Mission and outreach

As Christians, we are called to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds, look after the poor, orphaned and widowed (whether physically or spiritually) and to tell others of the good news of Jesus Christ.

So churches set up soup kitchens and youth clubs and playgroups etc, etc. All of these show the church in action, the church serving the needs of the community. Hopefully, this type of service comes with no strings attached. After all, Jesus healed and talked with people first, then told them to sin no more and follow him, not the other way around.

But in that outreach, it is all too easy for the church just to be another type of community service and could be seen as no different from the local village hall committee putting on these services. For me, while people should not be 'bible bashed', there has to be an understanding that those helping with the outreach are Christians and the service comes from Jesus through his church.

Having been involved in a couple of outreach programs through placements and my home church, the fact the service was coming from the church and all those serving were Christians did change people's perceptions of the service and, in some cases, the church. As those being served got to know the servers some deep theological concerns were aired, all due to people knowing we were all Christians. It's not to say we had the answers, far from it, but the people we were serving saw something in us and wanted to know more.

This is something I am wondering about for this placement. Their outreach program looks great and is really serving the community, but I wonder how it can be mission too, in a non-threatening and loving way. And I know it is something Highland Cathedral is wondering about too.

So, what is others' experience or thoughts? I have my own ideas, but want to have a rounded picture and more ideas my own theological reflection on this matter.