Christian Mission and Poverty

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Christian Mission and Poverty

Christian Mission and Poverty: Loving our Neighbors with Regular Audits

Concern for the poor is at the heart of Christian mission. The message proclaimed by the teachers of the church over the last two thousand years is one we need today. As John Bunyan notes in The Pilgrim’s Progress , Christians often become distracted and enticed by the things of this world. The way of Jesus seems hard, and we leave Christ’s path to explore Vanity Fair. Table 1 lists several practices the church has used to keep its focus on the people who are a first priority for Jesus (Luke 4:16−21) and his followers (Gal 2:10). Just as many make an annual physical or financial checkup, so we do well to make regular soul checkups in relation to our love and care for the poor. Table 1 provides a number of spiritual practices useful for conducting a soul or ministry audit in relation to this aspect of Christian mission. Table 2 provides specific guidance for how to identify the poor in your community.

Table 1: Spiritual Practices, Soul Audits, and Participating in Christ’s Mission to the Poor

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Notes

Sabbath is a gift to the poor. Practicing sabbath also provides space in the life of all believers to do the hard and dangerous work of worship. Weekly worship calls us away from the idols of our age and into alignment with the mission of Jesus. Find ways to explore a personal and corporate practice of sabbath in your discipleship community.

Sabbath