While preparing for last Sunday's sermon, I thought a great deal about servant evangelism. I think at a beginner's level, Servant Evangelism is okay, but for a churchwide service strategy (or even a personal spiritual discipline) it comes up short. We should definitely show God's love in a practical way, but we should focus on meeting real needs.

I know I am being critical of servant evangelism. I just wonder whether God's love is practically shown by giving somebody a coke when they don't really need it or want it. It is a nice gesture, but it is not really necessary. I am reminded of something I read on Skip Kazmarek's website. He wrote, "There is a difference between self-righteous service and true service. Self righteous service is insensitive. It force itself in and demands the opportunity to help. True service listens with tenderness and patience before acting. Self-righteous service is temporary, mainly occasional projects and "special" acts. True service is a life-style."

The spiritual discipline of service means that we should be prayerfully attentive to the people we come into contact with each day. Just as we are to expect a divine appointment to share the gospel, we are to expect a divine appointment of meeting needs. Serving could mean helping your co-worker on a project and doing your best despite the fact that it could potentially put him in a position to be promoted ahead of you. Serving could mean coaching a baseball or softball team even when you would rather be at home relaxing after work. Serving could mean adopting your neighbor's yard as a project because her husband has deployed (or has left, or is out of town on business, etc.). Serving could mean helping someone carry groceries to their car.

The point is not what you do, it is that you do it as an act of love toward God. Servant evangelism suggests serving with no strings attached, but there is always that hope that the person will respond favorably and end up at your church. Serving is helping people as an act of worship. I love God so I tend His flock. What do you think?