Should we be doing good deeds in the neighborhood as part of God's mission for us as Christians? For example, does advocating for the elimination of Third World debt have a place in our witness for Jesus Christ? What about fighting abortion or providing a meal for the homeless? We do not equate service to our neighbors with the gospel, but can it be that deeds of mercy nevertheless have a role in God's mission? This is no simple problem.

John Stott has long argued that Christians must never choose between saving souls and doing good works. There are problems in this world that require a social solution. If we can bring the essence of biblical Christianity to bear constructively on such problems, the world may hear the gospel as a result. But Carl F.H. Henry warned in The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism that if we do not do this, we may lose our chance for any world hearing for the gospel. As Henry put it:

The ‘uneasy conscience' of which I write is not one troubled about the great biblical verities, which I consider the only outlook capable of resolving our problems, but rather one distressed by the frequent failure to apply them effectively to crucial problems confronting the modern mind. It is an application of, not a revolt against, the fundamentals of the faith, for which I plead.

Granted, too many in our evangelical churches lack Henry's clarity about "biblical verities" and set aside the confessions of the Church in the name of relevancy. But is our biblical witness on the other hand limited in form to verbal proclamation only? There is again nowadays a call for action to back up the truth of what we confess - for a living out of the gospel. Does the Kingdom of God consist only of verbally preaching the salvation message, while relegating good deeds to the realm of a secular state? Or can we bear witness to the biblical message through loving deeds without sacrificing the central truth of the gospel? The Bible holds the answer, yet the Church has difficulty coming to consensus, even among conservative assemblies.

When discussing the Christian witness, it is important to avoid confusing the implications of the gospel with the gospel itself. A community in Christ will live like people transformed by the life-changing message of Christ's death and resurrection; our love for God will evidence itself in how we treat our brother, sister and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39; John 17: 20-23; James 2:14-17).

Christ-like love to our neighbor certainly does not require that we remove anything in the gospel that the world finds offensive; however, the favor of others is not necessarily a bad sign. Jesus said, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16). In Acts 2:47 we see that the believers enjoyed "the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Yet we must bear in mind that good deeds are the implications and evidence of the gospel, not the gospel itself. Good deeds help to create a posture by which people can more easily hear the gospel. True deeds of love will bear witness to the gospel, not obscure it.

Dr. Gaylan Mathiesen is Professor of Missions at Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Fergus Falls, MN.

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