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.

Last week the Lord laid it on my heart to visit Bill, an elderly recluse a few blocks from the 930.  I had not visited or seen Bill for four months.  Over the past three weeks, I found myself praying for him often.  Last Monday seemed like a great time to take a few Sojourner’s over to Bill’s house to see how he was doing.  He didn’t know we were coming… we were just following a nudge in our spirit that God wanted us to visit.

Bill is a man’s man, a war veteran who is 78 years old.  He has seen some pretty difficult things as an officer in the Army.  Just ask him, and he will fill your ears with hours of incredible stories.  He also loves to work on cars and, at 78, still drives a Porsche. Like I said, a man’s man.

But, Bill is also very lonely with no family or friends.  He is an unbeliever who knows his Bible better than most Christians.  When asked about the Bible, he delights in making young Christians feel foolish.  Bill can be harsh and cold at moments, which can be uncomfortable,  but something tells me that he loves when we come around.

When we knocked on his door, his eyes lit up and he became very animated by our presence.  We talked for almost an hour on his front porch.  It turns out that his birthday is on the 25th of this month.  He said he hates birthday parties and that he hates all people.  He quickly conceded and told us that he actually liked us and enjoyed the time we spent together.  I think he might also concede his stance on birthday parties.  Really, who doesn’t like to be celebrated?

So, tonight we are throwing Bill a surprise birthday party.  There won’t be very many of us, but we are coming armed with treats and cupcakes.  We are doing this because we love Bill and want him to take joy and delight in the people of God.  Moreover, we ultimately desire for him to know and to praise the God that created him.

Apologetics and well crafted arguments for the existence of God have fallen flat with Bill. I admit, he is too clever for us.  However, what Bill needs right now is not more well crafted appeals to believe in God, but to see and experience God’s love showered on him through God’s people.  For somebody who is lonely and lives in isolation, a barrage of facts about Christ is not immediately attractive.  But, authentically demonstrate God’s presence, acceptance, intimacy and fellowship?  Now that is attractive to a lonely old man…and it’s a good starting point for explicitly sharing with Him Christ’s love for us.

We don’t know how Bill will respond tonight.  He may outright reject us.  And that is okay.  But, I do know this:  the gospel compels and empowers us to “live such good lives among unbelievers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong (in this case, throwing a small birthday party), they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” – 1 Peter 2:12

I’ll keep you posted on what happens.  In the mean time, join us every Monday evening at 6:30pm at the 930 to get equipped for face-to-face ministry in the city.  Perhaps you will meet Bill, or one of the other half-dozen families that we visit every week.  Learn to share and demonstrate the gospel with neighbors.  No one goes at it alone.  You know you want to.  Email jesse.moss@gmail.com for additional information.