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Authors: Judith Allen Shelly
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the church should function in the world.
Jesus told his disciples, "By this everyone will know that you are
my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:35). That
love is demonstrated throughout the New Testament. It includes
teaching, healing and caring for one another through illness,
adversity, interpersonal conflicts, moral lapses and the whole
gamut of human frailties. The church is never presented as a picture of perfection but as a struggling community characterized by
commitment to Jesus Christ and to one another, as well as to a
deep desire to spread the good news of salvation.
How the Church Shows Care
What would a church look like in today's culture if we were to
make shalom our primary aim? First, it would require us to reorder our values--to put one another and our life together as a community before our personal quests for power, prestige, wealth and
possessions. Second, we would have to drop our facades of independence and self-sufficiency to be vulnerable to one another and
support one another in weakness. Third, we would begin to notice
the weak and suffering within the church community and to care
for them lovingly. Finally, we would reach out in love to the
broader community. Let's consider some practical ways we can
begin to make those changes.
1. Reordering our values. "I'd love to help, but I'm just so busy right now!" How many times have you heard this excuse for not
getting involved in a particular ministry opportunity? How often
have you used it yourself? We are so absorbed in the importance
of what we are doing that we seldom take the time to pull back
and ask God where we should be investing our time and energy.
No one can do everything. We are constantly bombarded with the
maxim, "You've just got to learn how to say no!" However, as
Christians, our first concern needs to be where we should say yes.
When we spend regular time in prayer, meditation and Bible
study, as well as periodic times of extended retreat, it becomes
much easier to sort through the vast array of opportunities and
seek God's direction.
For example, Irene worried constantly about her future. As a
single woman in her mid-forties, she felt that she had to carefully
prepare for her retirement. After all, she had no one else to take
care of her. She worked long hours, with frequent business trips,
in a job she hated. The salary and benefits seemed too good to
relinquish. Although she attended church faithfully when she was
home, she had little time to become involved in other church activities or ministry opportunities. Frequent promotions increased her
self-esteem but further impinged on her personal time. Then her
father died suddenly of a heart attack. Soon afterward her mother
was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. 'Alen it became apparent that her mother could no longer function at home alone, Irene
returned to her parents' home for a two-week visit to assess the
situation. She investigated nursing homes in the area, but she also
spent a great deal of time reading about Alzheimer's disease,
studying her Bible and praying. She also began reconnecting with
old friends and her former church community.
With time to reflect in this setting, Irene found her values
beginning to shift. She discovered that she had not been trusting God to provide for her needs. In the process, she had ignored the
needs of her family and friends. She decided to take a step of
faith--quit her job, and move home to care for her mother. Eventually she organized an Alzheimer's support group in the church.
It grew to a network of support groups in her metropolitan area.
After her mother's death four years later, Irene's involvement with
families caring for victims of Alzheimer's disease grew to a fulltime ministry. Although the job paid far less than her high-powered position in industry, the rewards were much greater, and she
knew God would care for her needs.
Irene's decision may seem drastic.
Jesus told his disciples, "By this everyone will know that you are
my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:35). That
love is demonstrated throughout the New Testament. It includes
teaching, healing and caring for one another through illness,
adversity, interpersonal conflicts, moral lapses and the whole
gamut of human frailties. The church is never presented as a picture of perfection but as a struggling community characterized by
commitment to Jesus Christ and to one another, as well as to a
deep desire to spread the good news of salvation.
How the Church Shows Care
What would a church look like in today's culture if we were to
make shalom our primary aim? First, it would require us to reorder our values--to put one another and our life together as a community before our personal quests for power, prestige, wealth and
possessions. Second, we would have to drop our facades of independence and self-sufficiency to be vulnerable to one another and
support one another in weakness. Third, we would begin to notice
the weak and suffering within the church community and to care
for them lovingly. Finally, we would reach out in love to the
broader community. Let's consider some practical ways we can
begin to make those changes.
1. Reordering our values. "I'd love to help, but I'm just so busy right now!" How many times have you heard this excuse for not
getting involved in a particular ministry opportunity? How often
have you used it yourself? We are so absorbed in the importance
of what we are doing that we seldom take the time to pull back
and ask God where we should be investing our time and energy.
No one can do everything. We are constantly bombarded with the
maxim, "You've just got to learn how to say no!" However, as
Christians, our first concern needs to be where we should say yes.
When we spend regular time in prayer, meditation and Bible
study, as well as periodic times of extended retreat, it becomes
much easier to sort through the vast array of opportunities and
seek God's direction.
For example, Irene worried constantly about her future. As a
single woman in her mid-forties, she felt that she had to carefully
prepare for her retirement. After all, she had no one else to take
care of her. She worked long hours, with frequent business trips,
in a job she hated. The salary and benefits seemed too good to
relinquish. Although she attended church faithfully when she was
home, she had little time to become involved in other church activities or ministry opportunities. Frequent promotions increased her
self-esteem but further impinged on her personal time. Then her
father died suddenly of a heart attack. Soon afterward her mother
was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. 'Alen it became apparent that her mother could no longer function at home alone, Irene
returned to her parents' home for a two-week visit to assess the
situation. She investigated nursing homes in the area, but she also
spent a great deal of time reading about Alzheimer's disease,
studying her Bible and praying. She also began reconnecting with
old friends and her former church community.
With time to reflect in this setting, Irene found her values
beginning to shift. She discovered that she had not been trusting God to provide for her needs. In the process, she had ignored the
needs of her family and friends. She decided to take a step of
faith--quit her job, and move home to care for her mother. Eventually she organized an Alzheimer's support group in the church.
It grew to a network of support groups in her metropolitan area.
After her mother's death four years later, Irene's involvement with
families caring for victims of Alzheimer's disease grew to a fulltime ministry. Although the job paid far less than her high-powered position in industry, the rewards were much greater, and she
knew God would care for her needs.
Irene's decision may seem drastic.
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