God cares. There are many theological and ethical issues debated and discussed in today’s religious community, as has always been the case.

Few statements of a religious nature can be found that fail to incite controversy. I believe, however, that the above opening statement, “God cares,” is one that would be accepted universally.

God cares about us as individuals and longs to have a relationship with each of us.

John’s Gospel presents this caring in perhaps its most famous passage, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God cares about each and every one of us.

There is something else God cares about. He cares about how we treat one another.

You remember the 10 Commandments given to Moses in the Old Testament. A majority of those rules have to do with how we treat one another.

The Old Testament prophets spent a great deal of their time calling the children of Israel to mercy and caring for one another.

One of the rules concerning the harvesting of crops was that the landowner was not to harvest the corners of fields, but was instead to leave the grain there to be harvested by the poor.

Misbehavior in the realm of justice and mercy was sure to lead to prophetic messages of doom and retribution. Care for the fatherless and widows was demanded by a loving and compassionate God.

In the New Testament, God’s care continued to be demonstrated by Christ and his followers. Jesus extended God’s caring instructions when asked about the “greatest commandment.”

He responded with a summary of the first four commandments, “Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your being,” he began and then quickly added, “and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus’ followers picked up the cause of one who fed thousands and as the early church developed, they strove to meet the physical as well as the spiritual needs of believers.

The church at Jerusalem early on appointed deacons to care for the needs of widows.

Later, Paul went far and wide collecting an offering for those in need due to famine. It was Paul quoting Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

It is also wise to remember that Jesus took this responsibility of caring for others very seriously.

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus tells us that one day he will sit on the throne of his glory as he separates the nations into one group which will be rewarded and another which will be dismissed into “everlasting fire.”

One of the criteria for the distinction between the two groups was in Jesus’ words this way. “Come inherit the Kingdom prepared for you… I was hungry and you gave me food,” and “Depart from me… I was hungry and you gave me no food.” It seems abundantly clear that God cares very much how we treat one another.

A few years ago, several local churches cared also.

They went together and formed the Downtown Food Pantry. Their gifts and the gifts of other caring people and organizations in the area have kept the pantry open.

In recent years, however, demand for services and prices for food have increased markedly. This past month, the pantry served more than 400 people.

At that rate, the next twelve months will require our serving almost 5,000 people as compared to the last 12 months’ demand of just over 4,000 served. The cost for these last 12 months was in the neighborhood of $35,000, which means the increased need will probably cost well over $40,000 just to keep up.

These churches and our regular sponsors still care, but they need help.

The question now becomes, “Do we care?” You and I have a challenge to meet and an opportunity to seize. I know that some of you already support food pantries in your church to help with other local agencies. God will bless you in your efforts.

If you are a person looking for some way to help someone or you are a person who would like to do more, we are offering you an opportunity.

On Oct. 24, the Downtown Food Pantry will be accepting gifts through the “Harvest for the Hungry” campaign. Gifts will be received as part of the morning worship service at First United Methodist and the accounting and management of the pantry is there.

We invite you to attend that morning and present your harvest for the hungry. We are asking individuals, organizations, businesses, social clubs, civic organizations, schools, churches and any other entity to bring their harvest that morning.

Our goal is to provide financing for the food pantry for the whole year in this one expression of caring.

If you can’t come, but want to help, please send your donations to First United Methodist Church, 101 N. Fifth St., Ironton 45638. Be sure to write “food pantry” on the memo line. If you have questions, call First United Methodist Church at (740) 532-1196.

It’s clear. God cares. Jesus cares. The churches care. The question is, “Do we?”

The Rev. Wayne E. Young serves First United Methodist Church in downtown Ironton.