Part 2

The woman he spoke of had lived for several months in the doorway of a bank, two blocks from the hall in what is perhaps the world’s highest –rent district. I made my way as quickly as possible. However, when I spoke to her there was no response and I asked a passer-by to phone for an ambulance. Before the ambulance could arrive she died, almost in my arms. While there was concern expressed by some on-lookers , for most, however, the scene was all too familiar.

The age old sentiment was shared by one, ‘to think that she was once the daughter of a proud and loving mother and father’, and I felt compelled to add, reminding myself perhaps, that the filthy, by now noxious-smelling 50 or 60 year old ‘bag lady’ was also loved by her Heavenly Father.

Are we truly different from the world? Is Christ’s love, and the power of His resurrection clearly seen in us? Could it be that the world still waits for a Saviour because His living presence isn’t reflected in our service?

If the world is pointing to the Christian and saying you are no different from the rest; if the world sees the Christians stepping over or around the homeless; surely likening the perceived indifference to the holocaust can be understood. Our message must be clearly seen as being different from the answer given by the social scientist, where ‘technique is all’. Our hope is one that offers purity to the dirtiest, hope for the worst fallen, and a vision swept clear of human prejudice and folly. And as that hope is shared it also offers a living testimony to the critics.

The crucifixion reminds me that Christ died for the world, yet it was for me. And in His dying for me, He not only offered salvation but called me to service. Reginald Thomas in his book ‘To Know God’s Way’ says: ‘Jesus comes to ask something, as well as to give something; and (we must) understand that sacrifice, denial, and even a cross are essential parts of the Christian vocabulary, just as much as rest, joy, pardon and peace. You have to know that you will not always be fascinated by our Lord, for there is part of His gospel to which you might not be anxious to turn.’ We claim a salvation and experience that makes us complete in Him. Can it be said we are complete when the pattern of our behaviour shuns the experience for which He came? Are we truly walking in His Spirit when we sidestep the very ones He names as Himself?

INSIGHT

David Watson shares the insight of an Indian Christian in his ‘I believe in Evangelism’ ‘People are no longer converted to a doctrine. They can only be attracted to a way of life they see as a practical alternative to the values and assumptions of our competitive, alienated, materialistic society. We have been presenting Christianity (the system) and not Christ the person … We have to present to the world a living Christ, fresh, always life-giving and nourishing …’

In this charismatic age we need to be reminded that the charisma, the charm of our loving Saviour was not found in solitude or absent  union with His Father; it was in His joining and sharing with the oppressed, the alienated, and those living without hope. P.T. Forsyth says that we are ‘potential 'Christs’ in the sense that Christ grows in us and rouses our faith to action.

He is our example. We are not to live isolated from the world’s suffering in some monastic fashion of seeking participation with deity. We must not let our love for God cause us to neglect our duty to love the poor. If we love God we must also love our neighbour. Our Gospel compels us to live completely, this is to communicate a Gospel which corresponds to people’s felt needs. And in doing so we need to cry loudly the public shame in which we share for not having done more.

Dr. Sven Ljungholm

Former SA Officer

Govan, UK