Given the church should be involved in serving its neighbours in practical ways, how should they primarily seek to do that:
- By running their own programs; or
- By working/volunteering in secular organisations, from the NHS to local community groups?
This question came to mind recently because as part of the Passion for Life initiative the Christian law students where I study are going to run a drop-in advice centre for a day. This is modelled on activities done as part of the college's own pro bono scheme, and is going to be backed up by the college. Some Christian law students do volunteer as part of this scheme (including me, although I've given limited time to it), but justifiably the manager of the college's scheme questioned why it was that many Christian students would be willing to do this but weren't signed on to the college's own scheme.
From another point of view, most local churches have very few resources to devote to any sustained social action program, and even when they don't always do it well.
But at the same time, I think I remember Tim Chester commenting that social action done without the Gospel being preached alongside it is understood by non-Christians as either Christian's trying to earn points, or as Christian's agreeing that felt-needs are the most important needs. However, would that criticism apply if you were working as part of a secular organisation (e.g. the NHS)?
Anyway, I have lots of thoughts but no conclusion. What do you think?
PS. Of course I know not all social action needs an organised program, but some does, and it is that type of social action that I'm thinking about here.
