Biblical Basis

A) BIBLICAL BASIS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

 

1. The Reality

Social issues have become part of life. No society is immune to it. Whether we belong to the developed or developing nations, first or third world, social problems are there.

Basically, the social problems faced by various nations are not much different. The slum dwellers of Bombay or Manila face almost the same problems as the urban of London or New York. The culture of poverty is the same everywhere.

In a sense we have become a “world village”. The American trade policy affects our kampong industry. We cannot ignore nor treat social issues as merely national or racial problems isolated from others.

 

1. The Churches

Generally we are not very concerned. Our concerns seem to be evangelism. Evangelism is considered to be THE ministry of the church. It is spiritual.

Community service is not our business. The government and many other “worldly” organizations are there to tackle and solve them. Anyway, we cannot solve all problems till the coming of our Lord, so why bother?

 

1. Impetus for Involvement

a)     Proper understanding of God

God, in creation, is God of all mankind. He is not only interested in, but also intervenes into, human history. He is concerned with all peoples (Ps. 33:13 – 15). He loves the whole world and desires to save all people (John 3:16 – 17)

b)     Proper understanding of Creation

God created man in His own image (Gen. 1:25 – 27; 9:6; James 3:9). This gives dignity and equality to all men. Man is to have dominion over all creation but NOT over fellowmen (Gen. 1:26 – 30).

c)     Proper understanding of Stewardship

Man’s dominion is not for exploitation. It is a sacred responsibility of stewardship of God’s wealth. Proper care of nature and equal distribution of God’s wealth is our responsibility.

d)     Proper understanding of our Lord’s ministry

Our Lord did not dichotomize His ministry as secular and spiritual. He did not emphasize one at the expense of the other. His ministry was TOTAL – He preached, taught, healed and did good (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; Acts 10:38). He ministered to the total man.

e)     Proper understanding of Salvation

Salvation is not merely spiritual. It has physical, social, political and economic implications (Isaiah 61;1 – 3; Luke 4:18 – 19).

f)       Proper understanding of the Church

The church is called to be the Light and Salt of the world (Matt:5:13 – 16). It has to love, care for and serve all people. It has to speak up and work for equality and justice (Prov. 31:8 – 9).

 

            The above considerations give us a strong Biblical basis to address ourselves to social issues. We cannot solve all problems; we do not have all the answers. But we have a God who loves and cares for the whole world and through His Word He urges us to be like Him.

 

1. Total Ministry

Holistic ministry is concerned with the Whole Man – spirit, soul and body. Such was the New Testament pattern.

a)     The Total Ministry of Jesus (Luke 4:18 – 19)

 

 

b)     The Total Ministry of the Church (Acts 6)

 

 

 

B) CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO SOCIAL ISSUES

 

1. Community Service – God’s ministry

The Bible gives a strong basis for social involvement. It is an expression of God’s love to our fellowmen through our response to their specific needs. It is God’s ministry – initiated, sustained and completed by the Lord Himself for His glory.

Our response to social issues can take two forms – SOCIAL SERVICE and SOCIAL ACTION. The former is an attempt to treat symptoms while the latter is CURING CAUSES of such symptoms.

 

1. History of Christian social involvement

The pages of history are full of Christian responses to social issues. Some of the people whom God used so powerfully to address the social problems are as follows:-

a)     John Wesley – “The man who restored to a nation its soul” by actively preaching against social ills like gambling and prostitution. He and his lay preachers were active in laying the foundation for social reform in England.

b)     William Wilberforce – Encouraged by Wesley. Formed the “Clapham Sect” – a group of wealthy aristocratic parliamentarians. Their Christian concern for African slaves brought them together. They were responsible for:

·         First settlement of free slaves in Sierra Leone (1787)

·         The abolition of slave trade (1807)

·         Registration of slaves in British colonies (1820)

·         Emancipation of slaves (1833)

·         Instrumental for penal & parliamentary reforms

·         Formation of trade unions, etc, etc, etc

“It was indeed an unique phenomenon – this brotherhood of Christian politicians. There has never been anything like it since in British public life” (Reginald Coupland)

 

c)     Anthony Ashley Cooper – Aristocratic politician who waged a war against the plight of lunatics, child labor in factories and mines, plight of the homeless and slum dwellers.

d)     Charles Finney – Wesley of America. His vigorous preaching on social issues stirred many to take up social causes. Theodore Weld was one of them. He gave his whole life to anti-slavery struggle.

e)     Blanchard – Struggled for educational activities for common people in America. Active in anti-slavery movement.

f)       Missionary Movements – The 19th Century missionary movements resulted in great social reforms. Schools were established, hospitals built, sanitary conditions improved, village industries established, agricultural reforms initiated and social evils were fought – forced labor in Congo, foot-binding in China, widow burning (suttee) and caste system in India, etc, etc.

g)     In our Country

A)     Schools and hospitals were built

B)     The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) was formed

C)    Tamil Studies Department was formed in University Malaya.

 

1. Some current social issues faced by Indians in Malaysia

a)     Rising number of urban poor – squatters

b)     Rising petty crimes

c)     Drug related crimes and sicknesses

d)     Lack/absence of proper legal documents

e)     Alcoholism

f)       Poor living and working conditions

g)     Home ownership for old folks

h)     Poor educational facilities in Tamil schools

i)        Lack of motivation to well in schools

j)        High drop out rate

k)      Pajak gadai & loan shark problems

 

1. Practical Suggestions

a)     Church loan scheme – for members burdened by pajak gadai and loan sharks and high interest rates

b)     Service centers to address legal documentation problems like birth certificates, NRIC, etc

c)     Scholarships/bursaries/loans for good students.

d)     Small businesses

e)     Centers for substance abuse – Actively support existing centers or set up additional ones.

f)       Hostel for students from poor/unmotivated families

g)     Tuition centers

h)     Daycare centers, Old folk homes

i)        Business training/advisory centers

j)        Cottage industry

 

1. Strategy

The Community Service committee should take note:-

a)     Meet regularly to share burdens and pray

b)     The Lord will confirm in all or most of us a specific need

c)     Carry out a thorough study of any need

d)     Count the cost

e)     Raise the money – Faith Budget

f)       Trust the Lord and tackle the issues

g)     Continue to depend upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

C) CONCLUSION

 

If we stress the spiritual aspects of the Gospel without the social, we lose all relevance in modern society. But if we stress the social without the spiritual, we lose our reality altogether. The ultimate factor in the church’s engagement with society is the church’s engagement with God. (Os Hillman)

 

MAY THE GOOD LORD CONTINUE TO BLESS US AS WE LISTEN TO HIS VOICE

March 13 2009 09:44 am

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