Jesus Christ commanded his disciples to "Go and make disciples of all nations...." (Matt 28:19). The case is therefore often put: "Ought not missionaries to spend all their time in preaching and discipling, rather than seeking the physical well-being of the people whom they are trying to reach?" "Isn't the soul more important than the body? Therefore we will not want to be distracted by mere bodily needs".
This kind of argument may be in reaction to those who see only the physical and social needs, and leave out the Gospel proclamation altogether. I believe that both must go hand in hand.
The essence of the Gospel message is a call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Matt 3:2, 4:17, Acts 2:38, 26:20). Real repentance and faith will lead to a transformed life of obedience to God's commands (James 2:18, Rom 6:22, Heb 5:9). This transformation will be from self-centredness to a genuine love of God and of others. It will show itself in our treating others as we would want them to treat us, in a change of circumstances. In the end, the genuineness of our faith is tested by our works (Matt 25:31-46).
The priest and the Levite (in the story of the good Samaritan Luke 10:31-32) were doubtless busy in the Lord's work, but they lacked the faith that has the hallmark of compassion and love. Likewise the rich man and his five brothers, in the parable of Lazerus, lacked the compassion that would have shown that they believed Moses and the prophets (Luke 16:27-31).
In the world today there are millions of people who are sick, suffering and dying from treatable diseases, within forty eight hours travel time from our homes.
Meanwhile there are Christians, to whom God has given so much knowledge and unprecedented means of treating disease, who are unaware of their need. Will not the outworking of this compassion be an integral part of our Gospel proclamation? If our lives, values and motives are no different from those of the world, what Gospel do we have to preach?
We are not seeking people's assent alone to a religious idea, but transformed lives. Only evidence of our own transformation makes our message compelling. Our own examples convey the message in its most powerful medium.
At the end of the twentieth century an unimaginable impact could be made for the Gospel world-wide. Christian doctors could seize the opportunities available in every corner of the globe to bring compassionate healing along with humble and sensitive Gospel proclamation. Those who already labour to this end, could be reinforced and better supplied and encouraged, so that clinical pressures do not rob them of spiritual vitality and opportunity to share their faith.
There would be sacrifices of income, and of place on the professional ladder, of contact with family members and familiar friends, and of some comforts. It might mean making do without 'state of the art' equipment and supplies. For the retired it might mean hard work again, instead of the enjoyment of more relaxing occupations.
The rewards would include: The joy of helping those who would otherwise have no help. The joy of experiencing that love in Christ transcends all barriers of culture, race and language. The joy of seeing other lives transformed. The joy of having God's presence and approval. This joy can also be shared by those who, while feeling called to stay, are one in fellowship with those who go through prayer, money and encouraging communication.
This kind of argument may be in reaction to those who see only the physical and social needs, and leave out the Gospel proclamation altogether. I believe that both must go hand in hand.
The essence of the Gospel message is a call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Matt 3:2, 4:17, Acts 2:38, 26:20). Real repentance and faith will lead to a transformed life of obedience to God's commands (James 2:18, Rom 6:22, Heb 5:9). This transformation will be from self-centredness to a genuine love of God and of others. It will show itself in our treating others as we would want them to treat us, in a change of circumstances. In the end, the genuineness of our faith is tested by our works (Matt 25:31-46).
The priest and the Levite (in the story of the good Samaritan Luke 10:31-32) were doubtless busy in the Lord's work, but they lacked the faith that has the hallmark of compassion and love. Likewise the rich man and his five brothers, in the parable of Lazerus, lacked the compassion that would have shown that they believed Moses and the prophets (Luke 16:27-31).
In the world today there are millions of people who are sick, suffering and dying from treatable diseases, within forty eight hours travel time from our homes.
Meanwhile there are Christians, to whom God has given so much knowledge and unprecedented means of treating disease, who are unaware of their need. Will not the outworking of this compassion be an integral part of our Gospel proclamation? If our lives, values and motives are no different from those of the world, what Gospel do we have to preach?
We are not seeking people's assent alone to a religious idea, but transformed lives. Only evidence of our own transformation makes our message compelling. Our own examples convey the message in its most powerful medium.
At the end of the twentieth century an unimaginable impact could be made for the Gospel world-wide. Christian doctors could seize the opportunities available in every corner of the globe to bring compassionate healing along with humble and sensitive Gospel proclamation. Those who already labour to this end, could be reinforced and better supplied and encouraged, so that clinical pressures do not rob them of spiritual vitality and opportunity to share their faith.
There would be sacrifices of income, and of place on the professional ladder, of contact with family members and familiar friends, and of some comforts. It might mean making do without 'state of the art' equipment and supplies. For the retired it might mean hard work again, instead of the enjoyment of more relaxing occupations.
The rewards would include: The joy of helping those who would otherwise have no help. The joy of experiencing that love in Christ transcends all barriers of culture, race and language. The joy of seeing other lives transformed. The joy of having God's presence and approval. This joy can also be shared by those who, while feeling called to stay, are one in fellowship with those who go through prayer, money and encouraging communication.
