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Faith comes before service
Service is a calling that we could readily accept as a metaphor for the Christian life. But then we remember that the term service also is applied to the military. Service is an ideal of citizenship and neighborliness. Part of being a hero is serving another, even to the point of sacrifice. When we speak of “doing service,” we broaden the category even further. The military hardware of ships and helicopters served the victims of the tsunami at Christmastime several years ago. Coal miners serve their trapped comrades, police officers serve the community, we debate about national service, and sometimes courts assign community service in lieu of fines or jail time. Service, by these examples, is not necessarily voluntary. So, service is not an exclusively Mennonite ideal. It is not our unique practice compared with others: Almost everyone believes in service. Jesus served his disciples by washing their feet. Mary served Jesus by “squandering” expensive perfume, anointing Jesus’ feet. There it is. Service that comes from faith in and love of Jesus is voluntary — it is given out of the love of God in our hearts. I like these images of service from the New Testament. They remind us of the posture of service — on our knees, basin of water or expensive perfume in hand, enhancing another’s meaning of life or offering a necessity of life. Service is for all of us, all the time, in every way, wherever we are. Sounds like breathing, doesn’t it? Service is readiness to spring into appropriate action. It’s an attitude of love, exemplified by the Good Samaritan. It’s not just time set aside, although purposeful service of this kind is a blessing to many. At times, some of us are doers to such an extreme that we are tempted to believe service and faith are the same. But faith comes first. Without faith, service is just service. We are to offer faithful (full-of-faith) service. Faithful service is more than high-octane service. It is based on a reason greater than being a good human being — being a humanitarian. It is a way of following Jesus, of being like Jesus, who served by shedding his blood that all might live now and for eternity. When we serve others, we serve because Christ served us first. In this issue: Features Highlights Viewpoints |
