Just as others “can’t hear the gospel until they see the gospel,” so also, we will not be effective at sharing a gospel that is out of focus and not applicable to the people God has set before us. That includes our acts of compassion and kindness—If we refuse to see the true need, we cannot show them God’s love.
Programs don’t change people; people change people.
Speaking at a TED Conference in 1998, Billy Graham pointed out, “There are many problems that technology hasn’t solved”. He described the following:
In the twenty years since Billy Graham shared these words, a lot of new programs, technology, and research have attempted to understand or rectify these problems, yet they persist. Then again, the Bible says, God didn’t send a program to help us; He sent a person.
Jesus offered solutions to all three of these problems. He lived a life that was truly innovative—like none before and none since. Ultimately, the most impacting innovation wasn’t His life or His death. It was His resurrection. He, Jesus, is alive, and promised to be with us always through His life-giving Spirit. His Spirit teaches us to love even those who hurt us . . . to be patient . . . to be gentle . . . to control ourselves . . . to relax . . . to use kind words . . . to forgive. Now that’s innovation!
Giving courage to Christian believers who want to Meet the Need First.
