Transforming the World
January 1, on our Western calendar, marks the beginning of a new year. Many people make resolutions for the upcoming year. Some of the most popular resolutions in our culture include exercising and losing weight, being more healthy, getting organized, learning something new, and getting out of debt. Unfortunately, most resolutions fail before the month is over because often we don’t have a plan to make it happen or we don’t have the discipline.
As Christians, rather than simply making resolutions for the new year, we talk about the habits we practice that form our lives in the way of Jesus. The Apostle Paul tells us that physical exercise is good but spiritual discipline is better with benefits now and in the life to come. One of the early Church Fathers, Tertullian (c.160 – c.225) said “Christians are made, not born.” It takes work. Just like Olympic athletes are made and not born, the kind of disciples we become is directly related to the habits we practice in life.
These practices of discipleship are, for us as Christians, habits for the new year. They include what John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, called Works of Piety and Works of Mercy. Wesley's Works of Piety are acts we do that express reverence and love for God, such as studying Scripture; hearing Scripture read and sermons preached; receiving the Lord’s Supper; praying; fasting; coming together for conversation and mutual support; and living healthily. Works of Mercy are acts we do that care for our neighbor. Simply, they are doing good to others. Wesley specifically named feeding the hungry; providing clothing and shelter for those in need; visiting the sick and those in prison; welcoming the stranger; comforting the afflicted; offering counsel, advice, and encouragement to those who need to know God or desire to grow in their relationship with God; earning, saving and giving all one can; and opposing slavery (issues of justice).
This past Fall we took a serious look at Salem’s strengths and weaknesses. In the midst of many wonderful strengths, one of the weaknesses we named is a lack of outreach, that is, “hands on” mission. Salem has an amazing heart for mission, and we have many individuals who are engaged in “hands on” mission (serving Green Square meals or working with children in an after school ministry). We recognized that our congregation as a whole, however, is not practicing these “hands on” Works of Mercy. Furthermore, our congregation does not have a unifying outreach that we all serve together. This is one of the most important changes leaders want Salem to make.
Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ who will transform the world. Every week we pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God invites us to be a part of that process, renewing the world so that it is restored to the goodness of creation. Theologian and pastor Tim Keller calls this, “restoring health, beauty, and freedom.” This means engaging the world around us as God’s hands and feet, the body of Christ.
In their book, When Helping Hurts, authors Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett write, “[God] wanted His people to 'loose the chains of injustice,' and not just go to church on Sunday. He wanted His people to 'clothe the naked,' and not just attend midweek prayer meeting. He wanted His people to 'spend themselves on behalf of the hungry,' and not just sing praise music" (p. 40). In other words, it’s not enough simply to worship regularly. We are called to practice the habits that form us in the way of Jesus and transform the world. That means worshiping each week, practicing the Works of Piety each week (Bible study, Sunday school, fasting, etc.), and practicing the Works of Mercy each week (feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and prisoners, etc.).
The Works of Mercy are an important focus for Salem this year. Doing good to others makes a difference in peoples’ lives. What will you do this year to be a part of God’s mission to transform the world?
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