Gifts or Tools?

Some says that ‘mission’ is the heartbeat of God. Some interprets mission to be the work of evangelizing the ‘unsaved’. Over the years various interpretations and methods have been employed to carry out ‘mission’ work. Churches have generally employed many Western strategies in carrying out mission work. But what is actually Christian mission is all about? Is it all about preaching the Gospel and leading the people to Christ? Or, is it doing good works to the needy with ulterior motive of converting them?

At least from my little experience in the Christian ministry, I have come to understand Churches have successfully incorporated social work into missions. We serve the community; provide the needy, shelter the homeless and orphans and other forms of good works in the name of mission with the ulterior motive of converting those who we help. Our motivations for doing good have a hidden agenda in it.

Social work or ministry has become a means of evangelism. We are so pragmatic and result orientated that we want to see instant rewards for money spend from our church treasury (in social ministry). The church has made social ministry as its investment plan to ‘harvest’ more ‘new believers’ into its community.

Some how or rather, I am convinced otherwise. I don’t think it is right to have an ulterior motive in helping people. Social work or ministry should be motivated by love and not used as a means of evangelism. We should learn to look at the world and its people from God’s perspective. Social ministry rendered by the church should always be motivated by Christ’s love for all creation. Thus helping the needy is a ‘gift’ to the society and not a ‘tool’ for evangelism.