The Challenge of Good Works
Feb. 4, 2021.
I have noticed that it is rather difficult to engage in meaningful good works. It’s far easier to talk about good works, than it is to show up and actually do them. They are not as readily available in society as we’d wish. Occasionally, we can help the proverbial “old lady” cross the street, or help reach something off the top shelf for someone at the grocery store, but those efforts falls short of something that is trying to climb out of our soul – especially as we mature in Christ. How do we engage more deeply in the world of Good Works?
#JesusStories: In Matthew 5:14ff, Jesus noted that nobody in their right mind would ever light a lamp and then hide it under a basket. Rather, they would put it on a stand so that it gives light to all who are in the house. Jesus then used that image to reveal how our lives are like those oil lamps, and that the light showing forth from our lives are to be in the form of unusual Good Works.
There is much for us to unpack in these three little verses. Initially, the oil within us that causes our lives to shine is not our own – this oil is the presence of the Spirit who lives in us and flows out of us. This is something different than the kind of works we can enable through our strength, our personality, our gifts, and our winsome ways. Neither are these the kinds of works that someone can do by merely practicing random acts of kindness. The kind of works that flow from the Spirit are on the level of what we saw flowing from the life of Christ: healing, prophetic insight, prayer with authority, profound sacrifice, etc. These are the Good Works Jesus was talk about – the kind that causes society to say, “Wow, only God could help them do that!”
One of the reasons Rome turned to Christianity in the Fourth Century was because of the contrast between the Christians and the Roman citizens during the back-to-back plagues that besieged their cities. Out of a sense of self-survival the Romans packed up, left their sick family members behind, and headed for the isolated countryside. However, when they returned home after the plagues subsided, they found their homes swept, in order, family members nursed back to health, and those who died were buried with honor. All of this because the Christians refused to leave the sick behind to die alone; the Spirit within them called them to stay where healing and comfort was needed. Such sacrificial Good Works caused the returning Romans to say, “Wow, only God could help them do that!” Christian history is filled with mere people engaging in Works that are simply beyond human capacity. May that heritage of Jesus-sized Good Works continue throughout our lives. Lord help us!
#DinnerChurchQuotes: The communal reality of holy living, mutual support, and sacrificial service in the New Testament is called koinonia. -Darrell Guder
#PracticalStuff: Jesus Tables are ripe environments for Jesus Works. Setting a table, eating with strangers, praying healing over the broken, sacrificing for new friends, and telling the life-giving stories of Christ naturally enfolds us in the kinds of Good Works spoken of in Matt. 5. So next week at Dinner Church, you go and Work the Works of Him who has sent you!
Blessings & Boldness,
Verlon
Dr. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have led a multi-site Assemblies of God Dinner Church in Seattle, Washington since 1999 (www.CommunityDinners.com). In this decade when more churches in the U.S. are declining than thriving, and when ninety-six churches a week are closing, Verlon and Melodee sensed that a different way of doing church was needed for their 97-year old Seattle congregation. It soon became obvious that they were not the only ones in need of a different path. They joined the FX team in 2016 and founded the Dinner Church Collective. And then in 2019 founded the Dinner Church School of Leadership. There is a lot to be gained when church leaders begin to see open doors in the American landscape that they had previously overlooked. Therein lies the journey for those who will forge a new future for the American Church.
Categories: Uncategorized
02.8.21
By: Nicole Fike
Amen! Yes, we need to look like our Master. Replicating the works of Christ. I am encouraged by John 14:12, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Making room for the isolated, praying healing prayer, doing mission on the edges and remembering our sent-ness.
02.10.21
By: Roger Bird
I wonder what it looks like for us to love people through this plague that we’re in? Not ignoring common sense or science, but finding ways of reaching out and loving people in the midst of their isolation, loneliness, brokenness, and financial hardship in life changing ways that makes them see Jesus in it. That makes them think that thought of, “Wow, only God could help them do that!” May the Holy Spirit give us oil in our lamps to understand and actually do those kinds of good works!
02.11.21
By: Josh Gering
One of the things we must do is point to the Holy Spirit that is in us. There are so many organizations that started out with Christian roots but somewhere along the way, lost their way. Look at organizations such as the YMCA and most of our prestigious universities. Somewhere the Christ in their mission was lost and left in His place were simply good works. Good human works. We, as a dinner church, must be more than a feeding program. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do not just good works, the best work. That is creating an environment for people to experience acceptance and love beyond the natural and point to the very giver of that love, Jesus. In that is the opportunity for life change…for a change in eternities. That makes all the hard work, and good work worth the effort.
02.12.21
By: Marion Sortore
Good works – how I have often seen these ‘burn’ out volunteers. You said it in class, Verlon, if our Good works don’t come out of love for Jesus – if our good works are to feed ourselves and/or our organization, then burn out is very likely to occur. Been there done that – and it wasn’t pretty! Jesus modeled for us how to live a life of loving God and out of that love flows the rest of life. Oh, to be able to model that way of life for other!
02.12.21
By: Rodney Martin
The witness of first century Christians, with their care for the poor and sick when everyone else left the city during a plague, calls for a different politic than what we see in the church today. Is it possible for Christians to have this kind of witness today when church and political ideology are so intertwined? It is frustrating to be given a political label in our current political milieu simply because one is following the way of Jesus. To be considered liberal or conservative because of how we care for or treat the other, especially those who are powerless and margenalized. Have we replaced the gospel with a political narrative that suits our interests? It seems to me that the Roman Christians put Jesus first which compelled them to risk their lives to care for the left behind when everyone else fled for safety.
02.19.21
By: Michael Cox
Matthew 5:14 instructs us to make the good works of God visible. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” We are supposed to let our little light shine. We don’t let Satan snuff it out! Matthew 6:1 warns us to keep our good works a secret. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Are we supposed to be seen or not? The righteousness of God becomes visible when believers pray and forgive from the margins. It is from the periphery of society that the centrality of God’s kingdom is revealed. The light of the world lives with those who have been ostracized and condemned. The light of the world suffers in solidarity with those left to die as criminals. The good works of believers are hidden from the world and visible to the poor, because the world has chosen to look the other way. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).”
Praying for people on the sidewalk that attend our community dinner elicits a few common responses. People walking by either look away or don’t even notice. However, the poor and marginalized in my neighborhood will stop and bow their heads, make the sign of the cross across their body, and acknowledge the presence of the living God. The righteousness of God is hidden among the poor.
02.24.21
By: Carl Bauchspiess
“Unusual good works” stuck out to me. I guess anyone can do a good work every now and then. However, a life of good works is very different. I think of unusual good works as long term good works. Not just giving a homeless person a gift card to McDonald’s but investing a lifetime among homeless persons to bring them Jesus and hope. Incarnational ministry is unusual good works. We see a lot of drive-by ministry, but not much long-term.
05.13.21
By: Penney Forbes
“In Matthew 5:14ff, Jesus noted that nobody in their right mind would ever light a lamp and then hide it under a basket. Rather, they would put it on a stand to give light to all who are in the house. Jesus then used that image to reveal how our lives are like those oil lamps, and that the Light showing forth from our lives are to be in the form of unusual Good Works.” — Dr. Fosner’s Post, February 4, 2021
In the Greek text, a more exacting translation of Matthew 5:14 reads, “You and you alone are the light of the world.” ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω ὄρους κειμένη. In terms of the original language, Jesus used the “aorist imperative” tense, which presents these words as a command.
“You and you alone are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).” Conversely, “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness” (Proverbs 4:19).” Sometimes, lining up verses with a strong contrast between two verses can deepen our understanding of both. In Ephesians 5:8,9, Paul reinforces this charge, “For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of Light.” Furthermore, in 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, “The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God…[But] God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his Light shine in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
Although the world is in deep darkness, God planted His church as His Light. In John 3:19-21, the Apostle John records Jesus’ first sermon about this. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light and will not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the Light so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” Thus, from the very beginning, Jesus introduces Himself as the Light that dispels the darkness and lights a path to God the Father.
Furthermore, God so loved the world, and He sent his Son to be its Light (John 3:16). This call is ongoing. Humanity comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through His people proclaiming and demonstrating the gospel in every aspect of life. For example, when Jesus Christ commissioned the apostle Paul, he told him, “I am sending you to [the Gentiles] to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:17-18). This is our same charge! Thus, Peter exclaims, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).”
We are to reflect the Light of Jesus to the world. In Him is the Light of salvation, the Light of eternal life, the Light of the knowledge of God, the Light of the joy of salvation, the Light of hope, and the Light that shines in the darkness. It is the Light that opens the eyes of the blind and enables them to see the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Undoubtedly, these passages will guide the vision casting of our Dinner Church Planting Team. As well, a statement that captures this focus is included in our movement’s Value Statements. Being Light in this dark world is a central focus of our mission, vision, values, purpose, and outreach. The Light of the world opens the eyes of the blind. He said, “Let light shine out of darkness” when He created the heavens, and the earth now speaks in his new creative work, saying, “Let their light into the depths of our hearts,” and there is Light. People’s eyes are opened, and suddenly the blind sees. Thus, they beheld “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ!” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Therefore, we must go into all the world and preach the gospel. Through us, the world will receive the Light of the gospel, the Light of truth, the Light of life, the Light of salvation, the Light of purpose, the Light of meaning, the Light of hope, and the Light of joy. The world cannot experience it in any other way. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).” Notice, Paul says, “through us,” meaning it is not through angels but through His church, through Christians, through the apostles, through those whom Jesus said are the salt of the earth and the Light of the world–that the knowledge of Christ comes to the world. Paul continues, “For, we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one, we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life” (2 Corinthians 2:15-17).
Gathering around tables is a more intimate space than sitting in rows of pews. It is not difficult to imagine the multiple ways that Dinner Churches provide people the opportunity to experience the Light of Christ that dispels the darkness and lights a path to Jesus Christ.