Theology of Good Works

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

I recently read the following words of John Stott in his book Listening to the Spirit, Hear the World saying: "The whole Gospel for the whole human being, and for every human being." This phrase reminds us of the entire mission, that is, a look at the human being as a whole, not just in the spiritual realm, because man is not only the spirit but also a body, a body that has desires, wants, needs physical, emotional and sentimental, I can not look only for a human being trying to satisfy their spiritual needs.

We live in a time of great social crisis. Sick, homeless, hungry, who have suffered losses, have been betrayed and abused, so that portrays the critical situation we are. Every day we need each other, but it seems the old saying "every man for himself" continues to gain ground more and more. In our generation has risen to those who speak much and do little, and those who are mere spectators, just waiting for the sad ending of this novel, not knowing what they are doing their part. This is the context that is inserted into the Lord's Church. So not only the Church within the Church but the Church outside the Church, through this we can look to the man in full and use the social work vehicle so they can see Christ in us .

1. Integral Mission: A Biblical Perspective.

The Church as an agent of transformation can not close our hearts to the social crisis, that man is, but rather should be a vehicle of social norms Ephesians 2:10, which leads to a responsibility to do good works (ergon Agata), this being one of the purposes of our existence, "created ... to ..." culminating in a beautiful road that saved us in Christ Jesus, we must go, because our God has prepared for us to it. This, by no means new to the Church by Christ in Matthew 25:33-40 reports that the Church's social responsibility is to fill the hunger, thirst and the dress of your neighbor, be sympathetic to the sick and help the inmate because when this is achieved, for Christ is what we do.

Media for social responsibility here any help or an act of mercy. Social responsibility that the Government fully know, however, the Church can not abandon the order of Scripture: "Do good to all ..." Galatians 6:10.

Good work comes from the Greek ergon (action, work, work, work, run, run, do) and agate (good, good, good). Make the interpretation of certain texts of Scripture, we understand the importance of the practice of good works as a celebration of faith.

In Ephesians 2:10 Paul tells us clearly that we are created in Christ for good works, and they were prepared for us. The classification of verbs in Greek gives us the idea of ​​completeness, as a whole has been done and would not be cambiar.Literalmente - has been created - we can not evade this responsibility, in this act are fully passively. E - we tread around - if we are already quite active, giving us the idea of ​​walking in it, does not deviate. Already a preposition - a - point to the intent, purpose and goal of creation. The context here refers to salvation is by grace not by works (v. 8, 9), but we were created for good works, then we come to the conclusion that I do good works to be saved, but because I am except to do good works.

Galatians 6:10 is in agreement with the previous text shows us that we should do good "while we have opportunity," this term was removed from the word Kairon (set time - that comes from kairos) - a set time, set God therefore gives us the idea that only end when determined, that is, as he keeps us alive in this world. What is good for the Church must be something pleasant, good-hearted (verse 9). The verb ergazometa - we operate, we have that tells us how a body should be active, working efficiently, even when the benefit is one of our brothers.

2. Integral mission today: practical action

The Church must not only deal with the spiritual sphere of people, but to see the man as a whole that needs to be careful not only in the spiritual aspect, but also physically and emotionally. This is the concept of integral mission - see the man in his evangelistic work conjunto.Podemos "shakes hands" with social responsibility, seeing it as a bridge (because it's close), as a partner (it works) and as a result of the evangelization, (because to be our brother, we can not remain indifferent to susnecesidades).

Below are some designs that have this vision, which can be a source of inspiration for our lives, which are: ACAHERJ: Protestant Chaplaincy, Bruder Isis Foundation; GTME - Working evangelical missionary, Labour Gustavo Adolfo, Mission Life, hunger at night, a week for Jesus Ministry New Hope; Integrarte; Audiothèque Salt and Light, Salvation Army, Institute Amar; Home Dorcas; AME - Association Hope Mission, YWAM - (12 projects) support center for sailors, VEM - Widows Evangelical Missions; Provel - Pro-Age Welfare Association, compassion, Cerena - New Hope Recovery Center, Newfoundland; Not satisfied - MAC - Christian activist movement, the Committee - Ecumenical Service Coordination, Project Braga Nilson, fruiting in Senior Project, Project Impact, Open Doors, Wings of Socorro, CERVHU, Stone House Guaratiba Evangelical, ODD and talk. They were later quoted in more detail some of these projects.

And the Church? What have you done to reach men in their entirety, in addition to presenting the gospel?

3. Complete the quest: heroes and heroines of yesterday

We find in the story of the Good Samaritan to the classical left (Luke 10:25-37) we face, because we realize clearly that the religious (church) were indifferent to his next event, while a wave that is marginalized, rejected by the Jews, the call was from God "and presents a model in this situation, an example of good works in practice. What has made the church? We have to grow in the field of agate ergon (good deeds) . The Church must in no way follow the example of religious giving back and going for those who need help, those who long for help, however, we must walk on the paradigm established by this Samaritan.

Through the above, what are the needs of my neighbor? Although conditions have not their full involvement in the example left by the Good Samaritan realize that we do good works that are available to me and those who are out of reach, we try to "deliver to the host" so that is continuing the good work begun.

All around us we have several that are coming sick in body and soul, half-dead, hungry, without clothes, without drugs, without employment, without access to basic commodities of life. What should be the answer for this community? We will go through? Pretending not to see? Place all blame the government? I think the answer is to bring God with a Bible in one hand and the other biblical ergon agates.

Our history is full of men and women to follow the example of the Good Samaritan fought and worked with both hands to Christ, having a Bible in one hand and the other love of neighbor expressed by social work. Quickly we can bring the memory of eight names for our inspiration, which are: Martin Luther King - the pastor who had a dream bold. King James - Bible translator and visited prisoners. Catherine Booth - the mother of the Salvation Army. Dr. Robert Kalley - the man who distributes drugs from its own income. John Amos Comenius - an education for rich and poor. Gloucester - Christian journalist starts the movement that led to Sunday school. Nathingale Florence - the gospel that was the basis of the current structure enfermería.Henry courses Dunn - founded no less than the Red Cross.

CONCLUSION

We have to listen to the story, listen to the Bible, apply social work as an ally of evangelization the Love of our teacher. What will our heroes of today, our modern world today? Because you can not claim that good works are not part of the lives of those who truly serve the master and deny absolute truth printed in James 4:17 "Therefore he who knows to do good and doeth it not him it is sin . "

PS: For more theology Works good view of the article: Medicine as a strategy for the Church. http://www.artigonal.com/evangelho-artigos/medicina-como-estrategia-da-igreja-1250867.html