Sharing the Gospel

I (Aimee) just watched the newest post from the folks at Walk the Way (on Facebook, or at www.walktheway.net).  Jeff Klein offers the challenge of whether we’re living for what is socially comfortable rather than living for what God wants for our lives.  It’s an excellent question, but it got me thinking about something else.  It’s related, but different.

Jeff was telling the story of a man who moved out of the suburbs into the city because he felt God calling him to the city and to the people there.  Apparently, this man was criticized by his friends for being more concerned with the social gospel—meeting physical needs like food, water, and medicine—than with sharing the gospel for the purpose of winning souls.

It reminded me of a very short discussion that came up at our church recently (‘discussion’ probably isn’t the right word, but I’ll use it for lack of anything better right now).  A report was being made about where recent outreach money had been sent.  Then someone asked the question (and I'm paraphrasing): “when are we going to send money to someone who’s actually sharing the gospel?”  Almost all of our money recently has gone to help the victims in Japan and tornado victims in the eastern states, mostly through World Vision (http://www.worldvision.org/).  I understood why the question was asked, but I was still amazed.  

Do you understand why I was amazed?  Do you understand why the man in Jeff’s story was probably equally amazed by his friends’ statements?

Look at the life of Jesus.  The gospels record many lessons, many times when Jesus sat with His disciples and other followers and told them stories, reviewed the scriptures, and just generally taught them with words.  But He also spent a lot of time healing, dealing with people’s physical needs.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus caused the lame to walk and the blind to see.  He healed those who were possessed by demons.  He healed those who were suffering from skin diseases that left them ostracized from the rest of society.  Jesus cared very deeply for people’s physical well being.

I heard it said once that people won’t care about what you have to say until they believe that you care.  I’ve also heard it said that a person can more easily hear the Gospel if their stomach is not louder than your voice.  Some people are so physically broken that they can’t begin to heal on the inside until they begin to heal on the outside.

James tells us:

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (2:15-16)

And in Deuteronomy it says:

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.  He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. (10:17-18)

God is all about meeting our needs.  It’s all over the Bible.  And while this world is not to be our home, God knows our needs in this world and He meets them.  And we’re called, as followers of Christ, to meet the needs of those suffering around us to the best of our abilities… in whatever form that takes.

Allow me to share one more quote with you.  Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with having said: “Share the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”