THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE

THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE

The world will never be converted by superficial spiritual-hype.  It is THE LIVING WORD that penetrates the soul and transforms the spirit.  This Word is the living and loving embodiment of grace, mercy and truth.  And in the final analysis, it is how all of us have miraculously arrived at the foot of the cross of Calvary.

The world will never be drawn (authentically) to the faith because of our accumulated possessions or clever promotions.  The monetary value of the houses we own, or the vehicles we drive, or the investments we accrue will never be the deciding factor in the mission of bringing the lost to Christ.  There is only one indispensable component of evangelism; it is THE GOSPEL OF LOVE.  A true and heart-touching story illustrates this point. 

It was one of the most extraordinary birthday parties ever held.  No, it did not take place in a plush ballroom or grand hotel.  No, there weren’t any famous celebrities present.  The rich and powerful did not attend.  In fact, it was held at 3:30 a.m. in a small seedy cafe in Honolulu.  The guest of honor was a prostitute.  The party guests were prostitutes.  And the man who threw the party was a Christian minister.

The idea came to Pastor Tony Campolo early one morning as he sat in the café.  He was drinking coffee at the counter, when a group of prostitutes walked in and sat at nearby stools.  One of the girls named Agnes lamented the fact that tomorrow would be her birthday, but she never had a birthday party.

So Tony thought it would be a great idea to surprise Agnes with a birthday party.  Learning from the cafe owner that the girls came in every morning around 3:30 a.m., Tony planned with him to set up the café for a party.  Somehow, word of this got out on the streets, so by 3:15 the next morning the place was packed with prostitutes, along with the cafe owner, his wife and Pastor Tony.

Agnes walked in and saw the streamers, balloons and birthday cake, as everyone screamed out “Happy Birthday!”  Agnes was totally overwhelmed.  Tears poured down her face as the crowd sang “Happy Birthday to You.”  When Agnes was called on to cut the cake, she paused.  She had never had a birthday cake and asked if she could take it home to show her mother.  After Agnes left there was a reverential silence as Tony led the café owner, his wife and a roomful of prostitutes in prayer, both for Agnes and for themselves.

It was truly a magnificent birthday party – one rarely seen – thrown by a Christian minister for a 39-year-old prostitute who never experienced anyone going out of their way to do something so special, while expecting absolutely nothing in return.  Indeed, so surprising was this turn of events that the café owner found it hard to believe that there were churches that would actually do this sort of thing.  “But if there are,” he remarked, “then that is the sort of church I would be ready to join.”

There is no life-giving efficacy in our religious pomp and pageantry.  What the world needs now and always is LOVE.  Neither our church edifices, nor our religious rites, nor our ecclesiastical robes and rings will draw men, women and children to the cross of Calvary.  There is one simple ingredient in evangelical success; it is the ‘secret recipe’ of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have LOVE to one another.” (John 13:35)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!