Be Careful, You May Have Terrible Logic

After I decided to follow Jesus I began thinking in some new terms: what is MOST helpful for people?

I don't think that at its core this thinking was sour or bad. The conclusion I reached, however, was bad. It went something along the lines of . . .

What is the greatest need of an individual? To be saved from Hell and put in a right relationship with the God of the Universe.

Therefore the most LOVING thing I can do is tell people about Jesus.

'Woah, that sounds terrible' you say. I hear your sarcasm, don't worry. The Apostle Paul kinda came to this conclusion in the New Testament book of Romans, the tenth chapter: faith comes through hearing and hearing comes through the words of God and no one is going to hear if no one is telling people the word of God THEREFORE go and tell people about all that Jesus did.

The problem with my logical conclusion--and some of yours--is that we somehow forgo the rest of the bible, namely what Jesus did constantly and all the other New Testament letters guide us to do: love others. James says to take care of the orphans and widows as well as generally being one who interacts with the broken and needy world we live in: loving by doing. Paul and Peter say similar things: taking care of the needy, the hungry, the outcast and downtrodden. And Jesus, as I already said, told the inquiring disciple the Gospel According to Luke, You go tell the imprisoned John that the blind receive back their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

These words of Jesus are not just to announce that he is the Messiah, they are practical and true words--Jesus did all of these things; Jesus met physical needs. Among missionaries there is a saying that bread creates ears. What this means is that if someone is starving and you try and tell them the good words of Jesus they are deaf to it BECAUSE THEY PHYSICALLY ARE STARVING; they may soon die because of their lack of food. But provide a full stomach and suddenly their attention is yours. For many it is easier to tell some stranger how they are in need of the saving work of Christ, then leave. But God calls his children to love as he loves, namely providing and helping and aiding physically and emotionally as well as spiritually.

It it nothing less than cruel to tell your friend who just lost his wife to cancer, 'Hey man, God is working out this for your good.' Where is the love in that? Sure you conveyed and relayed true information but he wants a companion in this time of great hurt; he needs someone to cry and hurt with; he needs someone who will listen and be there for him. The best thing Job's friends did in the entire time they were with him was sit in silence ALONG SIDE OF HIM for seven days. This is what James was talking about in his book when he says you're an idiot and a devil to say, 'May God bless you, sir' to the guy who asks you for some clothes because it is winter time, it is snowing, and he is clearly freezing, yet you give him no clothes.

The Gospel, the life followers of Jesus Christ live is one that provides hope for the distant future and provides hope to live each second of the day.

The Book of Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything in this world, which also means there is a time NOT to do some things. Have you been speaking when presence would be most helpful? Have you been ignoring clear needs because in your mind they are tertiary or insignificant needs? You want good logic? Go to God and see how he loves.

One of the most happy repercussions of admitting you are sinful and need the saving work of Jesus is that now you can recklessly love others, meaning you can go overboard in your love for them! This does not mean you should be unthoughtful or unwise or impractical and ultimately unhelpful in how you love others but you no longer need to concern yourself with if I do this wrong will I be held liable for their condemnation?

The new logic for followers of Jesus is now love often and in every way you can.