When Peter saw him [the disciple whom Jesus loved], he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “... what is that to you? You must follow me.” John 21:27-28
Did you see the BBC television programme last Friday about CAP (Christians Against Poverty)?
If you’ve never heard of CAP, it’s a Christian ministry dedicated to helping people out of debt and setting them on their feet. It gets alongside people in times of desperate need, offers practical support, works out budgeting schemes, and teaches life-skills. And it unashamedly offers them Jesus as the ultimate answer to their deepest needs.
There’s no pressure or coercion, but the people they work with are invited to join in a short, simple prayer and encouraged to get along to a local church. (CAP insists that if somebody isn’t interested in the “spiritual” side of their work that makes no difference; they continue to offer support as long as it is needed.)
The heart of the programme was the stories of two or three individuals who have been helped to the point of becoming debt-free. Given that some were originally hundreds, even thousands, of pounds in debt, that was cause for rejoicing indeed, and it was intensely moving to see. Some of them have also decided to follow Jesus.
I have had a very slight acquaintance with CAP over recent years - I have a friend whose life was turned round with their help. But I had no idea how big it has grown, and how professional it is in the way it goes about a massively difficult and draining ministry. I could only sit, watch and admire what the programme showed.
All credit, too, to the BBC for broadcasting a documentary which showed up Christians in a good light (that isn’t always the case with the media, as we all know!). The tone was respectful throughout.
There was, perhaps, just one slightly jarring note: the interviewer hinted at questioning CAP’s motives, wondering if perhaps their debt-relief work was, so to speak, a cover for winning converts - that that was what they were really interested in.
The answer was, in effect, that of course they would like to see people coming to faith in Christ - what’s wrong with that! - but that the help they offer comes without strings. It made the questioning seem unnecessarily cynical.
It also raised the old issue of Christians getting involved in “social work” as opposed to “pure evangelism”.
Some Christian organisations do good work without any attempt at winning converts; others are so focussed on simply spreading the good news of the gospel that they take no interest in people’s practical day-to-day needs.
But surely there should be no wedge between the two. The history of the church has demonstrated this, with its schools and colleges, its hospitals and clinics, its efforts to abolish slavery, its orphanages, its support for the persecuted, its fight against the sex trade, and its alcohol and drug initiatives. Doing good in the name of Jesus - how can that not be good!
If you missed the programme, you can catch up with it on BBC iPlayer. It’s called The Debt Saviour and it was broadcast on BBC 2, Friday 5 October. You might end up feeling you want to support CAP. (You might one day find you need it...)
Mind you, if you’re anything like me there could just possibly be one “down” side (though it isn’t really a down side at all).
You might find yourself watching in admiration, and thinking “Mmm... why have I never done anything like this? Something adventurous? Something calling for a real risk of faith? How conventional, how safe, has my life and ministry been!”
Watching any kind of exciting pioneer ministry can easily make us feel inadequate.
To which, I think, there is only one answer... God has a call and ministry for each one of us, and we are to rejoice in whatever he has called us to do, not worry about what others do.
Simon Peter talked with the risen Jesus and asked him about “the disciple whom Jesus loved” - “Lord, what about him?” To which Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you. You must follow me.”
As if to say: “Simon Peter, mind your own business! His future is in my hands. And so is yours. So make it your business to follow me heart and soul - that’s all that matters.”
So yes, watch the CAP programme by all means: I recommend it. But let it not stir up feelings of inadequacy. Rather, let it challenge all of us to reject half-heartedness and lukewarmness, and inspire us to follow Jesus and serve him in whatever our situation might be - even if that seems rather dull and ordinary.
Thank you, Father, for those whom you have called to serve in unconventional and even risky areas. Give them all the vision, wisdom and energy they need to be faithful to you. And help me too, whatever my sphere of ministry may be, to give always of my best, confident that I too can be of use to you. Amen.
Did you see the BBC television programme last Friday about CAP (Christians Against Poverty)?
If you’ve never heard of CAP, it’s a Christian ministry dedicated to helping people out of debt and setting them on their feet. It gets alongside people in times of desperate need, offers practical support, works out budgeting schemes, and teaches life-skills. And it unashamedly offers them Jesus as the ultimate answer to their deepest needs.
There’s no pressure or coercion, but the people they work with are invited to join in a short, simple prayer and encouraged to get along to a local church. (CAP insists that if somebody isn’t interested in the “spiritual” side of their work that makes no difference; they continue to offer support as long as it is needed.)
The heart of the programme was the stories of two or three individuals who have been helped to the point of becoming debt-free. Given that some were originally hundreds, even thousands, of pounds in debt, that was cause for rejoicing indeed, and it was intensely moving to see. Some of them have also decided to follow Jesus.
I have had a very slight acquaintance with CAP over recent years - I have a friend whose life was turned round with their help. But I had no idea how big it has grown, and how professional it is in the way it goes about a massively difficult and draining ministry. I could only sit, watch and admire what the programme showed.
All credit, too, to the BBC for broadcasting a documentary which showed up Christians in a good light (that isn’t always the case with the media, as we all know!). The tone was respectful throughout.
There was, perhaps, just one slightly jarring note: the interviewer hinted at questioning CAP’s motives, wondering if perhaps their debt-relief work was, so to speak, a cover for winning converts - that that was what they were really interested in.
The answer was, in effect, that of course they would like to see people coming to faith in Christ - what’s wrong with that! - but that the help they offer comes without strings. It made the questioning seem unnecessarily cynical.
It also raised the old issue of Christians getting involved in “social work” as opposed to “pure evangelism”.
Some Christian organisations do good work without any attempt at winning converts; others are so focussed on simply spreading the good news of the gospel that they take no interest in people’s practical day-to-day needs.
But surely there should be no wedge between the two. The history of the church has demonstrated this, with its schools and colleges, its hospitals and clinics, its efforts to abolish slavery, its orphanages, its support for the persecuted, its fight against the sex trade, and its alcohol and drug initiatives. Doing good in the name of Jesus - how can that not be good!
If you missed the programme, you can catch up with it on BBC iPlayer. It’s called The Debt Saviour and it was broadcast on BBC 2, Friday 5 October. You might end up feeling you want to support CAP. (You might one day find you need it...)
Mind you, if you’re anything like me there could just possibly be one “down” side (though it isn’t really a down side at all).
You might find yourself watching in admiration, and thinking “Mmm... why have I never done anything like this? Something adventurous? Something calling for a real risk of faith? How conventional, how safe, has my life and ministry been!”
Watching any kind of exciting pioneer ministry can easily make us feel inadequate.
To which, I think, there is only one answer... God has a call and ministry for each one of us, and we are to rejoice in whatever he has called us to do, not worry about what others do.
Simon Peter talked with the risen Jesus and asked him about “the disciple whom Jesus loved” - “Lord, what about him?” To which Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you. You must follow me.”
As if to say: “Simon Peter, mind your own business! His future is in my hands. And so is yours. So make it your business to follow me heart and soul - that’s all that matters.”
So yes, watch the CAP programme by all means: I recommend it. But let it not stir up feelings of inadequacy. Rather, let it challenge all of us to reject half-heartedness and lukewarmness, and inspire us to follow Jesus and serve him in whatever our situation might be - even if that seems rather dull and ordinary.
Thank you, Father, for those whom you have called to serve in unconventional and even risky areas. Give them all the vision, wisdom and energy they need to be faithful to you. And help me too, whatever my sphere of ministry may be, to give always of my best, confident that I too can be of use to you. Amen.
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