“For example, when we reach out to the poor and sick, we are not doing so because of some principle of justice, or some theology of poverty and sickness, or some political platform or legislation, or some responsible way of dealing with surplus wealth. We do so for three reasons: 1. The deepest hungers of the human heart are for forgiveness and reconciliation with God. 2. We are reaching out to Jesus Himself (“ I was sick and you visited Me” 7). In the poor and sick, it is Christ whom we attend and feed and love. Followers of Jesus exist for others, not for themselves. 3. The life of Christ within us compels us to reach out to such. The Galilean prophet who healed the sick and cared for the poor continues His ministry in and through us today. This reframing of “the poor” was one of the greatest contributions of Christianity. The pagan world called poor people “base and shady.” The Christians called them “sisters and brothers,” and identified them with Christ. The “needy” and “afflicted” received more than alms; they also received prayer and affection and relationship. The poor were not a political problem. The poor were “us,” not “them.” 8 Care of the poor is a matter of orthodox faith.”

— Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ by Leonard Sweet, Frank Viola
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