Pure and Undefiled Religion

One’s perception of reality is greatly impacted by their surroundings. For those living in a world of advanced medicine, wealth, justice, and a government that provides necessary social services, reality can look like Disneyland. But for those living in a world of poor medical services, poverty, and corruption, reality looks like a nightmare. Having lived in Uganda the past 18 years, we quickly learned that, for most of the world, reality is like a nightmare.

So, how is a Christian to respond to the pains of the people around him or her?

Scripture demands that we respond by engaging in holistic evangelism. When presented with the harsh realities of child abandonment, deadly accidents, and widows and orphans, the church must act, not only in word, but also in deed (James 2:14–26). Believers must proactively respond, not only by praying for the hurting, but being the solution to their problems. This is pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27). Without any reservation, it must be declared that mercy ministry is right in God’s eyes (Micah 6:8; Prov. 21:3; Isa. 1:16–17; 2 Pet. 1:5–8).

With that, three things must be kept in mind when one engages in holistic evangelism.

1. Remember that evangelism is the only means of transformation. In an effort to feed the hungry, educate the unlearned, comfort the broken-hearted, and mend the sick, one’s eyes of compassion must remain fixated on the sick spiritual condition. After all, human deficiencies are only temporal while the soul is eternal. There is only one remedy for human depravity: the gospel. There is only one power to release mankind from sin’s power: the Word of God.

2. Keep it missional. Jesus’ mission is to build His church. So, holistic evangelism must be focused on building the church or strengthening it. Too often the mercy mission of holistic evangelism takes over, resulting in the cart dragging the horse. Mercy ministry without evangelism is simply humanitarian aid. And humanitarian aid is not missions. So the mercy part of the ministry must stay in it proper place as the means of evangelism, and not a replacement for it.

3. Keep it centered around the local church. It is a good practice to always be directing people toward a church family. One can share Christ and care for the lost, but where is that new believer going to grow and be discipled without a church? Holistic evangelism must be carried out alongside a local church.

Here at SOS Ministries Uganda, we practice holistic evangelism by ensuring that truth and love are a part of the ethos of our ministry. As we serve truth to our community, we come alongside them through hospitality, opening our homes, sharing meals, and having fun with every activity. We have sought to meet the needs of our community by providing medical care, primary school, and care for those with disabilities. We have sought to provide the solutions for people’s problems, whether by adopting abandoned children, providing the next phase of education for people, giving employment opportunities, or using our homes to shelter a drunkard or a vulnerable woman. In all of these things, making disciples for King Jesus has been our goal and driving force.

Though it may look different in Rancho Cucamonga, the goal is to share Christ with people by not only giving them God’s glorious gospel, but your own life (1 Thess. 2:8). By doing so, I am confident that you, saints of Grace Rancho, will “let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).