By Michael C. Mack
We’re trying something a little different this month.
We have provided what amounts to a 54-page Bible study of 16 verses: Matthew 25:31-46. We begin with exposition; Jon Weatherly skillfully provides context and commentary for this passage. Of course, effectual Bible study begins with careful observation and accurate interpretation, but it means nothing without application. We must “do what it says.”
And so we tell the stories of churches and other Christian organizations living out Matthew 25:34-40. They demonstrate what it looks like to feed the hungry, welcome strangers, clothe those in need, look after sick in various ways, and visit and minister to people in prison.
The needs in our culture are obvious to those who want to see.
The church is called to care about people’s spiritual needs, telling them about Jesus, and love those same people enough to also care for their physical, mental, financial, and relational needs. It’s not an either-or dilemma for the church. As Weatherly put it, “We can confidently reject the false choice between evangelism and benevolence. They are inseparable.” We do not need to choose one or the other. If we want to reach people in today’s post-Christian culture, we must understand the nexus between loving our neighbors in practical ways and living evangelistically in God’s kingdom.
The Father sent Jesus into the world, and Jesus has sent us (John 17:18; 20:21). We can point to several reasons Jesus was sent, but I want to focus on two: (1) He came to save sinners, giving eternal life (John 3:16; Mark 2:17; 10:45; 1 Timothy 1:15). We have been well-schooled and have proficiently proclaimed this part of the good news for many decades. And (2) he also came to be the solution for a broken human society:
[Jesus] found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good newsto the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” . . .
He began by saying to them,”Today this scripture is fulfilledin your hearing” (Luke 4:17-20).
As Christ’s body, we are sent to do the same. When we faithfully serve others in our communities, when we lovingly and sacrificially care for the “least of these,” we “proclaim good news,” and those deeds of love and goodness win for us a voice to boldly preach salvation in Jesus as well (Acts 3:14:12).
This is our responsibility as the body of Christ. Imagine the impact if every Christian church loved their communities enough to make a real difference in the lives of those who need all Jesus offers them. This might be fanciful thinking, but imagine if politicians were to say, “We don’t need to raise taxes to take care of the underserved; the church is doing that!” (Perhaps that’s not as far-fetched as it might seem. See “Solving the American Church’s PR Problem,” by Tyler McKenzie in this month’s issue.)
May we restore the self-sacrificing character of the New Testament church that “sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need,” which was likely at least partially responsible for “the Lord [adding] to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:45, 47).
God has richly blessed us so we might be a blessing to those in need. As God has loved us, let us love one another.
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