[are we accomplishing our objective?]

I'm reading a punch-in-the-gut book just now. Revolution in World Missions is the title. K.P. Yohannan is the author. Conviction is the theme.

Yohannan grew up in India and founded Gospel for Asia - a mission organization that supports native missionaries in you can guess where. And his background gives him a unique perspective into American culture, materialism, pride and self-sufficiency - all of which numb my own heart and consume my soul. Oftentimes I'd rather make excuses for these things in my life rather than seeing them for what they are.

Yet beyond that, there is something else that has been slowly eating at me this summer. And I almost laugh out loud as I type this because it wasn't so long ago that this was my purpose and heartbeat. It's the "social" or "humanistic" gospel. The idea that bringing education or food or health care to a world in need is enough. That simply sharing the love of Christ is equal to sharing the truth and Word of Christ. That meeting only people's material needs will also save their soul. And yes, I did spend a semester in South Africa doing just that. You can say I know the social gospel because I've lived it out and truly believed in it with my entire heart.

I believe in helping people. I believe in serving people. I believe in being the hands and feet of Jesus in terms of sharing what I've been materially and physically blessed with so that others can also be blessed, but I've been learning over time and by the grace of God that if that is all I'm after, if that's all we're after, then we will still leave people bankrupt at the end of the day without Christ.

"We cannot say we love others if we ignore their spiritual needs. Just the same, we cannot say we love others if we ignore their physical needs. Jesus came for both," Yohannan writes. "The mercy ministries Jesus did were not an end in themselves, but were rather a means. And it is the same today." Or it should be the same today. But is it?

I cannot help but ask myself that question as I think to all the programs Christ's body - the church - is busy with these days. "That we are busy in the church trying to work one program of evangelism after another cannot be denied. But, are we accomplishing our objective?" wrote Robert E. Coleman in his book The Master Plan of Evangelism.

Matthew 28:18-20. I'd say that's a great objective verse. So. Then comes the question. Are we accomplishing it? "Do we see an ever-expanding company of dedicated people reaching the world with the gospel as a result of our ministry?" also Coleman. Are we making disciples who can make disciples? Great question. Do we have the guts to answer honestly?