For a few years now our church has been doing “Servant Evangelism” or “Random Acts of Kindness” projects where we go out and just do practical things for people in our community in the name of Jesus Christ. We’ve done free (refusing donations) car washes, handed out loaves of bread and peanut butter, replacement batteries for fire detectors, and many others. Now we even have a Sunday school class that does this monthly during Sunday school. What an incredible way to be a disciple, rather than just talking about it or reading about it in the Bible.
Some have questioned why we would use our resources in such a “frivolous” way. It’s pretty simple. Good deeds create good will, so we can share good news. In the church, we tend to emphasize Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not works, so that no one can boast.” But verse 10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
This means that Little League coaches and Girl Scout leaders in our congregation are just as important as our Sunday school teachers. The point is that if our church vanished, would anyone notice? Would anyone care? I think so. What do you think?
May 2, 2008 at 1:59 am
Hello,
I think that’s great that you’re doing good deeds, we’re commanded to do so. However, that is not evangelism. Evangelism is preaching the gospel. Romans 10:14 says, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
I’ve found that most people are open to talking about the Bible and eternity. All you have to do is start the conversation.
Thanks,
Bill
May 2, 2008 at 3:34 am
Good point Bill. I agree that it is more than just “showing love.” Ultimately love includes verbalizing the gospel. But for many in our culture they won’t care to listen to us if they don’t think we genuinely care for them.
May 2, 2008 at 9:47 am
good deeds create good will that opens hearts to the good news…often I’ll hear the comment…it’s not evangelism…
in one sense it’s not, in my experience, it is. As I serve others people begin to ask questions…like Why are you doing this? My reply, I’m just showing you God’s love in a practical way. Over time people begin to define our church…by the way our community has the right to define us by what we do…not by what we believe…What kind of church would throw parties for the poor? Or give me a drink on a hot day? or wash my car for free? People then come and check out our church…when they arrive they are wondering, Is this church the real deal? Are they authenticly kind and serving or was I served as a means to their end? Literally hundreds of people have heard the good news and hundreds have responded.
Jesus let your light shine in such a way that as men see your good deeds they may glorify my Father in Heaven…a casual read of the pastoral letters or a word search on good deeds is quite revealing…
any way see http://stevebowen.blogspot.com for 3 years of positive stories of serving others…
small towns especially need to know there is a church that cares.
May 2, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Steve,
If you wash someone’s car, I assume you’re not doing that so that they have a clean car when they go to hell. You’re doing it as evangelism, hoping they will be born again. Your motive for washing their car isn’t really to give them a clean car it’s to get them to come to church, or get an opportunity to explain the gospel. Am I incorrect? It seems like you have an ulterior motive for washing their car, and everyone knows it.
When I walk up to someone and start a conversation with them, I can be very up front that I’m inviting them to spend eternity with me in heaven. I don’t know of any deed I could perform that is more meaningful. If they tell me they need food, of course I can’t just give them the gospel and tell them to get saved and be well fed. I have to help them.
If you do something good for someone, and you say you’re doing it to show God’s love, I guess I just don’t get it. God’s love for us was expressed on the cross, and to say you’re showing God’s love without discussing the cross is a foreign idea to me.
Thanks,
Bill