ACTS OF RANDOM KINDNESS (A.R.K.)

In the Evan Almighty movie, this was what “God” meant by “Build me an A.R.K.” In reality, it is a self-proclaimed “nonreligious” foundation (www.actsofkindness.org) that promotes kindness within our nation and acts as a delegate to the World Kindness Movement, an organization whose goal is to increase the world’s capacity of kindness and compassion. They also give away free puppies, hugs, smiles, and a pocket full of rainbows. Though the humanistic endeavor to be kinder to your fellow man is honorable and even commanded by God, “Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Eph 4:32), as an end, that is be kind in order to encourage compassion, is just not good enough for Christians. For Christians to consider acts of random kindness equivalent to “Therefore, be imitators of God” (Eph 5:1—the verse that follows 4:32), is akin to believing the placement of a dollar in the offering plate is the same as making disciples of all nations.

“But, Mike, surely this isn’t a problem in Christianity.” Check out this website, http://www.arkalmighty.com, and you see that many Christians believe that “selfless, unexpected acts of kindness… [will] help others understand God’s gift of love and grace to all people.” I read a bulletin this past week advertising a mission trip to Central America in which the ministry will consist of random acts of kindness. But why would it be a problem for Christians to promote kindness?

“For God so loved the world,” means that God loves all people, right? What if God fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed strangers into His home, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned and yet still sent them to eternal torment, would we call that, “love?” Matthew 25:35-40 is used often to support community outreach with the reminder, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” But are random acts of kindness what God sent Jesus to accomplish?

“Be imitators of God,” Ephesians 5:1 commands us, “…And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.” When did Jesus feed the hungry? Did not the five thousand return only to hear these words, “Do not labor for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27). When did He provide drink for the thirsty? Instead He says, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever” (John 4:13,14). When Jesus welcomed strangers it was with this commission, “Follow Me,” unless they were sick, then He healed them and told them, “Go home to your family.” When did He clothe the naked or visit the imprisoned? Yet, Jesus commanded His disciples, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). If Jesus example of love did not consist of these humanitarian services, then what did He do for His disciples?

“Go and make disciples of all nations,” must mean more to us than go and be kind. If the purpose of our kindness is to demonstrate God’s love, then we have truly missed the mark by defining God’s love as relief from temporal inadequacies. When you serve, do you share the Gospel of “believe and be saved,” or the Gospel of “Take up your cross and follow Him?” Do you tell them to read the Bible as you pass them a cup of cold water or do you train them to study God’s word as you pass onto them the commission of God. Do you build them houses or do you build them into the temple of God? Friends, it is a great accomplishment for a sinner to turn his kindness into reproductive compassion. But we saints are not commissioned to be kind. We are called to make disciples. And that’s not a random act.

“Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off” (Rom 11:22).

A Candle Funny

Mrs. Donovan was walking down O'Connell Street in Dublin when she met Father Flaherty.

The priest said, "Top o' the mornin' to ye! Aren't ye Mrs. Donvan and didn't I marry ye and yer hoosband 2 years ago?"

She replied, "Aye, that ye did, Fadder."

The Father asked, "And be there any wee little ones yet?"

She replied, "No, not yet, Fadder."

Father Flaherty said, "Well, now, I'm goin' to Rome next week and I'll light a candle for ye and yer hoosband."

She replied, "Oh, thank ye, Fadder." They then parted ways.

Some years later they met again and Father Flaherty asked, "Well now, Mrs. Donovan, how are ye these days?"

She replied, "Oh, very well, Fadder!"

The priest then asked, "And tell me, have ye any been blessed with any wee ones yet?"

She replied, "Oh yes, Fadder! T'ree sets o'twins and 4 singles, 10 in all."

He then responded, "That's wonderful! How is yer loving hoosband?"

She replied, "E's gone to Rome to blow out yer candle."

[forwarded by Marty Walker]

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WHAT NOT TO LEARN FROM EVAN ALMIGHTY

Have you seen Steve Carrell’s movie yet? As a movie, it’s clichéd, feel-good, slightly humorous, and one our family could watch together with only one instance of “hope they didn’t hear that.” But as a depiction of “God,” the viewer has to be weary of a few things if they think Morgan Freeman represents the God of the Bible. Not to say that Christianity was what the producers had in mind, but rather, because I’ve heard of several churches using the movie to promote “mainstream” Christianity. For instance, there were advertisements for churches to buy bulk seating while it was in the theatres and the first preview presented was from the new VeggieTale movie, of which I’m extremely excited. If you saw it, can you point to some things that though acceptable to spiritualist should not be acceptable to Christianity?

Here’s the first. In the movie, a book entitled Ark Building for Dummies, provides a narrative for the author, God, who has over six billion children. It is a common belief today, even within Christian circles, that everyone is a child of God. Is this what you believe? “No one born of god makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God… whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1John 3:9,10). The Holy Spirit is like an adoption agency that unites us with our Father (Rom 8:14-17) and we all know that nonchristians do not have the Spirit and therefore, are not children of God.

The second misconception about God is based upon the first. Evan asks God, “You wouldn’t drown everyone , would you?” We remember from the first movie, Bruce Almighty, that “God” can’t force anyone to love him though he loves everyone equally. After all, if everyone is God’s child then what Father would ever send His child to eternal torment? An atheist came to our study last night and I used this analogy to explain the Biblical view of God’s dealings with His creation: if a child comes to my house and is not adopted by me and is unwilling to live by my rules, then I cannot discipline him as I would my own (Heb 12:5) but must instead escort him out of my home (as God did to Adam and Eve). If we are God’s children, we live by His rules, not ours. If we are not, then we live by our rules and not His.

You can learn a lot from movies, but be careful what you hear. You just might be held accountable to it.