"...whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." - John 4:14 KJV
Maybe you know the story. The Apostle Peter preached the gospel of Jesus Christ at Solomon’s Porch in Jerusalem, exhorting, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). Soon though, he and John were arrested and jailed because the rulers were “greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection of the dead” (4:2). The apostles were released, but only after being warned “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (4:18). Afterward the church prayed “grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word” (4:29). God answered their prayer and gave them boldness to preach and teach of Jesus again. They also had a great ministry reaching out to the poor and the sick (4:34-35, 5:15). Soon enough though, they were arrested again. This time, when the apostles were reminded that they were commanded not to preach or teach in Jesus’ name, Peter and the other apostles answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (5:29).
Imagine if the story went on like this: Rather than command the apostles to stop preaching and teaching in Jesus’ name with the threat of imprisonment or death, the rulers offer the apostles money to help them serve the poor and sick, but only if they promise not to proselytize in Jesus’ name when they were helping the poor and the sick. Peter and the Apostles agree to the deal and respond, “Since you give us money, we promise to obey you rather than God.”
Thankfully, that’s not the way the story ends. However, that is the picture I get when I think of LWWDC or any Christian organization agreeing to the conditions of receiving funds through the Faith Based Initiative to fund its ministry. Such a deal can turn Christian priorities upside down. Proverbs 23:1-3 comes to mind: “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies for they are deceptive food” (Proverbs 23:1-3).
The first and greatest commandment of God is, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-38). This commandment takes higher priority than all others, even the Golden Rule, which Christ established as the second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39). Christ gave us a great illustration of how these priorities might work themselves out when a woman anointed Him with fragrant oil that was worth a year’s wages. Upon seeing this, Christ’s disciples, led by Judas, reacted with indignation: “This fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” But Jesus responded, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always” (Matthew 26:9-11). It was not that the woman did not have mercy on the poor, only that her love for Jesus Christ was much greater than her love for the poor (i.e., her neighbor). Her priorities were right. The disciples learned a valuable lesson undoubtedly laying the groundwork for their future ministries in Jerusalem when they refused to abstain from proselytizing even when it could result in their imprisonment, which would certainly impair their ability to help the poor and the sick.
Indeed, Christ taught that He is to take priority over our own lives, as He said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35). Through the years, many Christians have chosen to die rather than stop proselytizing in Jesus’ name. Most of the original disciples died under such circumstances. When one considers that there have been many Christians through the ages who have chosen death over the cessation of proselytization, the folly of the choice offered by the Faith Based Initiative should be made manifest. Would we now curtail proselytization for money?
Certainly, in all cases of martyrdom for the sake of Christ and His gospel, there were negative impacts on otherwise good and Biblically-based priorities in life, including helping the poor, being a father and a husband, and serving in the church. You can’t do these things from the grave. But Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). Christ was not teaching hatred, for hatred of anyone, even our enemies, is against God’s law (Matthew 5:21-22, 43-47). Christ was teaching that He must come first, before all else. Our love for and devotion to Christ is to be so great that our love for and devotion to all others, even those closest to us, will look like hate, comparatively speaking. Now that is a high priority!
Put in this context, Christ’s last words before His ascension seem all the more important. He gave His followers one last, great command, the Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Proselytizing in Jesus’ name for His glory is the foundational purpose of the Christian in this life. When the apostles said they would obey God rather than men, they were referring to Christ’s Great Commission given them days earlier, as recorded in Acts 1:8. Yes, disciples of Jesus Christ help the poor, love their families, neighbors, and even their enemies. Yes, disciples take care of orphans and widows and serve the body of Christ. I personally hold these ministries dear to my heart! But all of them are subordinated in terms of priority to the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All of this is not to mention the core truth given to us by Jesus that, “life is more than food and the body more the clothing” (Matthew 6:25). What is life then? What is most important for the poor of the earth? “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (v. 33). We (and many of the homeless who receive us) know that the Bread of Life, that is Jesus Christ (John 6:51), and the Living Water, that is the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39), are far more important in the context of eternity than bread and water. Without bread and water, we die, but without the Bread of Life and Living Water, we will die (as all do, lest Christ return first) and will perish in hell forever. I pray we never have to choose between preaching the gospel and feeding and clothing the poor. However, if the choice ever presents itself, with God’s grace we will choose to obey and glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ and preach the gospel. This is surely the greatest expression of love for our homeless neighbors. Our love for God should compel us. An eternity in heaven is infinitely more valuable than food or clothing in this life.
Ryan George
Originally published in The Living Water Letter, August 2005
by Living Water of Washington DC.
Last revised: August 19, 2005.