But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
“In an age of dramatic social, class, and racial differences, the local church was the only institution in the Roman world that brought unity between classes and races. The churches Paul planted were a diverse fellowship of Jew and Gentile, young and old, poor and rich…The radical generosity of the [early] church amazed the community, and it drew attention to the radical generosity of Christ…It was Christians giving themselves away to those unable to pay them back that convinced a skeptical Roman world the truth of Jesus’ claims…In a post-Christian skeptical age, love on display is sometimes the most convincing apologetic.”
J.D. Greear in Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary (Nashville: B & H Publishing, 2011) 230-231.
Today we explore the question of skeptics and fruitful ways to share Christ with them at our CBMC meetings in Southern California. Greear’s research reveals that “the most convincing apologetic” is in fact living a radically generous life. When we give the least deserving people what they need most, and when we are generous not expecting anything in return, that’s when all heaven breaks loose. This is not so much about intentionally blessing one lost soul, and hoping they come to faith. It’s about reorienting every aspect of our existence to live, give, serve, and love like Jesus toward everyone.