Serving As a Kingdom Call
For a long time, western Christianity has sat back and let the government fulfill mandates given to the body of Christ, including the care of the poor and orphans. And for a lot of Christians on the conservative end of the theological spectrum, “social gospel” was relegated to liberal denominations and was viewed as less than the “real” Gospel.
In the current economic situation in the United States of America, many states are having to cut some of the very programs that reflect those needful ones in our society. Ray and Steve discuss how this shows the glaring omission of the body of Christ and issue a call to believers to step up to the plate and see how they can meet the needs of a world that is desperately in need of physical help and not just spiritual help.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:50 — 43.8MB) | Embed
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 am
I laughed at the social services in the church andd singles night, except churches do that all the time. Most even have a sunday school or some other grouping charachter that is for single adults. And its creepy. Its the desperate singles market without the beer to make you not care its creepy and desperate. I couldn’t take it when I was single.
It seems like the answer for all change and the summation to all thats wrong with religion (and even some of my life) is the RADICAL EMBRACING of Jesus Christ or the lack thereof. Those who bring true change embrace fully which means the letting go of ourselves that totally goes against our self preservation instinct. Most and I have been guilty of this myself only get fire insurance per se and then preach/obey rules, regulations, behavior modification, and laws. Laws are words on paper with the sole intent to punish the wrong. There is no love there. The simplest verse in the new testament to say but the hardest to comprehend is when Jesus says “I am Love.”
Hey Jesus whats your platform on Gay marriage? “I am Love.” Hey Jesus what is your opinion on socialized medicine? “I am Love.” Hey Jesus when will you bring the troops home from Iraq? “Well Allah and I are in negotiations now to set up a standard religious government that will govern the people and allow muslims and christians to coexisit peacfully. I mean hey you can’t win ’em all right.” Or something like that.
Anyway yet another good show guys. I can’t wait to have steve on July 10th as a special guest cohost – and maybe even a suprise call in from Ray?
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
Big C, you nailed the whole thing right there in your comment. You nailed what’s wrong with religion, you nailed why so many keep missing the point, and you nailed what IS the point – LOVE.
Can’t wait to guest co-host with you, bro! If you want to take me to task on the pacifism stuff that night, let’s do it! 🙂
July 28th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Thanks for doing these podcasts Steve and Raborn. I listened to this episode while I was driving today. This topic really hit a chord with me. I am going to play it again and listen with my husband. But I wanted to know where that reference was about Sodom that you mentioned… but I happened to finally come across it tonight. So in case anyone else is looking you can find it in Ezekiel 16 –
Ezekiel 16
Jerusalem’s Two Sisters
The LORD said:
44People will use this saying about you, Jerusalem: “If the mother is bad, so is her daughter.” 45You are just like your mother, who hated her husband and her own children. You are also like your sisters, who hated their husbands and children. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. [h] 46Your older sister was Samaria, that city to your north with her nearby villages. Your younger sister was Sodom, that city to your south with her nearby villages. 47You followed their way of life and their wicked customs, and soon you were more disgusting than they were. 48As surely as I am the living LORD God, the people of Sodom and its nearby villages were never as sinful as you. 49They were arrogant and spoiled; they had everything they needed and still refused to help the poor and needy. 50They thought they were better than everyone else, and they did things I hate. And so I destroyed them.
51You people of Jerusalem have sinned twice as much as the people of Samaria. In fact, your evil ways have made both Sodom and Samaria look innocent. 52So their punishment will seem light compared to yours. You will be disgraced and put to shame because of your disgusting sins.
August 1st, 2009 at 9:52 am
Pam,
I am glad this resonated with you. More and more I am seeing that our Kingdom call is not just to “accept” Jesus, but to follow Him. Selah 🙂
Thanks for posting the reference!