Proclaiming the Good News in Word AND Deed

     Monday, I met with a friend of mine from Nigeria. He is involved with a ministry to African church leaders and he tries to help them see that the gospel compels them to care for practical needs. He told me about church leaders who see street kids and have no desire to help because they do not view caring for these kids as central to the gospel. "Our job is to preach the gospel," is their attitude. He and I share a concern that this is not healthy—the gospel we preach leads us to practical acts of compassion and care for those around us.

     I shared with my friend that I have found that in the United States, we have gone to the opposite extreme. Most church leaders seem much more interested in serving the community and meeting "practical" needs than they do in proclaiming the hope of Jesus. I believe that just as faith and works go together, so also proclamation of God's truth must accompany service in his name. Romans 10:14–15 says: "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" (NIV). So, let's bring Good News to people with our actions and our words! We need to care about the practical needs of people around us and bear verbal witness for Jesus. In this way, we are living like Jesus who healed the sick and preached good news.