So here is what I’ve been pondering today…
What would it look like for Christians and Churches to move beyond just service projects (programmed ways of giving) to becoming servants (programmed to give.)
I guess that I’m wondering if we are fooling ourselves about our obedience to Christ in serving others by our moments of servitude when what Jesus was looking for was a mantle of servitude.
Just thinking that maybe we’re not radical enough compared with Jesus’ example?
“… whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
Excellent question. There is a subtle difference between how the Church, today, as a whole is presented in the Apostolic Epistles and how the individual Christian life is presented by Jesus in the Gospels.
I honestly believe that we have read and studied the Epistles for so long that we have become lulled into thinking that the services which we provide should be the main thrust of Church work. We feel a commitment to serve, but as we immerse ourselves in Church sponsored group service projects, we somehow mask the desire, and importance for individual service. As humans, we just want to take the path of least resistance.
Radical is really the correct term to describe Jesus’s Ministry. Most Christians today will shy away from making the kind of commitment that Jesus asked for. And, I think a lot of the reason why is because we can “share” our burden with our brothers and sisters in some sort of service project, thus relieving ourselves of a lot of individual responsibility.
As an example of what I mean, next time you are involved in a Bible Study group, bring up the story of the Rich Young Ruler. When Jesus told him to go and sell everything he owned and give it to the poor, the young man went away, sad, because he was very, very wealthy.
Now, suggest that Jesus meant what he said to apply to us today as Christians… literally. Then step back and see how many of our brothers and sisters will immediately begin to back peddle with the old familiar line, “Well, I know that’s what He said. But he didn’t mean it THAT way!” And, you could also hear this one, “Well, if I gave up all I own, would’t that mean I would be worse than an infidel by not providing for my own family?”
Do you think there is a reason why so many of the sermons we hear today seem to be anchored in the Epistles and make only cursory mention of the Gospel, and then only to support some point out of the Epistles? I wonder what would happen if we began preaching primarily from the Gospels and referred to the Epistles to support a point that Jesus was making?
It’s always bothered me (and I’m talking about myself, too) that service can be motivated by selfishness: “I have had my ‘moment of servitude,’ and now my conscience is sufficiently gratified to move on with my day, week, or life. I sent my check off to Compassion, I bought a few Red products, and I volunteered at Bethlehem Inn tonight…sweet! I’m good for a while.”
It just doesn’t work like that. As with everything else that has to do with God, it’s all about our hearts–not what we do, but who we are. The changes we have to make must be at the level of the soul, or we will change nothing.
There’s nothing wrong with serving because it brings us joy (that’s why God wants us to do it), but it is empty service if all we’re really doing is alleviating our guilt.