Good Deed Doers

      "Back where I come from, there are men who do nothing all day but good deeds.  They are called...er...uh...um...good deed doers, and their hearts are no bigger than yours, but they have one thing you haven't got.  A testimonial."  -The Wizard of Oz to the Tin Man

    

     Keep the above quote in mind.  

     I have a question.  What constitutes missionary work?  Think of missionaries all over the world.  What kinds of things do they do?  Some of them build houses for homeless families.  Some feed the hungry.  Some help with relief efforts in the midst of famine and war.  Doing good in Jesus' name is right and godly.  Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  

     Where I have a concern is when these good deeds overshadow the real reason behind why we serve--Jesus.  Doing good deeds apart from Christ's name makes us no better than the Wizard of Oz's "good deed doer" friends.  Heaven and Hell are realities long after the good deeds we did are forgotten.  People have needs--needs for food, safety and shelter.  We should be meeting those needs, but not at the exclusion of their greatest need--salvation!  This good deed ministry apart from evangelistic ministry is known as the social gospel.  It is my belief that the social gospel wishes people well on their trip to a Christless eternity in hell, all while everyone feels good and has warm fuzzies along the way.  Please do not fall into this trap.  

     My husband and I have a personal conviction that we will neither give to nor participate in any mission project that excludes the actual Gospel message. Below are some ministries we endorse, and give to as we are able (this is in addition to our own ministry that we serve in).  

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     A church we were a part of had a missions project where they bought crayons for every public school child in the city.  My problem with that is, what happens to these children after the school day is over?  What about when they no longer play with crayons?  How does giving them crayons fulfill the Great Commission?  It's a nice thing to do, but it fits better with being a "good deed doer" than a missionary.  A caveat I'll give is that, if you give the crayons out as a first step to really reach them with the real Gospel message, and there is a strong, definite plan, I could get behind that.  But if it's just a nice thing to do so they'll see how nice the church people are and might want to come to church as a result, I'm sorry that's pretty weak evangelism.  In fact, it's not evangelism.  I never saw anyone come to our church as a result of being given crayons.  

     I was recently asked to give a missions talk with a group of children, and for the activity, we were supposed to make cards for all the public school teachers in our area, telling them they're doing a great job.  The truth is, this isn't mission work.  It's kind.  I'm all for kind.  But to call that missionary work is a misnomer.  Secondly, I don't know these teachers, so I don't know if they're doing a good job or not.  Our local school district is one of the lowest performing districts in the state.  This would lead me to conclude that perhaps they are not doing a good job (and I have worked in public schools myself, so I know that it isn't primarily the teacher's fault.  I'm just making a point that it seemed odd that I was being asked to tell people I didn't know what a great job they were doing).  Third, I don't know if these teachers are the types who pray for their students before school, and depend on the Lord in their teaching, or if they are pushing a dark agenda, trying to convince boys they're really girls (there is a lot of that in our schools).  As such, I don't feel right just telling teachers I don't know they are doing a great job--and then calling that missionary work.  Churches building relationships with schools is great--if it leads to the church members being able to share Christ with the school personnel and students.  Just being nice isn't what we're called to do.  

     I know Christians who work in public schools, and are that witness.  Quietly, prayerfully, they get truth to students.  Some of them plant a seed of doubt about the validity of Evolution, getting students to seek out the truth, rather than just blindly following a faulty, godless theory.  Some of them, as I already said, show up early and pray for every child by name, maybe being the only person on earth who prays for a specific child.  Some use the celebration of holidays to share truth.  Some are so loving and caring and personal that the student's see Jesus clearly (and by the way, that takes work and dedication--not just doing good deeds).  This is a mission some Christians are called to.  Christians are the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14).  God places us different places, including schools.  I was there (working in public education) at one point.  I say this to illustrate that I am not in any way writing this post in criticism of public school teachers at all.  My critique is on what people call missionary work, and where their resources are going.  What these Christian public school employees are doing is much more missionary-minded that just making cards for people.  

     Jesus said in Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.  The power from the Holy Spirit is for proclaiming Christ, not being nice.  Would we even have the Gospel today if the early apostles had just been nice to everyone, building long-term relationships with the Romans in hopes that the Romans would say, "Gee, there's something different about these people.  I think I'll ask them about it!"  People act as if that's this realistic scenario, but it is actually very rare.  It would have been ridiculous in First Century Israel, and it is just as ridiculous now.  The Apostle Paul didn't just give out cards, telling people they were doing a good job.  He preached Christ, and Christ crucified (First Corinthians 2:2).  He told people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.  And he was willing to die for the cause of Christ (which he eventually did).  Such a far cry from giving out cards and candy.  

     I always feel mean for being so uncomfortable with good deed doers.  It's right to do good deeds.  I just object to referring to it as missions, or for missionary offerings (which were given to promote the Gospel) support and fund these projects.  It bothers me when attention is given to solve less urgent needs without addressing the greater need of salvation as well.  To quote Jesus, You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.  Do the good deeds, but don't neglect the Gospel.  

     As the Wizard told the Tin Man, we need not only a heart to do good, but a testimonial!  Or, rather, a testimony.  What has Christ done for you that you can share with someone who doesn't know Him?