Thomas Scott co-founded the Church Missionary Society. He says that love of the brethren, expressed in active kindness, is required as evidence of faith in Christ, and love to his name (Matthew 25:31-46).
I just finished a book where an otherwise orthodox woman, writing about abuse in the church, made a single reference to “missionaries” as historically those laying the ideological groundwork for slavery.
How can you sure love to Christ’s name?
Clement of Alexandria, early Christian teacher, on gleaning. Edges of crops were to be left for the poor and strangers to harvest. The law trained the rich to large-heartedness, to forego of their own, and provide for the poor.
Today, would most Christians want Moabites anywhere near their property? The rich to hear anything about large-heartedness?
How can you train yourself in large-heartedness?
Francis Edward Clark, Congregationalist minister, writes on a thriving church in Budapest. Evangelism, ministry to the blind, veterans, prisoners, sex workers, homeless refugees.
I’ve seen churches oppose aiding refugees— even protest or call the school board if others do so. Is this evangelism?
How can you work towards a church that is like this?
Greg Johnson