Faith & Life (Part 3)

Well, maybe that's a bit too simplistic but I wonder what our world would be like if that was where Governments placed their priorities? Similarly I've been thinking isn't that, to a large degree, the mission of the 'Church' - to respond with Jesus-like compassion to the physical & spiritual challenges of the world and respond with the good news of what was accomplished through the life, death & resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's my understanding that the Church is here to share God's love with TWO HANDS: (1) one hand reaching out to people to alleviate human suffering, promoting peace for poor and disadvantaged people, providing humanitarian relief and development assistance in the fields of health, peace and justice, education, agriculture, microfinance and emergency response; and (2) with the other hand to share the message of God's forgiveness, grace, love & mercy.

And central to all our works is the desire to encourage and promote the dignity of the human person through all of our various programming. Jesus states this principle in a very concise manner:

"Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get." (Matthew 7:12 - The Message)

Jesus, Himself, gave us a 'model' of how the church was later to share the Father's love with 'two hands': "Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd." (Matthew 9:35,37 - The Message) "Teaching" - educating people about their need to be 'reconnected-reconciled' to their Heavenly Father AND "alleviating human suffering" were always & continues to be Gods' intentions for His people on earth.

Is it any wonder then that Jesus came into direct conflict with the religious leaders of his day? He saw how their worship (spirituality or faith) had become so disconnected and detached from everyday living. As a result, Jesus described their religion as being "empty" -

"I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God's kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won't let anyone else in either."
(Matthew 23:13,13 - The Message)

I'm realizing more & more that it is the Father's longing & desire to EMPOWER His creation. One of the ways in which this is happening today is through 'house churches'. What is happening around the world right now through house churches is spectacular. There is probably no more significant factor in the growth of the church world-wide than the rediscovery of the power of small, simple, easily reproducible churches. While church membership in North America is declining, millions are coming to Christ through hundreds of thousands of small, simple churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. What I find very interesting is that the principles that make small, simple churches work well also help individuals grow spiritually. They produce ownership, accountability, spontaneity, involvement, responsibility, and growth in people's lives. Within 50 years, the way the Church in the Western World is today will hardly be recognizable! The day of the "program-driven, professional clergy' model of the Western church is on it's way out but something tremendously exciting is replacing it. We in North America are infatuated with 'models' but it's not the model that excites me, but what the Spirit of God does in people's lives when they discover the New Testament principles of doing church in small groups. Said a 35 year old mother at Hillside: "My experience of God for many years was more like having Him come & visit me and then I would say to Him, OK, visit's over and He would leave. About 4 ½ years ago, things started to change for me spiritually. Then I was baptized on Easter Sunday morning in 2006 and I slowly began noticing that I was no longer struggling with some of my doubts and my understanding of things involving human suffering became more clearer. Watching people suffer & die became less painful as I realize that people like my grandfather has been released from his pain & suffering and is today in a better place. I now welcome whatever God has to offer me with an open mind and an open heart." Religion didn't do this for her - the Spirit of God did!

Making a decision to turn our life and our will over to God will often prove to be one of the greatest discoveries we can make!

Continued in Part 4