Elaborating on last week's theme, I want to emphasize that one of the most
effective ways of reaching an overchurched culture is by serving the poor. I
write this for two main reasons:
- Overchurched (and in some cases, unchurched) people identify this ministry with Jesus—and rightfully so. The Gospel of Luke is a gospel highlighting Jesus’ ministry to the poor. In Matthew 25, Jesus makes serving the poor a salvation issue.
- When we live by Jesus’ ministry, it authenticates our message. In survey after survey, numerous young adults who have left churches–obvious examples of the overchurched–have stated that they place a high priority on helping the poor. They have revealed that churches that attract their attention in a positive way are those who demonstrate a clear commitment to fulfilling Jesus’ mission of serving the poor.
I
must confess; there were times I was not wildly excited to have my holiday
“interrupted.” Having said that, I realized at the time that it was a whole lot
better being known as the church who helped people rather than being known as
“the church whose members think they are the only ones going to heaven.”
The
servant hearts of those North Main members changed outsiders’ perception of the
congregation. (Incidentally, let me emphasize, those Christians were already
serving in that way before I moved there. I had nothing to do with forming their faith.)
Writing
this, I think about several of the Christians of Shiloh I have observed over
the last few years. A number of them have spent much time ministering to the
poor in ways such as partnering with Christians of other churches to feed the
homeless of Tyler, working with other Christians in serving the “working poor” at
a downtown location, serving people in the fields of health care by offering help
as dentists, nurses, and doctors. I have seen Christians become foster parents
and adopt children. All of these actions are like deposits accumulating in the
“good-will bank accounts” located in the hearts of the overchurched.
Now,
let me emphasize, we need to watch out for the temptation of downplaying
opportunities to share our faith. The world is full of organizations that began
as beacons of light seeking to serve people and call them to Jesus… only to devolve
into do-gooder organizations indistinguishable from secular charities.
The
world is filled with materially affluent people who are spiritually
impoverished. We should never be satisfied simply because we helped a person
climb out of physical poverty and ascend a materialistic ladder. Rather, our
prayer should be that all of these cups of cold water open the doors to many
human hearts, so that these might receive the ultimate supplier of human needs:
Jesus.
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