TEAR - Beyond Survival Dinner

I like TEAR, I think it's an organisation that places the great commission – (to make disciples of all people) alongside the great commandment – (to love ones neighbour as oneself)…it’s the merging of these together I value. TEAR seem's to by driven by love, service and sacrifice, values that reflect the Love of God and share it with those who communities/we often seem to reject. The sharing is more than words, but its also not just empty actions. It encourages sharing Gods love, demonstrated through practical giving to build relationships that work towards lasting and relevant social development and the expansion of God's Kindgom. There are many other ministries out there that are good at the commission, or good at the commandment - but it's working these two together that seems the best to me.

So anyway, Sat evening I went to dinner provided by TEAR for sub-30's to encourage young people with what it means to respond to poverty and injustice in a Biblically shaped manner.
Ben Thurely (TEAR's National Advocacy Coordinator) was the guest speaker, he spoke of the Gospel being more that tracts and bible studies. That the Gospel is central and the way of life, understood through the word, but acted upon in life and thoughtfully in lives around us. We looked at the early church in Acts and considered the role individuals, church's and communities take in sharing this Gospel and our tendancy to rely on words and theoretical discovery without showing it practically and lovingly to our neighbours. Often in the West, our neighbours don't seem to live with the poverty and injustice experienced elsewhere - but Christians should not use that as an excuse to exclude them from being active in these roles. Rather it's both an oppourtunity to demonstrate the Gospel (commission), plus it's also N essential part of loving others (commandment)...