"There is no dilemma here"

[Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Montana]

"A preacher once paraphrased a bygone theologian as a challenge to his congregation: "To convert one sinner from his way, is an event of greater importance than the deliverance of sub-Saharan Africa from the problem of AIDS." He went on: "The very fact that we have pause here is an indication of the influence of relativistic thinking among us."

On one hand, this point absolutely needs to be heard. But on the other, it potentially creates a false dilemma. ..those [churches] who allow the message of the good news of Jesus Christ to be overshadowed by social action, the fact that top priority must always be given to the conversion of souls must be expressed. A problem may arise however, if this challenge were issued in a church that, ...[is] "so afraid of falling prey to the social gospel that works of charity rank at the bottom of their priority list." And herein creeps the false dilemma. The last thing a church like this needs is "theological" justification for its inaction. Yet the remedy is clear: the situation ought not be thought of in terms of either or--either work toward the conversion of souls or work for the eradication of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa (or abortion in the West, or malaria in southern Africa, or child prostitution in southeast Asia). Indeed, the second one is inextricably bound to the first.
...thus we are called to be agents of God's healing love in this dark world. Simply put, this means all Christians are called to do works of "justice and mercy and faithfulness."

There is no dilemma here. The two are bound up together in the very same mission. And it's not a mission to establish a country club that meets every Sunday morning. It's not a mission to become a better person and develop some kind of spiritual potential. It's not a mission to huddle together in order to escape from an evil world and pave the way for heaven when we die. It's not a mission to fill our heads up with facts. It's not a mission that merely seeks to encourage others, and it's certainly not a mission to show the people of the world that Christians are just like them. The mission is clear, distinct, and twofold: the calling of people to talk about the Gospel of God with others, as well as the calling to acts of "justice and mercy and faithfulness." -Chris Donato, From TableTalk, October 2008.

It's not an either/or, but a both/and. I pray the church would get this truth deep down into our ears. I think the solution is to understand the truth, which our brother has taught in this well spoken article, and understand it first and foremost.

And then the secondary truth, is that, each one of us will be geared up to be an "Either" or an "Or". For instance, I'm more geared to keeping the theology of the Gospel pure and simple, and powerful, and not so much on "works of charity". Though my heart surely beats to help others who need help. Whereas, other Christians are fired up for "works of charity", and the Gospel of the Scripture is important, but not as important as helping others.

I hope all this makes sense. And I really pray that the Church of our Lord and Savior will work in unity with this truth of the Holt Writ (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12), and then we will see our Father in heaven glorified like never before. And we must always remember, it's by trusting in Christ, and His power, love, and Spirit we can do this, and not in our own strength. Amen.