There is a saying, ‘Victory has a thousand fathers, but failure is an orphan’. John F. Kennedy modified that slightly in the aftermath of the ill fated ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion by saying “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan”. I’m pretty sure at that point in his presidency he was definitely feeling like an orphan ‘left out in the cold’.
This saying actually had its origins going way back to the days of the Roman Empire.
The Roman historian Tacitus wrote a similar phrase, “This is the unfair thing about war: victory is claimed by all, failure to one alone,” highlighting the historical nature of this idea.
When looking at the ‘Homeless Situation’ through the eyes of a lot of folks, ‘Street People’ are nothing but a bunch of failures that really should not be surprised that they have been ‘Orphaned by society’, as a form of punishment for their bad behavior.
Now, let’s take a Quick Look at the scriptures for a little guidance in this matter.
Scripture consistently calls for the support and defense of orphans and widows, framing it as an essential aspect of true faith and justice. Key verses include James 1:27, which defines pure religion as caring for them, and Deuteronomy 10:18 and Isaiah 1:17, which call for justice and defense of the fatherless and widows. Other passages highlight God’s personal care for them and the practical church responsibility to ensure their well-being.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands
James 1:27 NIV
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Orphans and Widows. Gee whiz, I seem to know quite a few people who fall into that category. Oh sure, they may have issues with addiction and seem to lack the motivation or common sense to better themselves. It frustrates me too. That being said, if the whole world seems to think you’re nothing but a loser and abandon you for lack of love and compassion, why would you want to try and become a part of it again? It’s like going to a ‘church’ where everyone struts around in their fine apparel and all you have is a pair of dirty jeans and a wrinkled tee shirt. The worst part is that this popular mindset among many ‘denominations’ is of the type that loves to reason that if you would dress up for the Queen of England, or Holland in some cases, would you not all the more put on your fanciest ‘Duds’ when coming into ‘The presence of God’? Where on earth in the ‘New Testament’ does this teaching exist? Being made to feel like a reject in a place that you’re supposed to feel welcome regardless of what you’re dressed like seems a little contradictory, don’t you think? It makes me wonder if perhaps the people that hold to this highly discriminatory practice have ever heard of or actually read the ‘Book of James’ in the ‘New Testament’. Maybe these ‘fashionable folks’ should actually read that in the Old Testament, the only people expected to ‘dress up’ were the priests serving in the temple. Funny how certain goofy traditions get started. Funny how what truly matters gets ignored.
James ch 2 vs 1 – 7
Favoritism Forbidden
2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
I’m quite sure God has made things abundantly clear that he wants us to
take care of everyone in need, regardless of whether they are ‘housebound’ or ‘houseless’, addicted to drugs, booze, or their own reflection in the mirror. When God says ‘Don’t look, just fly’, regardless of the fact that the Starboard engine of your airplane was destroyed by a bolt of lightning and all that remains is a tangled mess of tattered metal and wires dangling in its place. Sometimes we are better off not to ‘check out the damage’ and ‘just trust’ that he will keep the plane in the air and deliver us to safety.
This is a call for more ‘Braves’ to come to the aid of the weaker members of the tribe. The ‘Unsheltered’ tribe that is. As it stands, there are far too many Chiefs sitting on their fat lazy butts, hiding in their ’Teepees’, wearing their feathered bonnets with their legs and arms crossed in front of them. It’s time they hear the ‘War Cry’ and join the rest of the ‘Braves’, ‘Tomahawks’ in hand, ready to do battle against the tribes that demonstrate ‘indifference, ignorance, and selfishness’. So learn to give a ‘War Whoop’ and join me on the ‘Warpath’ to victory today!
Glory be to God in the highest . Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Amen
Saturday September 6th, 2025
Written by Lucien Alexander Delean aka ‘Looch’