Is 'doing good works' enough?

I've recently come across a number of amazing projects put on by churches, groups of churches and even the odd diocese. Each of them has been intended to 'reach out' to various people groups and they have brought about some really good stuff. For instance:

One has put on football training and provided places for the young people to play outside when weather permits and inside when the rain and cold have appeared. It has brought loads of youngsters out of their holes and done really good stuff at community cohesion. It has brought young people, who had no dealings with the local churches or those within their walls, into contact with believers and yet they don't 'do Jesus' with them. The reason is that they feel that being in contact is enough and whilst I understand the dangers of appearing to give something good out in exchange for the recipients 'coming to faith' (Do they really though?) especially in the light of missions across the world which house, heal and employ those who make a profession of faith, I think they are wrong.

But before I continue by dragging out my soapbox, let's look at another project I have come across recently.

This one is concerned with using church property to permit a medical intervention being placed in a certain location. The group has permission to use the building for a clinic to take place and they are working hard to bring about social changes in the area they serve. The problem is that those who are using the building see it as just that and those who are working to provide it are cutting back on some of the 'church' activities because of the workload and calls upon them from the project.

There are many other projects I could point to, each with a similar tale, and to be honest I can see that there is a danger of doing without bringing Christ into the equation. First as we pray about what we are going to do and how we are going to do it. Then by not praying as we do it. Then but not praying and sharing what God has done in our lives as we do it. I know this to be true because it is a trap I have fallen into on more than one occasion! The desire to 'make a difference' and for the Church to be 'relevant' can often get us running when we should be kneeling.

I asked the question: "Why do so many Christians go out there as 'do gooders' and fail to mention Jesus, the cross, salvation, love, justice, mercy and all the 'good stuff?'"

One of the responses to this I received was:

"Firstly they are not including these aspects in their everyday lives. They have not experienced it so they do not know how to share it or talk about how these things are changing or changed their lives.

Secondly they are scared of the rejection or knockbacks. They forget that people are rejecting Jesus not themselves and scripture speaks about it. Thirdly they call themselves disciples but do not follow the model that Jesus showed. As Bonhoeffer said "Christianity is useless without Christ."

And I think there is much truth to be found in the response above.

I'm a big fan of 'Church without walls' concept but the problem is that so many are indeed 'Church without Christ!'. I continually struggle with helping Christians to develop their own kerygma such that they can tell of Christ in their own lives. The problem is that we have many Christians who are great at being such for a couple of hours on a Sunday (and can even push it into a housegroup midweek too) but they don't read, don't pray (God, give me six numbers is not prayer) and they don't live out what they profess (Ananias and Saphira readings this week - shot across bows or what?)

I continue to meet Christians who fail to understand what it means to be 'Christian' and see it as a comfortable Sunday outing in a familiar place providing what they want to hear. I meet them in family settings and whilst some know that their family member is 'religious', they don't have a clue as to why they go to church or what the person's faith means to them.

I meet many who are engaged in 'social action' projects who not only fail to mention Christ in their own lives but struggle to cover up any church involvement for fear that it will stop those with needs coming. What's odd is that for many the Church has always been the last resort and when the need is great enough they don't care whether the label is on show or not. But they care that the love of Christ is shown and if it is, well it would be wrong not to mention the author of the solution, wouldn't it?

So, bottom line.

If we are going to 'go into all the world' in obedience to our commission, we need also to be mentioning who sent us and tell them how He has equipped us. So if you're one of those out there 'doing stuff' - make sure you are praying, readins, playing and proclaiming - otherwise we are just being the secular body that some many within our walls appear to want us to be.

Pax