mgpcpastor's blog

Something that I have been continuing to think about since returning from Timor Leste is the primacy which the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of TL is seeking to give to evangelism and the ministry of God’s Word. In a nation where so many have so little, where needs abound, it is a striking emphasis.
As a church, we at mgpc are blessed with much. I think we have much to learn from God’s Word and the example of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world about how we use the resources God has given us to support Gospel work.
Many visitors come to the nation in order to supply help and bring aid of various sorts. It made talking to others very enjoyable; everyone seemed to have a positive aim that they were contributing toward. The overwhelming number of foreign nationals we encountered in the country were visiting as part of private or public efforts to provide support and skills. Non-government organisations, the United Nations and private businesses are much in evidence and their work is much needed to rebuild ruined infrastructure and to provide expertise that is not available locally. The leaders of the EPC-TL have watched the church to which they belonged mirror this emphasis. As with many other Protestant churches, the social dimension of the Christian life has become all consuming; the work of evangelism has become idle either by passive neglect or because it has been actively replaced by social ministry.
The commands of the Lord Jesus in the Bible provide a stark contrast to an emphasis on social work as the primary Christian work. In Matthews’ Gospel He commands the disciples: ‘…make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.’ (Mat 28:18) In Acts He tells them: ‘and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:8)
It takes a fair bit of stretching to think that the scope of these commands is fulfilled in social care. There is a work of teaching and proclamation that has been consistently understood as being the intent of His words. The early church seems to have understood this. The book of Acts and the letters of the Apostles to the early church demonstrate that their work was centrally one of teaching and proclamation. Those who had come into the Kingdom of God had done by God’s grace through faith in the Gospel. It is important, though, to note that there are ethical, moral and behavioural implications that flow from a genuine understanding of the Gospel of Jesus. James points out that compassionate caring works will always be the fruit of a truly Christian life.
So it is with our friends in Timor Leste. They want to make the first thing the first thing. The spread of the Gospel is the church’s first work. Over and over again the church in the west, which has more resources, is told by the church in the poorest parts of the world that what they really value is the Gospel. We continue to be told that they perceive that our money and possessions are actually snares and sources of temptation. Consider Pastor Manuel, who stood at the door of his church, with all his people’s possessions inside, and told the militia that they would have to kill him to go inside and take what they desired. His action was not motivated by the worldly value of his people’s meagre belongings. It was motivated by the Gospel made real in his life by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t need more stuff. His home is still basically empty. He needed the Gospel. We all do.
So, what does that mean for our resources? In Matthew and Mark’s Gospels Jesus said that ‘you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.’ (Mk 14:7) There is a sense of priority in that statement which, far from ignoring the plight of those with social need, simply places our honouring of the Lord Jesus on a higher plain.
This perspective opens up and difficult and challenging truth. We may feel the ever present human needs around us tug at our hearts. We see taut faces of hungry children, we can empathise with ravaging effects of rampant illness. Our instinct as caring people is to direct our resources into these areas. In time of particular crisis, flood, famine, earthquake, tsunami or fire we do. Compassion demands it. But there are others who will put all their resources into these areas. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the body that is alone charged with spreading the Gospel. If we put all our resources into social care and physical aid, we can be certain that the UN and the non-government relief agencies will not divert some of their resources to preaching the Gospel. Nor should we, that privileged task, as I’ve just written, is given to the church. If we don’t do it, no-one else will.
When Jesus teaches that it is better to enter the kingdom of heaven physically disfigured than to be cast into Hell physically whole, (Mat 5:29-30) there is a hard truth that we need to discern. He is not advocating self-mutilation. While there is a metaphorical application to His words, there is also the basic application that valuing physical comfort and provision in this life, in preference to eternal life, is wrong. Christians should know better.
So, the primary focus of our resources should go toward efforts that spread the biblical Gospel. As we support, and as we go, and partnerships and relationships grow, we will also care, support, love and meet other needs. This care and support will not compete with Gospel work, nor will it supplant Gospel work, rather it will flow out of our partnership in supporting Gospel work.