Let’s play a word association game. As you read each of the following, gauge your gut reaction to, experience of, and passion for each…
Evangelism?
Social Justice?
Mission?
Both are highly charged Christian words. Each can be done lovingly, faithfully, and well or done poorly (with some throwing tracts, others canned goods). Oftentimes entire strands of Christians are divided (into denominations, theological sensibilities, partnerships, and focus) along lines of gravitation towards one of these (usually at the expense of the other).
This week, as we continue in our series: Living in God’s Story, we’ll study Acts 3. This is a remarkable continuation of last week’s display and call to community and hospitality. Acts 3 is much more public. As John and Peter go to church they encounter a hurting, poor man. What unfolds begins to show us how integrated “evangelism” and “social justice” are in God’s Story.
Whether you tended towards social justice or evangelism above, prepare to have your categories expanded and exploded. Because you see, the plot of the story that God invites us into doesn’t necessarily play by our rules or let us choose between restoring bodies or restoring souls. God’s Story is the true Story of the whole world, now and forever. The Gospel is good news precisely because it announces the healing, forgiveness, and life that only the Author of Life can pen.