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Monday 25 February 2008 at 06:02 amIf you believe that eternal bliss or eternal damnation awaits every person after death, then the most loving act is to present the truth of the gospel to as many people as possible thus saving them from everlasting destruction. It's a compelling argument. The problem is, of course, it leads to viewing others as souls instead of people. And when we opt for rescuing souls over loving neighbors, compassionate acts degenerate into evangelism techniques...
---Robert Lupton Compassion, Justice and The Christian Life (Rethinking Ministry to the Poor)
I use to be very passionate about leading people to a saving knowledge of Christ. That passion has faded. I know that sounds like a bad thing but it really is not. I am becoming very passionate about discipling people to live Christ like. The latter contains the former but the former does not always contain the latter.
I was talking to my friend Max last night and we were talking about all the personality text, evaluations, and hoops that one has to jump through to be a part of most missions agencies. Max said, “Peter would have never made it.” To which I replied the only apostle that would have made it though most of the processes is Judas.” We are going through personality and spiritual gift testing here at our Church. Why do we feel the need to label people. The funny thing about me and personality testing is I am Bi-polar. So I took the test when I was in a depressive cycle and I scored one way, I am entering a manic cycle right now so when I retook the test I scored completely different. Like you need a test to tell you that I am people focused with the gifts of mercy, giving and service. I do not see people as resources or success markers. I see people as God's creation that He does not want to see suffer in eternal hell. I also do not believe that He wants them to suffer on earth. I want to impact their lives with the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord help us to see our Neighbors and to love them with your pure, unconditional love.
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." --Luke 10:30--37
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