Monday, I was prayer walking through the Shelby Park neighborhood with a good friend of mine when we met Red.  Red is an older man with a hard face, well defined wrinkles, and long unkempt gray hair with streaks of red at the roots.  He smells of homelessness and wears a blue hoodie that hasn’t been washed since who knows when.  Red lives in a crack house and is addicted to alcohol.  He told us so.

We struck up a conversation with him and he received our attention.  He was thankful that someone took notice of him and was eager to get to know us a little.  After a few minutes of conversation, we asked him if he knew Jesus.  He said he knew Jesus a long time ago, but not recently.   This prompted us to share the Gospel with him, which we did. He said he’s heard it before, took a sip of his beer, and told us in shame that he hasn’t been able to get free from the bottle.  He felt convicted by the realities of sin, but he didn’t realize that God’s free gift of life was being offered to him right before his eyes. He kept thinking that he’s got to get his act together BEFORE God will love and forgive him.  Nothing could be farther from the truth!

Before long, we looked at our watches, noticed we were late to our next appointment, and said good-by to Red.  We prayed for him and went our way.  No doubt, we shared the gospel with Red.  Yet, it was clear that he did not understand the good news – it was just words to him.  We left Red and he is likely still in his sin.  My friend and I shot a blank.  We made a big bang, but it didn’t draw blood.

As we walked home, I was reminded of John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” I said to myself, “how could we have tangibly shown to Red that we loved him?  I mean, he was sitting at the Banquet table of Life, free of charge, and would not eat. Red just couldn’t see what was laid out before him.”

I was reminded that mercy has an impact.  It melts hearts and removes objections.  Our good deeds glorify God in the eyes of the world (Matt. 5:16).  It physically demonstrates our love (and by extension God’s love) for others.  How many Christians have shared the gospel to Red, but have not demonstrated a love for him?  Our concrete deeds of love for one another are an apologetic for the validity of the Christian faith.

I left bothered.  Certainly, it is the Holy Spirit’s job to ultimately convict Red.  But, isn’t it unthinkable that we could truly love an individual an not want both to share the gospel as well as meet the person’s most basic needs?  If I truly love Red, I’ll acknowledge that his most fundamental need is reconciliation to God.  But I don’t want to care for Red’s needs or help him just as a means to that end.  No!  I’ll help out Red, because I love him.

I plan to visit Red again.  After praying for him, I believe that what he needs is good company.  A few good friends (i.e., the church) that will point him lovingly to the truth and away from the bottle.  If Red knew the gospel and was surrounded by a few solid friends and community, I bet that he’d be willing to fight one more time to quit his habit.  This time, it would be different.  This time, he would not be alone, but he would be doing it with together with God’s people and God’s family.

Perhaps you will want to go with me (we visit 5-8 families every Monday evening, many of whom are elderly, disabled, lonely and poor). Come with us and experience how God has equipped every member of his body for the work of ministry.  By the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, together we will in Word and deed proclaim God’s excellencies to the lost, hurting, poor and needy.  In doing this, we will advance God’s kingdom and bring glory to his name.