Christian Community Service

I help the local food bank once the month. My dad got involved through his membership in the VFW and the American Legion. The hand out happens at the American Legion\VFW post.

Several years ago I wrote a seminary research paper, “Fundamentalism and Social Ethics,” tracing the development of the so-called ‘uneasy conscience’ of ‘fundamentalism.’ I traced the conversation back to Carl F. H. Henry and his pivotal book, “The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism,” and up through the Lausanne Conferences. This helpful study, and study and observation since then, reveals a continued, increasing interest in social engagement, social action, community involvement, incarnational ministry, and so forth (to use some trendy jargon). While this interest deserves attention, it often seems to be a singular discussion, divorced from a holistic approach. Common conclusions appear to be either “do it” or “don’t do it.” But instead, the hierarchy of NT emphasis, which I have suggested in this article, presents a holistic, principled paradigm, drawing appropriate attention to social engagement without overshadowing our prior responsibilities to serve our family and church.

I am reminded of my grandfather, who was a trustee for his church, was on the school board, and more….and when he died, he and my grandmother were apparently sleeping in separate bedrooms. The perils of over-commitment can hardly be overstated, and anyone with willingness and a touch of ability will find far more opportunities to “help out” than he can reasonably accomplish; Paul warns against this in 1 Timothy 5:8, I think.

No objection to principled engagement in non-church-related charities, as long as you do your homework and figure out whether the charity’s goals and methodology are compatible with Scripture and one’s personal life.

I agree with your good advice:

No objection to principled engagement in non-church-related charities, as long as you do your homework and figure out whether the charity’s goals and methodology are compatible with Scripture and one’s personal life.

Before we fling ourselves into all kinds of extracurricular service venues, we need to establish a clear biblical paradigm for community service, and other service obligations God entrusts to us (like immediate family, extended family and church, the household of faith). And when we engage in community service apart from these three prior commitments, we should be very discerning and biblical in what venues we choose.

TOvermiller, when you say “Incarnational ministry” that seems to suggest something other than what you are arguing for in the above article.

By mentioning buzzwords like incarnational ministry, social engagement, etc., I am pointing out that though the missional church movement, as you call it, presents social involvement as a part of the gospel, it oftens seems to me that they focus on social involvement in a way that overshadows other important service priorities, which are also gospel priorities. And if I understand Gal. 6:10 and 1 Tim. 5:8 correctly, I see hints at a biblical paradigm of priority that enables us to live out the gospel in a principled, deliberate way that hits the mark more frequently.

Social gospel teaching that presents acts of community service as equivalent to verbal evangelism is a problem to avoid, for sure. But in avoiding this error, we may easily erase our responsibility to apply the gospel by providing a platform for verbal evangelism through community service. That is why I concluded this post as I did. The biblical paradigm I’ve presented maintains biblical priorities, in a proper sequence. Furthermore, it encourages community involvement in a way that does not overshadow other important priorities.

You’re welcome Josh. Good question, and important clarification.

If you shoot one of those mechanical deer on the side of the road the DNR puts out from time to time the choice is not if you should perform “community service”, but when, where, and how much. Don’t ask me how I know this. Just sayin’…