Social work?

For some years now evangelicals have been renewing their response to the needs of the homeless, the disabled and the poor. This is absolutely right and as it should be.

However, there are a number of subtle dangers involved of which we need to be aware, which can draw us away from the biblical gospel.

The first danger became apparent when I was asked recently to go and take weekly prayers for a Christian organisation in our town which does a lot of good work among young people in need. I decided to incorporate a few minutes into the time discussing some of the differences between life lived according to the gospel and ‘religion’. In religion we obey to be accepted, in the gospel we obey because we are already accepted by faith in Christ, etc. Some who chipped in were very much at home with this, but others looked distinctly uncomfortable. It seemed I was talking to some people who were religious rather than regenerate. Then it occurred to me. Of course, Christian organisations which major on social work are bound to attract those who see ‘good works’ as a contribution to their salvation. And in today’s climate where everything needs to be done ‘professionally’, the organisation might well be more concerned to employ people with the right professional qualifications than those who love the gospel.