I am blessed to be a part of a church that cares. It really does. Lowell Church of Christ has several missions and local outreach.
However, even when looking at my church, I am left wondering: Is this all God desires for us?
Today I start discussing the issue of church and poverty, and the first thing we need to ask is simply: What does God expect of us as Christians and as his Church? Today I want to make three observations:
1. God desires his church to do more than give. Luke 4 makes quite clear that we are to proclaim good news to the poor. Proclamation of good news goes far beyond handing a check out to someone. It means providing the means to lift someone into a better life (physically, emotionally, and spiritually).
2. God intends the church to be more than a support center. The New Testament, including Luke 4, provides insight that the church will actually be filled with the poor. They will be part of us. It should be our job to treat with equality those of lesser means, and hopefully bring them to equality. We must stop looking at the impoverished around the world as "other" and start looking at them as "one of us."
3. God intends the church to be the standard-bearer for worldwide justice. If you have not done it yet, read Luke 4. God wants to make the world a place of justice. He intends to use the Church, the hands and feet of Jesus, to be the leaders of this movement toward equality and hope.
__________
I have heard the many who worry about this so called "social gospel." Somehow, by focusing our attention on the statements of Christ that challenge us to do, to act, to live with compassion, we challenge the grace alone gospel. I do not agree.
Grace breeds grace. As we come into contact with the grace of God that forgives sins, it leads us to tangibly display this grace. Grace begats worship that challenges the "who we are" with the "who we were created to be." Grace begats love which leads to compassion.
Grace must be followed by more grace. Grace leads us to care for the poor.
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Feeding More Than Fish
Vacation for the popular preacher just wasn't going to happen. Here he was, escaping the crowds, only to have the crowds find him at his destination. The people were worn and disheveled.
They had quite literally run from their towns to the little beachfront, hoping for a chance to see him, hear him.
He was exhausted. He hadn't rested, not before the boat ride, and not during the boat ride.
Jesus wasn't afforded many breaks.
The crowds were there, looking at their Messiah, though nobody was really sure what that meant. They knew though, there was something different about him.
So they ran, straight to him, no thought of themselves. They packed no spare clothing, no food, no necessities of any kind. He was their necessity.
"He felt compassion for them." This little phrase does not lead us into the feeding of the 5000, at least not immediately. Jesus, it seems, had compassion that went a little beyond ours. Yes, he cared for the physical needs, and he would certainly meet them soon.
A more important matter was at hand..."he felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd."
They had nobody to show them the better way of life. All their life they walked without the necessities, the love, faith, and knowledge of God. All their life they wondered aimlessly because they had no hope, no foundation for why they were alive.
And so he taught them, and fed them, but taught them all the more. He taught them the truth, His truth, God's plan for the world, God's true plan of redemption, and how they were to live as part of it. He taught them to rely on God, and then showed them their reliance as he fed them the miracle bread.
Let us have compassion that meets reaches all the persons needs, not only the most obvious.
This is my first look at a passage in Mark. I will continue to share thoughts on Mark as I study and see the odd and beautiful ways in which Jesus acts. Perhaps we can learn together how we might work and live and be in his kingdom.
They had quite literally run from their towns to the little beachfront, hoping for a chance to see him, hear him.
He was exhausted. He hadn't rested, not before the boat ride, and not during the boat ride.
Jesus wasn't afforded many breaks.
The crowds were there, looking at their Messiah, though nobody was really sure what that meant. They knew though, there was something different about him.
So they ran, straight to him, no thought of themselves. They packed no spare clothing, no food, no necessities of any kind. He was their necessity.
"He felt compassion for them." This little phrase does not lead us into the feeding of the 5000, at least not immediately. Jesus, it seems, had compassion that went a little beyond ours. Yes, he cared for the physical needs, and he would certainly meet them soon.
A more important matter was at hand..."he felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd."
They had nobody to show them the better way of life. All their life they walked without the necessities, the love, faith, and knowledge of God. All their life they wondered aimlessly because they had no hope, no foundation for why they were alive.
And so he taught them, and fed them, but taught them all the more. He taught them the truth, His truth, God's plan for the world, God's true plan of redemption, and how they were to live as part of it. He taught them to rely on God, and then showed them their reliance as he fed them the miracle bread.
Let us have compassion that meets reaches all the persons needs, not only the most obvious.
This is my first look at a passage in Mark. I will continue to share thoughts on Mark as I study and see the odd and beautiful ways in which Jesus acts. Perhaps we can learn together how we might work and live and be in his kingdom.
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