Doing Justice and Loving Mercy: Compassion Ministries, Student Workbook, SW16

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D O I N G J U S T I C E A N D L O V I N G M E R C Y : C O M P A S S I O N M I N I S T R I E S

• Heb. 6.17-18 - So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, [18] so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

How Can the Church Compete with the Government?

Although there has been much discussion in the last years about the role of the Church to make up the shortage of government aid to the needy, many believe that the Church simply cannot address the needs of the poor. After all, the government sustained by public taxes and administration, can more effectively reach more of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, and address their needs more comprehensively. Others have argued that in light of the Church’s call to be salt and light in the midst of an unjust and cruel world, it is the Church’s primary responsibility to display the love of God in its own efforts, projects, and programs. What is your thinking about this debate regarding the role of the government versus the Church in regards to meeting the needs of the poor? In what ways ought these two institutions cooperate to meet the needs of the poor? Does it detract from the ministry of the Church to turn it primarily into a social organization rather than understanding the Church primarily as a worshiping community? For many centuries certain members of the Church (perhaps most notably those of the Anabaptist tradition) have understood the Church’s relationship to the world as one of opposition , so much so that they have interpreted the Church’s primary responsibility as one of withdrawing from its evil influences and corrupt practices. Often times, traditions that hold this view have literally abandoned the ways of the world, including its use of certain technologies, medias and literatures, products of culture, and even the physical presence, moving to isolated places and starting their own cloistered communities. While many find the sentiment of these groups admirable, they reject their rationale because of Jesus’ affirmation that the Church would be “in the world but not of the world.” What do you think about the reasoning that would advocate that Christians separate themselves emotionally, physically, and technologically from the world? Are they extreme, overdone, or on the mark? In the World, But Not of It

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