for a new proclamation of health laws, or a clear set of  rules of proper Sabbath observance, annual feasts and festivals, rites and rituals. What to do, what not to do, when to do it and when not to do it, that’s all we ask.

If you have not read Jesus’ story about the final judgment recently, you might find it interesting to look up.  The passage is in Matthew 25 and starts in verse 31.   The essence of this last message of Jesus is that, to a great extent, those that end up with the sheep are those that have lived a life of selfless service for others.  Those that end up with the goats have not. 

The whole passage is very similar to another message that Jesus gave when He began his ministry. On another mountian, three and a half years earlier, Jesus had invited people to live a life that demonstrates the same kind of kind of "perfect love" to others, that God shows to us.    It is interesting to note that the judgment scene, depicted in this sermon of Jesus, carries a very similar theme to the sermon in Matthew 25. Here, the people come to the Judge saying, “But Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in your name?  Have we not prophesied in your name, have we not cast out demons in your name”?   Apparently many of the “goats” will be religious people who have lived in strict adherence to doctrine, ritual, ceremony and rules.  They have done many amazing and miraculous things in the name of Jesus.  They are quite shocked that they are being asked to, "step to the left". 

The simple answer, given by the Judge, as to why people are asked to move to the left, to become one of the "goats", is something that should make us all examine our hearts and lives.  “I was hungry and you didn’t feed me, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.  I was a stranger and you did not take me in, I was naked and you did not clothe me, I was sick, I was in prison, and you did not visit me.

Surprised and dismayed, the people on the left, on that "great day of accounting", will ask, “But, when Lord”?  “When did we see you like this and not come to your assistance”?  It is then, that the One who knows the very secrets of our hearts will say, “Whenever you did not do these things unto the least of these my brethren, you did not do it to me.”

Over the last 17 years I have had the privilege of playing a supportive role to ADRA, an organization that  works to relieve the suffering of the poor.  Some of the religious people that I have met in my journey have expressed their doubts about the validity of ADRA’s approach.  They may complain that vital resources are being diverted to programs that have no “evangelistic” agenda.  “While it is nice that a village gets a well”, these critics have said, “while it is nice that people learn how to grow better gardens, live healthier lives and become self reliant, where are the baptisms”?

To these people I simply ask, “what will Jesus say to the "sheep" that he invites into his eternal kingdom”?  If they don’t remember, I remind them.  He will say, “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.  I was hungry and you fed me.  I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and in prison and you visited me.” 

The people that hear these words on the day of judgment are surprised!  They scratch their head in bewilderment.  “But, Lord, When”?  We don’t ever remember seeing you like this!  And then the judge of our world will say, “Whenever you did it to unto the least of these my brethren, you did it unto me.    Come you blessed of my Father, enter into my eternal kingdom”.

Many years ago I worked at a Christian summer camp for kids.  One of the songs that we sang each evening was called, “I Just Wanna be a Sheep”.  I don’t think that I fully grasped the meaning of that simple song until many years later.  Today, more then ever, I just wanna be a sheep.    

While this web site carries the Christian theme of going to the very least with our love and service, we welcome the participation of all people who have a concerned heart for the poor of our world, regardless of your religion or belief system.  We invite your participation and input as we discuss ways to bring an end to extreme poverty in our generation.   Working together we can accomplish this amazing goal! And, aside from all of the joy and satisfaction that this work can bring to us in this life, we have that added assurance that a life of service to others, is the real vision and mission of Christianity. Take up this exciting new approach to your spiritual journey, and on that great judgment day, you may very well end up with the sheep.