God's clear mandate: Protect and provide for the vulnerable

This commentary first appeared in the Charlotte Observer on May 1, 2011.

Across the sweep of the Bible's narrative is a mandate for God's people to protect and provide for the vulnerable. In the earliest biblical accounts this mandate allowed travelers to harvest from roadside fields just enough to feed their families. Widows, endowed with few other rights under the law, were allowed to glean fields after the harvest and keep the spoils of their labor. David, arguably Israel's greatest king, fulfilled his promise to care for Mephibosheth, Jonathan's disabled son, allowing him to eat at the king's table for as long as he lived.

The early Christian church was well-known for its care of the vulnerable. Among the first stories of this fledgling community is the election of Stephen, who was charged to care for widows equitably. Many historians credit the extraordinary rise of Christianity to the sacrificial care given during times of plague when Christian physicians and caregivers stayed with the ill as others fled to safety. The biblical mandate to care for those in need is clear.

Even with our entrepreneurial spirit and extraordinary philanthropy, Charlotte is not immune to the challenges of providing for the vulnerable. This is especially true for our children, who are often defenseless and in greatest need of our care. The statistics are alarming:

Nearly 6,000 children in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County do not have a permanent home. About 68,000 students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools applied for reduced-price or free meals in the 2009-2010 school year. These children may not have access to nutritious meals when school is out.

One in four children under age 6 in North Carolina (26 percent) lives in poverty.

Some might argue that these children's circumstances are the natural consequence of parental choice: crime, addiction, illegal status, teenage pregnancy and any number of other social vices. And yet, the biblical mandate remains. As people of faith, we are to protect and provide for the vulnerable.

This weekend, people of faith will join hands across denomination, race and creed and pray for the soul, family, community and world of our children. We'll also hear from adults in our community on the vanguard of providing for children - nonprofit leaders, civic leaders, school board members and county commissioners, as well as hospital and community health workers. As people of faith, we'll pray for their work and ask God to multiply their efforts. We will also consider new vistas of service and explore ways to collaborate. We will think and speak seriously about our role in addressing the many needs children in our city face each day. In other words, we'll do what people of faith have always done: Heed God's mandate to protect and provide for the vulnerable. We hope you'll join us.