Christian Service

What is Christian service? How is it different from other secular service organizations? How important is the service of believers amongst one another, and what types of service are we commanded to provide to the unbelieving world around us? These are all important questions. At the root of each is this important understanding. We, as Christians, are not called to lead a passive life of faith. Our faith needs legs.

To understand this important tenant of the Christian faith, one needs only to examine the ministry of Christ while on earth. We see countless examples throughout the Gospels of Jesus serving those around him. In addition to His own example, Christ consistently instructs those around him to do the same. A familiar passage in scripture depicts Jesus feeding the 5000. An important verse in this story can be found in Matthew 14:16 (NIV) Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” In the preceding verses, Jesus has delivered a sermon to the assembled crowd, and now the disciples are asking Jesus to send the crowd away. It is worth noting that while the sermon was intended to meet the spiritual needs of those gathered, Christ has neither neglected to meet the physical needs of the crowd, nor excused the disciples from doing the work of meeting those needs.

Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV), is another familiar passage that conveys the same message, “For I was hungry and you game me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Christ is making it clear that how we care for those around us is of eternal significance.

Paul expands on this idea in his letters. Romans 12:10 (NIV) states, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Galatians 5:13 (NIV) states, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Paul is making it clear here that we are called to actively love and serve those around us. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul clearly gives us the “why” behind the importance of this service. Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV) states, “Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.” Why do we serve others? Paul makes it pretty clear. The answer is because in doing so we are actually serving God. Love God, Love Your Neighbor. These are the two greatest commands, and in serving others we are fulfilling both.

So, are Christians the only people capable of offering service to others? The answer is no, but the service carried out as part of an active Christian faith is different from the service provided by a secular person or organization. Here is why. The needs met by secular organizations, while not nefarious, are temporal. They have no eternal impact. Our goal as Christians when meeting these earthly needs is to use these opportunities of service to share the Gospel through our actions and our words. How much more receptive are those whose physical needs are being met to hearing the “why” behind our service.

Lastly, I will leave you with this. Serving others has another eternal, meaningful “side effect”, not for those being served, but for those doing the serving. We live in a world that is increasingly self absorbed. Whether intentional or not, we have the tendency to become infatuated with “our” needs, time, wants, etc. By serving others,  and sharing our faith with those around us we remove the focus off of self and correctly place it on the God we serve, and those who need this care.

God Bless,

Phil Johnson

Founder J23 Ministries