Good Works No Substitute... For The Good News!

The charge to the Christian Church regarding their duty in this world is clearly set forth in the closing verses of the above mentioned Gospels, that of Luke being more fully recorded in Acts 1- v8 which describes the same event.

This charge is without any doubt, clear of all ambiguity, beyond all question and admits of no other interpretation.

It is incumbent upon us who have found Christ, to carry this Good News to the uttermost parts of this planet, to every tribe and tongue. Jesus has commanded it and delays his coming until it is accomplished. Matt. 24 v14. To enable us to define "the Gospel" from much of what is carried on today in the name of evangelism, we need only to refer to 1 Cor 15 v3-4. 'Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures'. This, and this alone Paul declares, is the Gospel. 1 Cor 15 v1. The charismatic 'healers' and the tongues speaking sensationalists are far removed from the Biblical Commission to carry Christ to the world. With their phoney 'miracles' and glib presentation they are deceiving millions worldwide, nowhere more so than in Kenya, where their incessant drum beating, chanting and gibberish carry on through the night in a nonstop frenzy.

The Great Commission is not about noise, or miracles or emotionalism. The Great Commission is not about men, organisations or churches.

The charge Jesus gave was about Himself, His life death and resurrection, as Gods only remedy for the sin question, and His coming again as the glorious hope of the Church, viz, those redeemed by His blood.

Biblical Christianity rests upon the finished work of Christ, cannot exist without His death and has no hope apart from His resurrection. Christ is humanity's only answer to all their needs, for the knowledge of sins forgiven is the one issue that transcends all other, illiteracy, poverty, disease, famine, even death itself.

The divine directive to present Christ to the world must of course encapsulate the whole of Biblical knowledge, teaching, practice and example, for this same Christ is the word of God John 1 v1, and this word 'became flesh and dwelt among us' John 1 v14. The written word, and the living word form an indissoluble union. Having these scriptures so clearly before us we see that there can be no substitute for the preaching of the word, or the presenting of Christ to the world. Nothing can take the place of the act of preaching the Gospel, Humanitarian endeavours, whatever they may be, are just wood, hay and stubble in comparison to the proclamation of the word of God. If the heavens and creation are not enough to reveal Christ, then no act of man can do so. Gods Word, Gods special revelation of Christ, must be preached, expounded, taught to a perishing world.

Where then are we to place Christian humanitarian endeavours, such as the pages of Mission history reveal? How can we reconcile them to the Great Commission?, are they to be counted as a departure from the commission, a weakening of the Biblical directive? Quite apart from the fact that the parable of the good Samaritan sets forth our duty to meet physical needs where they are encountered, Luke 10 v30-37, and quite apart from the second commandment, 'Love thy neighbour as thyself', we must here guard against a common failing, i.e. confusing the means with the end.

Those of us who love the doctrines of grace are suspicious, and rightly so, of anything that appears to constitute a departure from the preaching of the Cross of Christ. But our zeal in this respect should not be allowed to override common sense or blind us to legitimate and proper avenues by which we can reach souls.

When the Christian Church, Missionary or Society enters upon humanitarian means to reach the lost, their position is unassailable and beyond ridicule.

For they have as their example the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ the great King and Head of the church. Anything he has sanctioned ought to be a privilege for us to engage in. Consequently, where the evils of illiteracy, famine, disease or pagan superstition abound, there the Christian soldier must engage the enemy, for these are Satan's theatres of war upon mankind, destroying and enslaving the bodies and souls of men and women.

By these Satan casts a slur upon Gods care. By these Satan causes doubts and disbelief in Gods mercy. By these Satan prevents the light of the Gospel from shining in hearts.

If the ungodly rich man was upbraided for his neglect of Lazarus, how will it fare for the Christian church if that day exposes a similar neglect towards the unfortunate millions in this world?

A neglect that effectually closes the door on an eminently productive area of service and evangelism. "Go ye into all the world" means much more than going to every country or continent, it means going into every circumstance and condition where Satan has blinded the souls of men. The ministry of our Saviour takes us therefore to the very essence of the Commission. We find His opportunities to speak of His redeeming love very often stemmed from instances of His practical love. When the palsied man came to be healed the Lord turned his need to spiritual ends. Luke 5 v18-24. Those who were fed in the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes were told that eternal life, which was the important issue, was not in the barley bread, but in Christ "the true bread" Luke 6 v26-35.

Even the bier of the dead became a platform from which His glory was proclaimed and sinners awakened Luke 7 v14-16.

When the disciples marvelled that he talked to the fallen woman, he let them know that the harvest was nearer to them than they imagined, if they would only but "lift up your eyes" Luke 4 v35. In the business of buying bread and seeing to the needs of their own little group, none of them saw the potential or the opportunity this fallen woman presented.

The Lords provision of health, bread, and physical life were not the sole ends of His ministry, but used as means to bringing souls to something better. It was impossible for the Saviour to work in any other capacity, for in showing this identity with human suffering and need He sets forth the very essence of Deity, "God is love" 1st John 4 v8.

Does this not underscore and emphasise the spirit of any true ministry that claims the name of Christ, and by implication show the imbalance of a dead letter service?

Let us not underestimate the contribution Christianity has made in the history of the world. Whatever we enjoy today by way of educational progress, medical improvements or philanthropic development it was not the world that gave it life, it was the Christian Church, individual or pioneer who led the way.

It was through the compassion and courage of those who were not afraid to use practical love as a means of introducing redeeming love.

The history of Missions testifies to those, who, in the face of great challenge and otherwise impossibility, created opportunities to evangelise by following the example of our Saviour.

This world is a better place today because of Christian influence, "the salt of the earth" Matt 5 v13.

To change the figure, light is only useful when placed where it can shed its rays, and the Lord directs, "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven". Matt 5 v16.