Social Concerns and Compassion Ministries

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him. You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)

Work together!

I am sitting in my office reflecting, thinking, and praying. I’ve been doing this off and on for some time now. This is my sixth Director’s Report, and it’s a challenge to try and say something fresh and relevant, and so I’m seeking God’s help on what it is I should be reporting. More importantly, I am reflecting, thinking, and praying on what it seems God is doing and just how He would have us, as churches of the Pacific Conference, continue to participate with Him in the area of Social Concerns and Compassion Ministries. I am sure you do the same thing in your personal lives and ministries, and we, as the Board of Social Concerns, have been the beneficiaries of your insights. We appreciate the times that you have taken to talk with us about some of these things, and sharing your thoughts with us. It is in that vein, that I’d like to relate with you what the Lord has been impressing upon me in these days. I hope that it will resonate with you and your church on some level, and maybe confirm what He has spoken to you already at a different time. I do believe God works that way. What I believe God is “saying” is nothing new, unique, or earthshaking, but simply this: “Work together!” It came, as many things from the Lord do, in a variety of ways, but for me it was confirmed in my interaction with the verses above, not typically verses that speak to the area of Social Concern and Compassion Ministries.

What does that mean?

Peter, in the verses above says, “you also as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood”. The use of the verb “being built” tells us that this is a work being done to the group, not something they are doing, and it is in the present tense. This is what God is doing. He is building us up together. A few verses later in 1 Peter 2:9a he continues, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…” He was writing to churches scattered over what would now be the country of Turkey, but he was identifying them as one people, one church, chosen, and being built together into one spiritual house. Americans on the other hand, and as whole, are extremely individualistic. Joseph Hellerman, professor of New Testament a Talbot School of Theology has said in a recent article in Christianity Today (May, 2010), social scientists “have concluded that we are a radically individualistic society, oriented towards personal fulfillment in ways profoundly more “me centered” than any other culture or people-group in world history.” Unfortunately, Americans don’t value, and are not loyal to, the “we” of the groups of which they are a part. This attitude has carried over into the church. By that I don’t mean just Evangelical churches, but churches all over America.

Peter says we are being built together so that we “offer spiritual sacrifices to God,” and achieve the main verb of chapter 2 which says in verse 9b, “so that we might declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Peter is not just talking about sitting in church worshiping God. He is talking about such things as living lives of obedience to God, even through trials, persecution and suffering, loving others—even our enemies, forsaking sinful desires, allowing God’s Spirit to sanctify us, and as he shares in verse 12, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” These are the spiritual sacrifices we are to offer to God. These are the ways to declare His praises. This is why we are being built up together!!

What might “working together” look like?

In saying “work together” it is in no way meant as a condemnation or judgment that this is not already happening. It is taking place, both on God’s part and our part as churches together, and for that we are thankful and blessed. Many of our churches are already working with other churches, Christian based organizations, even government agencies and other secular groups in things like LOVE, INC, Compassion Connect events, Advent Conspiracy, regional groups, Pastor’s groups, and of course the annual Season of Service encouraged by the Luis Palau Association. We also have churches working with their local PRC, homeless shelters, schools and school districts, and much more. This is beautiful. You are blessed and being faithful through these encounters and partnerships. The Board of Social Concerns encourages just such involvement in our communities, regions and beyond. At the Annual Conference, we will be hearing about some of the successes you’ve experienced in the past year. We are asking you again this year to work with your local PRC to support this incredible ministry in your area through the annual Baby Bottle Drive, prayer, volunteers, ongoing monthly financial contributions, and whatever other support you can provide. We are also asking for our churches to continue those partnership already established. But, we are also asking you to consider some other ways to “work together”. The following is a list of things to consider. It is not a list of things you have to do, or even should do, but things we would like to present as possibilities and things we feel are important and worthy of our reflecting, thinking, and prayer. At the Annual Conference we will be making some short presentations on some of these things listed below.

Other things that could be considered:

Help out another church in our Conference, or in your community, that needs help, and/or that has a social concern or compassion ministry similar to your own. Consider working within the group of Evangelical churches in your region. This could work in a wide variety of ways.

Develop a relationship with another church that is of another ethnic group or nationality, socio-economic status, or other factor that might normally keep you from ever getting together.

Partner with the State of Oregon or Washington to recruit families to become foster parents or willing to adopt children that are in the State’s custody.

Partner with other Evangelical churches and the Board of Social Concerns to educate our people on how our buying habits together can make a difference in the well being of people around the world.

If you’ve gotten this far, I thank you for taking the time to read this report. May God truly bless us as we strive to be built up together into a spiritual house, offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.

Rev. Steve Blikstad
Director of Social Concerns and Compassion Ministries

Phone: 503-590-5683 • Email:stephen@trinityc.org