Evaluating 40 Days of Community

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

I want to note here that this chapter has some good admonitions, but they are overemphasizing the physical needs to the point of de-emphasizing spiritual needs. We need to take care to maintain the correct emphasis while demonstrating that physical acts of kindness are how people feel that you mean what you say and believe the truth you speak. I hope and pray that my comments will help shed more light on this as you read. Please post a comment if you have something to add or disagree with something I've said.

"We're Commissioned to Reach Out Together...By Giving Practical Help."

People know we love them when we show we love them.

Indeed, this is true. 1 John 3:16 (NASB), "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Note carefully that the love God makes to live in us through belief in the gospel is that which causes us to in the same way lay down our lives for people. If you are not laying down your life for others, you should question whether or not God is living in you (2 Cor 13:5). This doesn't mean asking to be executed; it simply means treating your life as though it is worth less than that of others (giving preference to others over yourself). But take note: it is those in the family of God being spoken of here and not the unbelieving. We give to all (believers and unbelievers alike) as though we are not going to keep anything, and we work hard for the sake of those in the family of God. The effort I am putting into more clearly expounding the truth of the scriptures in this blog is part of my fulfillment of this. But we also work to help those in the family of God who are in physical need.

Jesus approached love from a show, then tell perspective.

If Rick is trying to make the statement that Jesus always did some good deed before giving someone the gospel, I don't think that he can substantiate such a claim from scripture. However, I completely agree that we cannot think to ourselves that we are only going to tell people the good news without it affecting us enough to give of what we have to them that are in need. Words of love not accompanied with an outward demonstration when possible is not love at all. If we have nothing to give to mee their immediate needs, we certainly can pray for them and ask God to meet their needs. But of course, these are real needs. A need to have cash to go on another drinking or drug binge is not a need we should satisfy. The real need is to be freed from that bondage. But the person has to want to be freed from it; you cannot force a condemned person to accept a pardon. We can declare to them they are forgiven and pray for them, but they need to believe in Jesus' provision and possess the will to change. And showing them how much God has done for them and what He has saved them from (and how deserving they were of God's punishment) is God's chosen motivation.

...when he touched people, they realized "...they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. they were quietly worshipful--and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, 'God is back, looking to the needs of his people!" (Luke 7:16, MSB).

Luke 7:16 (NASB): "Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!" In response to John the Baptists' question concerning if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus responded "Blessed is he who does not take offence at Me" (Luke 7:23, NASB).

The Bible says, "If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear" (1 John 3:17, MSG).

But this is not what the text is saying. In the NASB we read "But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

Her act of service was a reflection of her faith in God [referring to Luke 7:50].

Yes, but Jesus tells us more. He gives us the reason why she has faith and Simon does not. He says in Luke 7:47 (NASB) that "...her sins, which are many, have been forgiven for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." We each need to see that we are forgiven much, and the natural response should be that we love Him much. Even still, of the 10 lepers that were healed of such a terrible disease as that which they had, only one returned to thank Jesus. Only ONE had faith since only ONE realized how much he had been forgiven.

"...Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?" (James 2:17, MSG).

I like how Eugene stated this. The two go together. You cannot speak unless you are able to breathe, and in the same way you cannot preach the gospel without being concerned for the physical needs of those who hear the message.

Francis of Assisi once wrote, "Preach the gospel, if necessary, use words."

This implies that we can preach the gospel without using words. If this were the case, then why do we have a Bible? Why did Jesus say that man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God? (Mat 4:4, NASB). I think that this quote from Francis is not promoting a biblical view. Yes, preach with words. But don't think that you can do this while ignoring the immediate need if you truly have compassion for people.

Jesus specialized in acts of service most people try to avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers.

Yes, but Jesus was not simply giving us an example that we should literally go around and wash everyone's feet. This was symbolic of the washing of the word. Jesus told Peter that he was already clean because he already had a bath (ie. baptism of repentance by belief in God's word); the word continues to sanctify us, and we are to "wash one another's feet" so to speak in this way. These other things do nothing to save or sanctify; they are simply normal, everyday tasks and needs that should be and need be met by those who desire to lead.

Simply remember this: laying down your life is not the same as mowing someone's lawn once in a while or feeding soup to a needy person once per week. Without the gospel, ALL will perish, and your kindness will go unremembered. Never forget that. I hope this has helped you understand God's will better. God bless!