I’m excited about the recent upswing in public words of affirmation for local baptist associations. I love hearing about the good things happening all around our convention related to the very important (I’d even say pivotal) role that the association can play in permeating the larger local area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My heart aches for my pastor friends serving areas in which the association does not have the support and strength it could (and should) have. Let me just remind you, pastors, YOU have the power to make the association be what it can be.
The New Orleans Baptist Association of Churches (NOBA) is at the forefront of what I think is groundbreaking work. We have specialized ministry sites, a blessing of a fantastic office complex, a great relationship with the city, and have pastors of all sizes of churches attending meetings and serving in leadership roles. We have also launched medical clinics that are serving under-served areas of New Orleans in a way no one else is doing. We function with a small but gifted staff and do what we do well – with good stewardship. We do not all always agree on things but we disagree with love and patience, without accusations and suspicion knowing that hearts can be right while particulars can be debated.
The men that lead us, lead us well. Jack, Leroy and Alex serve with humility and devotion. I am thankful for them. I am particularly thankful for a great article that Alex penned and posted today. I asked him if I could post it here for you. You can find that original posting here. I’d like to encourage you to go take a look at our NOBA site and peruse the work going on in the metro area of New Orleans. Have a said how much I love serving here? 😉
To Such as These: Evangelism or Compassion?
by Alex Brian
How many times, as Southern Baptists, have we heard compassion ministries pitted against evangelism—as though the two are separate, as though the two are contradictory?
One of my favorite things about Jesus is the way he answers the questions people ask him—or rather, he doesn’t. He answers the question which should have been asked; he responds to people’s motivations. We see it again and again throughout Scripture:
“Who is my neighbor?” You’ve kept the law, but you don’t have love, so you have nothing. You’re rich, but you’re destitute.
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?” God’s salvation won’t save you from trouble in this world, but it is good.
“Should we worship in the high places or in Jerusalem?” You’re worried that you are too sinful to ascend to heaven, but I have come down to you.
Christ still responds to us in this way. We ask, “Lord, in our interactions with the world, should we focus on evangelism; or compassion and justice?” The reason so many brothers and sisters in Christ can debate this question and never arrive at a clear answer from the Lord is because the Lord is not answering this question. He never will, because he will respond to the question we should have asked, and he will respond to our motivations.
One of my favorite examples of Jesus answering the question that should have been asked is in Joshua, when he asks the angel of the Lord, “Are you for us or our enemies?” and he responds, “No, but I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” Then the angel reveals the world’s worst-ever battle plan to conquer Jericho, which was an impossible task even with the best strategies and methods. You see, the question they should have asked is, “Lord, how will you establish your kingdom here?”
When we ask the Lord whether we should invest our church resources and time in evangelism or in compassion ministries, he answers, “No, but I will establish my kingdom with the least of these.” Then he lays out the world’s worst-ever church growth strategy: go to those who have no money, no influence, and no societal standing; shout God’s praises, watch the walls fall, and keep none of the spoils.
My point is this: compassion and evangelism are necessarily tied. We are quick to remind those who seek to meet physical needs that every person’s greatest need is his or her need for Christ, and this is true; it’s just not a reason to fail in compassion. As a denomination, we are less ready to remind all those who seek to evangelize that evangelism without compassion is hypocrisy. It’s saying “be warm and well fed” without giving a coat or a meal. It’s praying for the Samaritan as we pass by him on our way to temple.
Jesus’ answer to us is that we must have both, that we can’t separate evangelism and compassion—in our churches or in our individual lives.
This article is rooted in central city; it sprung from a recent nola.com article and documentary following a football coach who has seen 28 of his former players killed in the neighborhood. Ask yourself, what does the life and death of Jesus Christ mean for that neighborhood today? How should the people of God in this place respond to such violence? We should bring the gospel, and peace with it. Attempting to do either without the other is vanity.
Your context may be similar, or it may be vastly different—our association ranges from churches meeting in the projects to those nestled in affluent bedroom communities—but everyone has need, first of Jesus, but also of other things, be they material or relational. (Some of the wealthiest communities in our nation fester with a violent loneliness.) Part of the work of ministry is to find the needs where you are and systematically, wisely, sustainably, begin to meet those needs alongside a compassionate, bold, direct sharing of the gospel; both. Shout God’s praises, watch the walls fall, and keep none of the spoils.
I love this so so much.
Yeah. Me too.
Great article Jay. I love your heart. Churches are going to have to face some hard facts. There are hurting people all around us that need more than just the hallow words “be warmed and filled.” My concern are two fold about those who speak about compassionate evangelism. First, how much is really costing you to help the poor, needy, and those in crisis. Many are willing to give a few bottles of water and condemn those who don’t. But how many are willing to really make a difference and sacrifice financially to do so. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We have given away several automobiles in the recent past to those who would lose their jobs otherwise. We have paid medical bills for months on end. We have paid for funerals, lodging, etc. We spend thousands to feed and shelter the homeless every year. We are not a wealthy church, and we go without to help those without. I would challenge all of us, its not enough to say you give your time; what is it costing you financially to meet real needs.
The second concern I have is: are we sharing the gospel as we minister a cup of cold water in Jesus name. That is the bottom line. Otherwise we are no more than a secular government agency.
Thanks for the kind words. Let me be clear, the main article has been written by my friend Alex Brian. His words are encouraging. I appreciate your input, Greg.
That is wonderful, how your church has been able to help. I think sometimes the cost is in money and sometimes it’s something else including time. I suppose it depends what need is being met. Sometimes the need is helping someone know they are seen and loved. I’ve done straight evangelism just talking to people, and I’ve donated what I can afford to help various people. But honestly I think the thing that I had the biggest difference (for myself and the other person) was sitting for a few hours a couple of days this summer talking to this homeless man, spending time listening to him and caring about him. I think he’s a guy I was told gave his life to Christ a few days later. Contrast this with a few months earlier I served with a group distributing breakfast to homeless people and walked away feeling heartbroken because the serving was so disconnected from loving. It was one of the worst serving experiences I’ve ever had- it still disturbs me. I do agree that people need to be willing to love others in word and deed, and to love sacrificially.
Great word Kimberly!
The problem is not churches choosing evangelism over compassion. The problem is the large number of churches committed to neither. Show me an evangelistic church and you find to be compassionate as well. However, compassionate churches may or may not be evangelistic. Evangelism must be the priority because sharing the Gospel is the most compassionate thing any Christian/church can do.
Jesus came both feeding and preaching. His ministry was holistic. If a church evangelizes its community, it will find human needs to address, and meeting human needs opens people’s hearts and minds to the gospel. In my years of missionary service I saw that, properly done, human needs ministry opened the door for evangelism. For example, in the southern Philippines the IMB established a wonderful agricultural/community development center–the Mindanao Rural Development Center. At the center our missionary, Harold Watson, and his staff taught agriculture, rural health, community development, etc. Thousands of Filipinos came for training each year. Beyond that the missionary and his staff witnessed to all who came for training, and they planted more than 30 churches in the area. When it comes to human needs ministry and evangelism, one hand washes the other. In other words, they are complementary. My wife served at a church community center in inner city Memphis. She and the other workers saw people come to Christ every week.
I am not disagreeing with you. But I do believe if we are not intentional in determining how our compassionate actions will lead to evangelism that they typically don’t. Every miracle Jesus performed was to advance His kingdom. His purpose was never just to meet a physical need or help a hurting person.
Why would you think you have to issue this warning Allen? What has been written by those such as Gerald Harris is not true. I do not believe that you can have one without the other. The Gospel and social justice go hand in hand. I disagree that compassionate churches are not evangelistic. Maybe not up to your way of doing evangelism, but they are always evangelistic. I do agree that evangelistic churches are not always compassionate which makes the evangelism null and void I believe.
Missionaries have been doing this in their work forever, yet no such warning has been given them? Why? We have been doing both for years. Since I have been on the scene at least. To care about people and their needs, to heal a hurting person, to heal a physical need is the Gospel. This is why Christ did what he did as well as to show that he is who he says he is. Same now. Suffering is not a Christian virtue.
I certainly agree that an intentional evangelistic element should be part of the human needs ministry. Our Disaster Relief Ministry is a good example of a balanced approach.
Debbie,
No one gets saved (evangelism) simply because they been given a full stomach…or because Christians fought for some important moral issue…. they get saved because they hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and respond in faith. period.
Of course we need to be compassionate and stand for what is right and moral in the world….but we must always remember the greatest need people have is not a better morality or even to be treated with more morality – thier greatest need is always the gospel. Obviously though – compassionate approaches open more doors and straighten the path to evangelism.
As the article states – Compassion and evangelism are connected… But they are not the same thing… Truthfully though either actually can exist without the other – but only the latter can save the soul.
Right, Tarheel.
“Moral Therapeutic Deism” is not the gospel. However, anyone who has experienced saving grace according to the biblical gospel will be compassionate due to the new life in them and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. If I am not compassionate, I grieve the Holy Spirit. If I am not practicing intentional evangelism, I grieve the Holy Spirit.
A balance of intentional, godly compassion and intentional, biblical evangelism in a local church is conducive to a healthy church. The same can be said of an individual Christian.
Dave: Once again you and CB are answering something that no one is saying.
Oh? Arguing against what no one is saying??
You said this:
“To care about people and their needs, to heal a hurting person, to heal a physical need is the Gospel.”
No, it’s not Debbie – It’s just not.
Read my entire comment Dave. Take that quote in its proper context. And this is the context, which is a quote from this article.
“My point is this: compassion and evangelism are necessarily tied. We are quick to remind those who seek to meet physical needs that every person’s greatest need is his or her need for Christ, and this is true; it’s just not a reason to fail in compassion. As a denomination, we are less ready to remind all those who seek to evangelize that evangelism without compassion is hypocrisy. It’s saying “be warm and well fed” without giving a coat or a meal. It’s praying for the Samaritan as we pass by him on our way to temple.”
I absolutely did not take your words out of context.
I just wanted to point out that social justice and appeals to morality are not the gospel. I’ve done that and I stand by it.
Have a good day.
I have been blessed to lead more than a few people to the Lord by way of the compassion ministries I am involved with so I believe that compassion and evangelism are tied together. I have been with SBC Disaster Relief for about 5 years now. I can’t tell you how many people have been led to the Lord by “Sharing Christ in Crisis.” The fact that we are willing to go into a disaster area and do practical things such as feeding and mud out opens up tremendous opportunities to share Christ. I love it! The cool thing about Disaster Relief is that anyone can volunteer, no matter what state you live in or how old you are. In fact, most of the volunteers, like myself, are retired or semi-retired.
I recently returned from a missions trip sponsored by SWBTS in South Asia. In this country we went to the poorest of the poor and ministered in many different ways. Again, by showing compassion combined with evangelism, and being present in this very poor neighborhood, I was invited by an Imam to meet him the next day in his mosque. I kept that appointment and I was able to share Christ with Him. Of course he tried to share Mohammed’s teachings with me as well, but I never would have had that experience if I had not been in this poor neighborhood.
As I have used the opportunities with my involvement in compassion ministries to share the gospel, I have found that I am more attuned to share the gospel in every situation! This is nothing short of God’s spirit working through me. Five years ago, I never would have imagined I would be sharing the gospel with anyone outside of my family. God has given me a voice and I praise Him for it. I just wanted to add this to the OP because it is so close to my heart. From what I have seen, Louisiana does have a pretty good DR ministry. I have been privileged to work with them a few times in the past few years.
Agreed.
As the article conveys – Compassion is tied to and compliments the gospel in that it opens doors and hearts.
Compassion and fighting for morality without gospel proclamation is not the gospel and is not evangelism as it has no power to save the soul.
Certainly compassion moves us toward evangelism…
Thanks for this, Bonnie! I started working with DR in 1998 and I completely agree with your assessment. There is nothing quite like servant-oriented-evangelism.