Community Service - Why??

Community service, why would we want to do that? Why would the Faith community want to serve others in our general community?



Maybe to be more Christlike in our continued efforts for conform our character to His. Matthew 20:28 says, "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many". 1 Timothy 3:13 says, "Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus."



Maybe the answer to these questions is that the Faith community is commanded to show our love for our general community through humble servant hood. Galatians 5:13-14 says, "You, my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself.""



Maybe we need to consider our Heavenly rewards that God has in store for us for our good works done in His name - pushing our reward forward to the other to our eternal life beyond our short life on this earth. Ephesians 6:7 says, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."



Maybe we should serve our community because we all have been given gifts from God that we are required to share with others for the overall good of the Kingdom. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. In anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."



Obviously, the answer to the questions is - all of the above, and much more. We stand at a very interesting time in history regarding governmental leadership, community involvement, and the entitlement society. I have worked for the last 11 years with an organization called the Luis Palau Association. The LPA has been putting on evangelistic festivals around the world for many years. In the last decade, extra focus has been put on festivals in the United States. Last year, here in the Portland, Oregon area, a festival brought in over 200,000 people and many found the saving grace of Christ. Part of that festival was a Season of Service, which happened in the months leading up to the festival, in which the Faith community served our greater community in projects that were beneficial for everyone and showed our love for the people and place in which God has placed us. Cities from around the United States and the world have asked if the LPA could host a festival in their city! Can you imagine, local governments asking an evangelistic association if they could partner with them to make their city a better place! Locally, churches are working with each other and partnering with their mayors and other governmental officials, to serve the greater community.



We, as the faith community, have a the door being opened wide. We need to gather in His name and in His strength to show our love for each other and our communities. We need to do this humbly and without strings attached - but in the back our minds, we know people are going to be asking why we would consider such a service - and the harvest of souls in Christs name will be bountiful.