Lakewood Without Love and Charity Is Nothing

[Brian Essi]

On Monday December 21, 2015, City Council voted to close Lakewood's largest charity--Lakewood Hospital. Mayor Summers immediately signed the Master Agreement to close the hospital ASAP--all so that Lakewood officials "might" save money and can rush ahead with "economic development plans" albeit 2 and1/2 years from now when it gets an empty building. Last weekend Jay Carson hastily prepared a court pleading on behalf of Build Lakewood in lock step with leaders to destroy our largest charity in the name of "economic development" opportunities.

Below is an often cited biblical reading on the subject of "love." Please note that historical versions of this reading interposed the word "charity" with the word "love"

So when Paul wrote "without love, I am nothing," it could also be interpreted "without charity, I am nothing."

Charity is defined as:
1. Provision of help or relief to the poor; almsgiving.
2. Something given to help the needy; alms.
3. An institution, organization, or fund established to help the needy.
4. Benevolence or generosity toward others or toward humanity.

Lakewood has turned its back on love and charity.

So tracking Paul's Letter to the Corinthians, I contend that "Without Love and Charity, Lakewood is Nothing." .

What might Paul's writing say about those who supported this plan to do away with our charity?

I will pray for those who supported and voted for the destruction of our largest charity and I will pray for the victims who will suffer as a result of the loss of that charity.

P.S. For those of you who may be Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, atheist, etc. and may take offense at biblical references, may I suggest that one does not need to be a Christian to believe in the wisdom of Paul's writings. In fact, Paul's writings place "love" and "charity" above faith itself.

1 Corinthians 13

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

[Michael Deneen]

City Hall has a Christmas message for the poor, sick and elderly: "No room at the inn".

[Brian Essi]

Someone has proven my points here in their return to the Deck but posting on other threads.