Is The Church There To Support & Service, Some Or All Of The Community.

You serve whomever God puts before you. I don't recall Mother Theresa checking someone's religious affiliation or community standing before taking someone in. She just took in whomever GOd placed before her.

[ November 26, 2002, 01:41 AM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

Not all churches will take this stand, but how do you speak of Gods love to the community if the church is not prepared to show it in practical ways.

yours, Jon.

 

The church's primary obligation to those outside the church is evangelism. There is no NT mandate for the church to provide food, marriage, counseling, etc for those outside the church. An individual church might have a desire and resources for those things but it is not a NT mandate. The NT mandate is evangelism and that should be the primary goal of the church with regards to outsiders.

 

I agree, Pastor Larry, but I would add that this involves things like helping the poor or counseling those who are not believers.

 

amen

yours, Jon.

 

Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do so also unto me.

Evangelism is not what comes from our mouths, but what comes from our hearts. Jesus commands us not to talk the talk, but to walk the walk.

[ November 26, 2002, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

Our primary function is to care for the flock placed in our care.

Having said that, we are to be a witness, a lighthouse, a beacon of hope to all. This includes caring for those around us. Times are different. We live in the 21st century. The needs are different.

Even in New Testament times, however, it was thought important enough to mention the good samaritain in the Gospels......Can we do less to-day?

Cheers,

Jim

 

I would agree provided these things are done with a view to a biblical solution, namely, evangelism and discipleship. If the "needy parties" are not willing to participate in this, I don't have much to help them.

 

Jesus helped Jew and Greek alike. Therefore so should we. Additionally, Jesus gave us the parable of the good shepherd to demonstrate it.

[ November 26, 2002, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

Why do you assume that these are different? If you give a poor man a million dollars but don't give him the gospel, what good have you done? It is vital, in a day of increasing confusion, that the church remember its NT purpose ... the honoring of God by building disciples. Inasmuch as helping others contributes to that purpose, we should participate in it, but never apart from the primary purpose of building disciples through evangelism and training. To assume that we can help people without the gospel of Jesus Christ being proclaimed front and center is not a NT assumption and is indeed opposite of the clear NT mandate for the church as an institution.

I wouldn't argue that we shouldn't help Jew and Greek alike. I reach out to people of all ethnic backgrounds. But that is not the issue here, neither does the parable of the Good Shepherd demonstrate that point.

Jim, In my initial response, I think I specifically delineated our response to the world to distinguish it from our responsibility to believers. We have a different relationship to believers to be sure.

[ November 26, 2002, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: Pastor Larry ]

 

Pastor Larry:

Can't argue with that, my good friend.

I do rather like the Salvation Army's unwritten motto: "Soup..Soap...Salvation." Often in that order, and at the same time.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Why do you assume that these are different? If you give a poor man a million dollars but don't give him the gospel, what good have you done?

I don't disagree with you, but I'm still thinking of the Good Samaritan. It wasn't about preaching to him, it was about taking care of him. You'd think that the taking care of him was gospel enough, at least for that example. The only point I'm trying to make here really is that our actions go a hundred times further than our words.

 

John,

Is there some reason you think we would not have known what our primary function as pastors is? What is the reason you feel the need to stress this so emphatically to us? Are you seeking to encourage or rebuke?

Pastork

 

Hi everyone;
we are commanded to love our neighbor.what a testimony to have the oppertunity to show love to someone who doesn't deserve it.What makes us so deserving of the love of Christ?. Nothing
Romanbear
Peace

 

I think the church should be like the Bethesda Pool in the community.