May 1, 2024 • 32 mins
In this episode, Rev. Chris Cashen, pastor of Trinity Reformed OPC in Lanham, MD talks with Rev. Adrian Crum, Associate Pastor of Youth and Evangelism at Harvest OPC in Wyoming, Michigan. Chris and Adrian discuss in broad brush fashion the scriptural basis and the theological maze of ministering to all, but especially to those outside of the church while taking a deeper look into Adrian's February 2024 New Horizon's article, "Let Us Do Good to Everyone."
A common objection to mercy ministry can be that a person is of an ill temper or ungrateful spirit. Jonathan Edwards responds by reminding us that Christ loved us, was kind to us and was willing to relieve us, though we were very evil and hateful, of an evil disposition not deserving of any good. So we should be willing to be kind to those who are of an ill disposition and are very undeserving. That should be the spirit behind our compassion, that we should again be able to place ourselves in the position of those who are lost, who are needy, and realize God has been gracious and merciful toward us, and we should then extend benevolence with wise, practical and prudential considerations, but we should practice love and care for the lost in that way. You may get bitten, like a shepherd might by his own sheep, but we need reminders of steadfast, steady faithfulness to love people who don't always say thanks.
Referenced in this episode:
"Let Us Do Good to Everyone" by Rev. Adrian Crum (New Horizons, Feb. 2024)
The Deacon's Handbook: A Manual of Stewardship by Gerard Berghoef and Lester De Koster.
The Reformed Deacon—Real World Cases: Walk-Ins
Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced by Jonathan Edwards
You can find all of our episodes at thereformeddeacon.org. Make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast player, so you don't miss an episode. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for giveaways and more information. Find other resources on OPCCDM.org. Make sure to send us some feedback on your podcast player or ask a diaconal question by going to OPCCDM.org.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Adrian Crum (00:00):
Unless you can imagine and put yourself in the
shoes of someone who is in need,it's very difficult to have
compassion or mercy towardothers.
David Nakhla (00:09):
Welcome to the Reformed Deacon, a casual
conversation with topicsspecifically designed to help
local Reformed Deacons.
There are nearly a thousanddeacons in the OPC alone, so
let's take this opportunity tolearn from and encourage one
another.
We're so glad you could join us.
Let's jump into our nextepisode.
Chris Cashen (00:29):
Welcome to another episode of the Reformed Deacon
Podcast.
My name is Chris Cashin and Iserve as pastor of Trinity
Reformed OPC in Lanham, maryland, and I also serve on the OPC's
Committee on Diaconal MinistriesMaryland.
And I also serve on the OPC'sCommittee on Diaconal Ministries
.
With me today is ReverendAdrian Crum, an OPC minister
(00:50):
who's currently serving asAssociate Pastor of Youth and
Evangelism at Harvest OPC inWyoming, michigan.
He is married to Rachel andthey have four daughters, all
under the age of 11.
Adrian grew up on a missionfield in Tijuana, mexico, where
his father, reverend Dave Crum,served as an evangelist for the
(01:12):
OPC.
He's a bike rider and a guitarplayer, but his passion is
sharing the gospel withstrangers.
On top of all of this, in hisfree time, adrian serves on the
Committee on Diaconal Ministriesand recently authored an
article focused on mercyministry for the February issue
(01:34):
of New Horizons, and that's whywe've asked Reverend Crum to
come to the podcast.
Welcome, adrian.
Thank you for taking the timeto be with us today on this
podcast.
Adrian Crum (01:45):
Thanks, chris, it's great to be with you.
Chris Cashen (01:48):
Well, today Adrian and I will be discussing really
in broad brush fashion thescriptural basis for mercy
ministry to those outside of theChurch.
Really, mercy ministry to all,but there will be a particular
focus on those outside of thechurch.
From time to time on thispodcast we want to take an
(02:10):
in-depth look at the Biblepassages and theological topics
which tend to strengthen adeacon's understanding of his
purpose for office.
In other words, we plan toinvite some of our guests to
open up scriptural and doctrinaltopics which have a particular
application for the work of theReformed deacon.
(02:32):
As Pastor Crum has published anarticle on this topic, we
thought it would be wonderful toget him here and to help guide
us through some of thetheological maze of ministering
to those in need who may notknow Christ savingly.
And, as I mentioned already,pastor Crum has authored an
(02:55):
article which appeared in theFebruary 2024 issue of the New
Horizons and hopefully we'regoing to post a link to that in
the notes to this podcast so youcan get to it very quickly.
The article is entitled Let UsDo Good to Everyone.
Pastor Crum, would you give usjust a short overview of the
(03:16):
article and your reason forwriting it?
Adrian Crum (03:19):
Sure, yeah, thanks, chris.
So I begin the introductionsection just speaking about the
reality that oftentimesministering to people that are
in hard financial or other kindsof circumstances can be
discouraging and you can feelused or betrayed at times.
So I wanted to kind of draw thepeople in.
Generally I'm making theargument near the end of the
(03:41):
introduction there that allChristians, and deacons
especially, are called to showbenevolent mercy to the lost,
and I think some people may readthis and think I don't even
know that anyone can test this.
But I think I've been aroundenough churches in the OPC.
I was raised, as you said, as amissionary kid with the OPC and
then in the Southern CaliforniaPresbytery and Northern
(04:01):
California Presbytery, beenaround enough OPC churches that
I sensed kind of functionallydid not have much of a ministry
to those who are outside, eitherevangelistically or through
mercy ministry, and so I wantedto lay out this case that the
Lord does call us as Christiansand as deacons particularly to
(04:21):
care for those who are outside.
So I'll walk through some ofthose biblical things that I say
.
I can't reference all of thepassages but I'll explain that
In the book of Deuteronomy, theold covenant, god calls the
people of Israel to set aside atithe.
I thought that was remarkable asI reread it today Deuteronomy
14, 28.
(04:42):
One-tenth of all of theirproduce was to be set aside
there to enjoy it themselves.
It's a different kind of tithethan what we think of when we
think of an offering and aworship service in the new
covenant, but they're called toset it aside and to care for in
that way, levites orphans,widows and then, very
specifically, sojourners, peoplewho were either travelers or
(05:04):
those who are from outside ofGod's people.
In Leviticus 19, 9 to 10, godcalls farmers not to gather
every single part of their cropsthe gleanings would be the
edges of their farmland but toset those things aside for the
person who was a foreigner.
And the argument it's clarifiedin Deuteronomy 24, verses 14 to
(05:26):
18.
What you're supposed to sense asan Israelite is that you were a
sojourner, you were a stranger,you were a person who was a
slave.
That's the argument behind whywe should care for those who are
strangers, and that's kind ofmy argument throughout this
article, that unless you canimagine and put yourself in the
shoes of someone who is in need,it's very difficult to have
(05:49):
compassion or mercy towardothers.
And so my hope, my desire andI'm really preaching to myself
in this would be that I wouldsee those who are outside
Christ's church through the lensof my own need and my own need
for mercy and grace andcompassion.
So Israelites were supposed tosee those who were in need of
the poor and those who weresojourners and see themselves
(06:12):
really in the needy.
So I give an example Boaz caresfor Ruth and she's very
astounded by this.
Ruth is a Moabitess, so she isfrom outside of God's people,
and she falls down before Boazand says why have I found favor
in your eyes that you shouldtake notice of me, since I am a
foreigner?
But I make the case there thatBoaz is not really doing
(06:34):
anything extravagant, he's justpracticing God's benevolence
toward those outside of hispeople.
But you might say well, that'sthe Old Testament, that's the
old covenant.
Do those principles apply tothe new covenant church?
And we see, as you move intothe New Testament we'll discuss
together some of the sections inJesus's teaching, but I will
(06:56):
look at the epistles.
Galatians 6, 10 says as we haveopportunity, let us do good to
everyone and especially to thehousehold of God.
And then Hebrews 13 says thatwe should love the brothers in
verse 1, but then, right afterthat, verse 2, show hospitality
to strangers.
And so there's this patternback and forth of definitely a
(07:18):
priority of benevolence towardGod's church, god's people,
god's household.
We would not want to, in thispodcast episode, make the
argument that we should so focuson the outsiders or people
outside of God's church that weneglect the household of God,
the priorities on the householdof God.
But we're not supposed toforget those who are outside and
we're supposed to care for thestrangers.
(07:39):
And then I just address somecommon objections.
Oftentimes we may think what ifyou prioritize mercy ministry
so much that you don't focus onthe Word?
And I saw as a missionary kidthe ability to do both well to
reach the lost with the gospel,to have nominal Catholics and
(08:00):
those who are totally unchurchedcome into our churches and the
elders and deacons work togethervery well to both care for the
soul and the body of people whoare coming in.
Another common objection mightbe what if deed ministry to the
lost exhausts all benevolentresources for God's people?
And I think that's sort of afear-based response.
(08:22):
And I just in my experienceI've been a pastor for seven
years and a missionary kidbefore that I've never seen that
happen, where we give soextensively out of the
benevolence that we exhaust it.
So that's sort of an argumentfrom my experience.
But the main thrust of thearticle, just to sum it up, is
something that I found inJonathan Edwards and he said in
(08:44):
a section called Christiancharity, or the duty of charity
to the poor, explained andenforced.
A common objection can be Idon't want to help this person
because he is of an ill temperor ungrateful spirit.
And Edwards responds Christloved us, was kind to us and was
willing to relieve us, thoughwe were very evil and hateful,
of an evil disposition notdeserving of any good.
(09:06):
So we should be willing to bekind to those who are of an ill
disposition and are veryundeserving, and I think that's
the spirit behind our compassion, that we should again be able
to place ourselves in theposition of those who are lost,
who are needy, and realize Godhas been gracious and merciful
toward us, and we should thenextend benevolence with wise,
(09:27):
practical and prudentialconsiderations, but we should
practice love and care for thelost in that way.
Chris Cashen (09:33):
That's very helpful and that was a broad
brush walk through scripture andyou've given us so many bases
upon which to premise this kindof ministry to those who are in
need.
Thank you, I was curious.
Your article did not touch uponthe Good Samaritan and I
(09:54):
thought what we might do is takea look, read through that
passage in Luke and see whatelse we can draw out, what else
you can draw out from thatparticular passage that really
applies to your article, yourtake on this and just walk
through that a bit.
Would that be all right if wedid that?
Adrian Crum (10:15):
That'd be great.
Reading from Scripture isalways good.
Chris Cashen (10:18):
Okay, all right, I'm glad we agree.
I'm going to read from Luke,chapter 10.
This is the English StandardVersion.
And behold, the lawyer stood upand put him to the test, saying
Teacher, what shall I do toinherit eternal life?
He said to him what is writtenin the law?
How do you read it?
(10:39):
He answered you shall love theLord, your God, with all your
heart and with all your soul andwith all your strength and with
all your might and yourneighbor as yourself.
And he said to him you haveanswered correctly, do this and
you will live.
And he said to him you haveanswered correctly, do this and
you will live.
But he, desiring to justifyhimself, said to Jesus and who
(11:00):
is my neighbor?
Jesus replied a man was goingdown from Jerusalem to Jericho
and he fell among robbers whostripped him and beat him and
departed, leaving him half dead.
Now, by chance, a priest wasgoing down that road and when he
saw him, he passed by on theother side.
So, likewise, a Levite, when hecame to the place and saw him,
(11:22):
passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as hejourneyed, came to where he was
and when he saw him, he hadcompassion.
He went to him and bound up hiswounds, pouring on oil and wine
.
Then he set him on his ownanimal and brought him to an inn
(11:43):
and took care of him, and thenext day he took out two denarii
and gave them to the innkeeper,saying Take care of him and
whatever more you spend, I willrepay you when I come back.
Which of these three do youthink proved to be a neighbor to
the man who fell among therobbers?
Amen, adrian, would you justpray for us?
(12:08):
Yeah, let's pray.
Adrian Crum (12:11):
Thank you, father, for your word.
Pray for us.
Yeah, let's pray.
Thank you, father, for yourword.
Thank you, lord, that you havebeen kind to the ungrateful and
the evil, as Jesus says inanother section of the Sermon on
the Mount, pouring out yourgoodness and your general
benevolence, lord, and we praythat our hearts would have a
similar kind of disposition evenas we walk through this passage
(12:31):
and continue this podcastconversation.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amen.
Chris Cashen (12:35):
Amen, thank you.
Well, the Good Samaritan was onhis way somewhere, obviously as
a parable, and we don't haveall the facts and we need to
keep it as a parable.
But as we speculate a littlebit, possibly he was headed to
conduct some sort of business totrade or engage in some sort of
business to trade or engage insome commerce of kind.
(12:55):
They might have had plans tomeet somebody.
What if a person he wassupposed to meet became
indignant at his delay?
How would he explain hisactions, especially if the
person he was to meet was aSamaritan?
And I think the idea here isthis was a Jew that had fallen
into the hands of robbers.
(13:17):
We can only wonder, but we cando more than wonder as we
consider how a deacon maybe adeacon in your church might
scripturally answer a member ofhis own congregation when he
receives a complaint that anon-Christian stranger was
served by the diaconate.
(13:39):
And as this member voices hiscomplaint to your deacon your
deacon in trouble.
Now he mentions the fact thatthe priest and the Levite
rightly refused to help the onewho was half dead, as they
didn't know him.
By the way, this member who'sasking or complaining had
(14:01):
previously asked for financialhelp from the deaconate on two
occasions was given help on thefirst, but denied on the second.
How do you now counsel yourdeacon who has fallen into this
situation?
Adrian Crum (14:16):
Yeah, I think one of the reasons that the
description of the first deaconsin Acts 7 are those who are
filled with wisdom and with theSpirit is all of these questions
about diaconal work are filledwith lots of nuance about
diaconal work are filled withlots of nuance and I don't think
there are necessarily alwaysBible passages that we can
(14:36):
directly one-to-one apply toevery situation.
There's a sense in which weneed to be very discerning and
wise and just learn throughexperience.
Some of the best training thatcan happen is spending time with
deacons who have done this fora long time.
But I think the heart or thespirit behind that is a sense
that the member deservessomething.
I put in a request with thechurch and I should have
(14:58):
priority over the stranger.
I remember hearing an anecdoteof someone saying I've been
paying into the benevolence fora long time, I want to draw from
it and I had to explain thatit's not like an insurance
policy or something where youput in a claim and draw from the
benevolence.
God calls us graciously andcompassionately to give into the
(15:19):
diaconal fund and then thedeacons are the ones who have
the wisdom, the discretion todiscern when and how to disperse
that.
So I don't want to make thecase again in my article.
This is sort of a very simpleor obvious thing to do.
There's going to be lots ofquestions that need to be asked,
but I think church members needto see again God's love and his
mercy and his compassion,definitely towards his own
(15:39):
people, but also that one of theways that he finds the lost is
he cares for them, both throughword and also through mercy.
Chris Cashen (15:48):
That's excellent insight and I really think
that's the right way to head.
And this member that hascomplained is not realizing
certainly the blessings that thechurch has as it serves those
outside of the community, butalso this idea that I have a
(16:10):
right to those funds and Ishould get them first.
Excellent, well, again in theGood Samaritan parable we never
hear from the one who was beatenand half dead.
He remains silent throughoutthe parable.
The parable really, in a sense,isn't about him but about
(16:32):
Christ.
So the Samaritan never receivesa thank you.
There's no appreciationexpressed within the parable
itself.
We know that receiving the thankyou wasn't, again the point of
the parable, as Christ servesselflessly, with absolutely no
(16:54):
thanks from those who we read ofin the New Testament.
But we know at times that thosewho receive our ministry of
mercy never respond in the waythat we desire them to respond.
Again, your deacon, who justcame back from speaking to that
member sharing the counsel thatyou had already given, comes
(17:17):
back again, and now he hasexperienced this action and this
complaint.
He's now reluctant to serve andto minister to strangers
because he's not quite sure he'sgoing to receive what he wants
to get from them in terms oftheir gratitude.
Again, how do we guardourselves against falling into
(17:41):
that kind of cynicism or thatkind of attitude if we've been
engaged in the ministry andhaven't gotten out of it what we
expected?
Adrian Crum (17:52):
Yeah, that's helpful.
I think I guess I would say afew things.
One of the reasons I'm servingon the Committee for Diaconal
Ministries of our denominationis I just really appreciate our
deacons.
I'm very grateful for the menwho serve.
I've heard them say I've beenin two calls, one in Northern
California Sacramento area andnow in the greater Grand Rapids
area.
(18:18):
I've heard deacons say at timesI'm just a deacon and I always
want to say no, there's absolutedignity and God has set apart
men for this office.
It's a very, very beneficialand necessary and glorious
office to be a deacon.
So I think encouraging and notbeing too critical of deacons is
very helpful, just as aprinciple in general.
But I think sometimes we doserve as any office.
As pastor I can do this.
You know I preach a sermon andI want to get a lot of thank
(18:39):
yous and a lot of feedback andencouragement.
We serve as if the Lord or God'speople you know, owe us
constant thanks and that's justnot the case.
I think we need reminders ofsteadfast, steady faithfulness
and loving people who don'talways say thanks.
One of my professors always usedto say that sheep in the
congregation will sometimes biteyou as the sheep bite their
(19:02):
shepherd.
I think deacons will be bit alsoby those who they're trying to
be merciful toward, and I thinkI quoted a pastor who died in
the last couple of years,timothy Keller, and he says we
all want to help kindhearted,upright people whose poverty
came on them without anycontribution from them and who
will respond to our aid withgratitude and joy.
(19:24):
And then he finishes frankly,almost no one like that exists.
Exists, and I think to somedegree, if we're waiting for the
perfect response from someoneoutside Christ Church or poor
people inside of this church inorder to reach out and serve, we
probably won't help people atall, because almost everyone
contributes to their need insome way at least, and we
(19:45):
certainly don't want toencourage idleness or laziness
or other things like that.
The scriptures speak about thattoo but we all contribute to
our brokenness and our need insome way, and we don't give
thanks like we should, and Ithink taking that into account
is necessary.
Chris Cashen (20:00):
Yeah, I also think it's helpful for the deacon to
remember any Christian toremember that they're really
serving Christ.
They're really serving Christ.
That that is.
That's the one that their focusshould be on.
Their heart should be set uponit's Christ.
And once we do that, thenthere's a sense in which,
(20:27):
regardless of the response thatcomes from those we serve,
there's always a joy becausewe're serving Christ.
So just another thought there,and he says that explicitly
right In Matthew 25,.
Adrian Crum (20:43):
When did we care for you?
When you were a stranger orpoor or naked?
And he says whatever you did toone of the least of these, my
brothers, you did to me.
Chris Cashen (20:51):
So I think that's yeah essential to remember by
loving God's people we're lovingchrist.
So thank you, thank you.
Well, the good samaritan,apparently a busy fellow, had
things to do but did stop,whereas the priest and the
levite refused to.
(21:12):
And so, once he found lodgingfor the stranger he was helping,
he engages an innkeeper veryinteresting to continue the care
that he had started, apparentlyunable to continue staying with
the man, and asked for helpfrom another.
As deacons take on the case ofmercy, especially to those
(21:35):
outside of the church who aremost often in dire need of
housing or medical care, foodaddiction, what about seeking
help from others?
Adrian Crum (21:50):
Yeah, this is a very big question and I think
I'll just address the thingsthat I can today and then maybe
we could come back to this inanother Reformed Deacon podcast.
I think it's very helpful toremember that we don't serve as
isolated Christians or evenisolated churches, but we belong
to other churches, we have afellowship with other.
(22:10):
We're Presbyterian in the senseof being regional and I'm so
grateful as I get to know thiscommittee.
We're very intentional aboutserving Presbyteries committees
of deacons and, lord willing,those committees get to know
their local churches and theneeds in the local churches and
so if a local church cannot carefor its own congregants or
those outside, they can appealto their Presbyteries committee
(22:33):
and get wisdom, advice, counseland hopefully also some funds
from their committee.
And we see that in ScripturePaul was very intent on caring
for churches that he had served.
So in Romans we see in chapter15 that he's carrying a gift for
those in one congregation whowere served by another
congregation.
(22:54):
We see that in 2 Corinthians 8and 9, the encouragement to
generosity and really everythingwe have about giving in the
church is not local.
Interestingly, it's regional.
The encouragement at the end ofCorinthians 16 to set aside a
gift on the first day of theweek.
That's about a regional visitfrom Paul.
(23:14):
So there's thisinterconnectedness assumed in
Paul's letters, where we belongto each other and we care for
each other.
In terms of the question ofreceiving help from people
outside the church, so you couldask, you know, is it
appropriate for Christians tohave government aid or to seek
help for those who are addicted?
I often have to answer, youknow, is it appropriate for
(23:35):
Christians to belong toAlcoholics Anonymous?
I think my case would be.
I don't think that thegovernment is required in
scripture to offer these kindsof goods and services that our
government in the United Statesoffers.
I don't think there's abiblical case that says they
must do that.
But the fact that they do andthat they require us as
(23:58):
taxpayers to participate makesit so that I think it's
prudential and wise to benefitfrom those services, even though
the scriptures don't requirethem.
And I know that there areministers who would argue
against benefiting from socialsecurity and things like that.
But I think the fact we've beenrequired to pay in and pay into
(24:18):
different government servicesmakes it okay to draw from those
things, and I know Christiansdisagree about that.
On the question of Alcoholics,anonymous and things like that.
I think you have to be carefulwith the view of human nature
and fallenness and sin inministries like that.
So you in AA, my one concern asa pastor is that you have to
(24:39):
say the rest of your life.
I am an alcoholic, that's myidentity and I think, because
we've been united to a Saviorthat's died and resurrected, we
don't have to identify as oursin anymore.
We are united to a perfectSavior, we've died to our sin,
we live to righteousness.
But I do think there's a lot ofwisdom and I think some of
(25:01):
those ministries just have dealtwith addiction for many, many
years and they've been patientand worked through those kinds
of things and so I think,benefiting to whatever degree we
can, but being biblically wiseabout some of the assumptions
that they make about humannature, about fallenness, they
don't assume the gospel andredemption, and so I think we
have to, as pastors and deacons,help our congregants think
(25:24):
through some of those things.
Chris Cashen (25:26):
That's helpful.
It gets to be a sticky question.
I know there are strongfeelings on both sides, but I
think your answer was balancedand helpful to our deacons.
Well, let me just take a broadbrush approach now in thinking
about serving those outside thechurch, serving strangers,
(25:48):
refugees possibly.
Many times these interactionscome in the form of walk-ins.
People come to the churchbecause they know it's a place
where they might find help andjust open the door and walk in,
and so that puts a deacon, moretimes than not, in a responsive
(26:09):
or a reactionary mode, having toreact to an immediate
circumstance and try to respondbiblically wisely and certainly
quickly.
I'm wondering if there'sanother way not to lock the door
but, going a little bit beyondthe scope of your article, maybe
(26:31):
Might deacons be thinking aboutways to reach out to the local
communities to purposefully andintentionally find those who are
outside the church in need ofmercy.
Adrian Crum (26:50):
It's a great question yeah, first of all,
just on the heart, about notjust locking the door to
shut-ins.
I sit in an office throughoutthe day and I'll just be very
honest about myself when someoneknocks on the door and wants to
take my time and step inwithout an appointment and
things like that, thosedisruptions I always have to
work through the oh man, I hadnot planned for this use of time
(27:13):
and so I think we should justrealize that's human nature is
that we often need to prepareourselves to be servant-hearted
for others, to give our time, tobe humble about that and not
think of ourselves more highlythan we should.
But on your question aboutrather being reactive, being
proactive, I read a reallyinteresting book I think it was
(27:34):
used to train CRC deacons a longtime ago called the Deacons
Handbook to prepare for thisarticle.
I don't know how to pronouncetheir names, but Gerard Berghoff
and Lester DeCoster, let's say,have these concentric circles
of need.
I thought was very helpful inthinking about prioritization.
They say first, deacons shouldbe focused on training and
(27:54):
getting to know their owncongregation.
So what are the talents,abilities, resources within our
church and not think actuallyprimarily that their job is just
to pay out the needs of theirown congregation but to train
people in the church to serveone another.
We have a fellowship in oneanother's gifts and deacons can
be those who facilitate thatkind of training and service.
I'll give you a reallypractical example.
I have kids that need sort of aman in their life in my youth
(28:21):
group.
They're struggling in differentways and one of the things that
I've been talking to deaconsabout is a mentorship program
where dads in the congregationwho have ability to change the
oil on cars or build things canspend some time with these young
guys, training them, spendingtime with them.
And I think that's an exampleDeacons knowing the congregation
, what are the needs, and thenconnecting people who have
abilities with people who haveneeds.
Second, they say, is giving tothe needy in God's household.
(28:43):
So there is that sense ofdispersing from the benevolence
fund.
Third is delegatingcongregational mercy ministry.
There's important principlesthere from 1 Timothy 5,.
But then fourth is serving theneighborhood, and they talk
about researching all the needsin your neighborhood.
What are the food pantries?
What are the English as secondlanguage resources in your
(29:06):
neighborhood?
What is already there thatpeople are taking advantage of?
And I think that's very wise towork together with groups
outside the church.
Obviously, we aren't a socialorganization.
As the church, we have to havea clear sense of our mission,
but I think we can benefit fromknowing the needs outside of our
congregation and then taking astep toward people again in need
, rather than always beingdisrupted or feeling discouraged
(29:28):
by being interrupted by needsin our community.
The question of walk-ins isalways difficult and I really
appreciated the podcast thatwe've done here on the Reformed
Deacon January 1st 2023.
And it's speaking to threedifferent deacons John Voss,
chris Sudlow and Doug Voss and Ithink this would be an
excellent resource for ourdeacons.
(29:49):
It's always difficult to wiselyrespond in the moment.
I think being known as acongregation that's
compassionate and moving towardsthose right around us who are
in need certainly we don't givefoolishly to everybody with no
restriction, but I think beingthe kind of people who are
focused on being interested andbeing compassionate toward
others is important.
Chris Cashen (30:12):
Very good.
Yes, we are the light of Christand shining that forth is part
of the work of the Church.
Well, adrian, just thinkingvery broadly about your article
and certainly thank you for itand for the Scripture reference
within it how might your articlebe used generally as a means of
(30:33):
encouragement to our deacons?
Adrian Crum (30:36):
I think I got a few people.
I had a gentleman from OPCChurch in Ohio call me and say
just wanted to thank you forwriting the article.
I've kind of creeped intocynicism.
He's a truck driver and he saysthere's people all along the
road who I feel will takeadvantage of me if I help them.
And it was just anencouragement to him to not be
cynical but again to see himselfthrough the lens of what God
(30:59):
has done for him and not givehim to cynicism.
I love this quote from To Kill aMockingbird by Harper Lee where
Atticus the lawyer says to hisdaughter you have to get inside
the skin of other people andwalk around in it in order to
understand them a little bit.
And I think my hope would justbe that deacons read this
article and are reminded againthat God was merciful toward us
(31:22):
when we were unknown to hischurch, when we were lost Either
us or some previous generationmaybe parents or grandparents
were saved when we were unworthyof God's love and his kindness
toward us, worthy of God's loveand its kindness toward us.
And my hope would be thatdeacons see that kind of
generosity and compassion thatGod has had toward us and don't
allow their hearts to be closedin cynicism toward those who are
(31:43):
in need.
Chris Cashen (31:45):
Very good.
Well, the article has beenencouraging to me, brother.
Thank you so much for writingit and thank you, pastor Crum,
for taking the time to discussthis important aspect of mercy,
ministry and diaconal work withus today.
Deacons, we hope that thisepisode was and will be
encouraging to you in yourlabors for the Lord.
David Nakhla (32:08):
Thanks for joining us.
Go to our websitethereformedeaconorg.
There you will find all ourepisodes, program notes and
other helpful resources, andplease make plans to join us
again next month for anotherepisode of the Reform Deacon
Podcast.
Unless you can imagine and put yourself in the
shoes of someone who is in need,it's very difficult to have
compassion or mercy towardothers.
David Nakhla (00:09):
Welcome to the Reformed Deacon, a casual
conversation with topicsspecifically designed to help
local Reformed Deacons.
There are nearly a thousanddeacons in the OPC alone, so
let's take this opportunity tolearn from and encourage one
another.
We're so glad you could join us.
Let's jump into our nextepisode.
Chris Cashen (00:29):
Welcome to another episode of the Reformed Deacon
Podcast.
My name is Chris Cashin and Iserve as pastor of Trinity
Reformed OPC in Lanham, maryland, and I also serve on the OPC's
Committee on Diaconal MinistriesMaryland.
And I also serve on the OPC'sCommittee on Diaconal Ministries
.
With me today is ReverendAdrian Crum, an OPC minister
(00:50):
who's currently serving asAssociate Pastor of Youth and
Evangelism at Harvest OPC inWyoming, michigan.
He is married to Rachel andthey have four daughters, all
under the age of 11.
Adrian grew up on a missionfield in Tijuana, mexico, where
his father, reverend Dave Crum,served as an evangelist for the
(01:12):
OPC.
He's a bike rider and a guitarplayer, but his passion is
sharing the gospel withstrangers.
On top of all of this, in hisfree time, adrian serves on the
Committee on Diaconal Ministriesand recently authored an
article focused on mercyministry for the February issue
(01:34):
of New Horizons, and that's whywe've asked Reverend Crum to
come to the podcast.
Welcome, adrian.
Thank you for taking the timeto be with us today on this
podcast.
Adrian Crum (01:45):
Thanks, chris, it's great to be with you.
Chris Cashen (01:48):
Well, today Adrian and I will be discussing really
in broad brush fashion thescriptural basis for mercy
ministry to those outside of theChurch.
Really, mercy ministry to all,but there will be a particular
focus on those outside of thechurch.
From time to time on thispodcast we want to take an
(02:10):
in-depth look at the Biblepassages and theological topics
which tend to strengthen adeacon's understanding of his
purpose for office.
In other words, we plan toinvite some of our guests to
open up scriptural and doctrinaltopics which have a particular
application for the work of theReformed deacon.
(02:32):
As Pastor Crum has published anarticle on this topic, we
thought it would be wonderful toget him here and to help guide
us through some of thetheological maze of ministering
to those in need who may notknow Christ savingly.
And, as I mentioned already,pastor Crum has authored an
(02:55):
article which appeared in theFebruary 2024 issue of the New
Horizons and hopefully we'regoing to post a link to that in
the notes to this podcast so youcan get to it very quickly.
The article is entitled Let UsDo Good to Everyone.
Pastor Crum, would you give usjust a short overview of the
(03:16):
article and your reason forwriting it?
Adrian Crum (03:19):
Sure, yeah, thanks, chris.
So I begin the introductionsection just speaking about the
reality that oftentimesministering to people that are
in hard financial or other kindsof circumstances can be
discouraging and you can feelused or betrayed at times.
So I wanted to kind of draw thepeople in.
Generally I'm making theargument near the end of the
(03:41):
introduction there that allChristians, and deacons
especially, are called to showbenevolent mercy to the lost,
and I think some people may readthis and think I don't even
know that anyone can test this.
But I think I've been aroundenough churches in the OPC.
I was raised, as you said, as amissionary kid with the OPC and
then in the Southern CaliforniaPresbytery and Northern
(04:01):
California Presbytery, beenaround enough OPC churches that
I sensed kind of functionallydid not have much of a ministry
to those who are outside, eitherevangelistically or through
mercy ministry, and so I wantedto lay out this case that the
Lord does call us as Christiansand as deacons particularly to
(04:21):
care for those who are outside.
So I'll walk through some ofthose biblical things that I say
.
I can't reference all of thepassages but I'll explain that
In the book of Deuteronomy, theold covenant, god calls the
people of Israel to set aside atithe.
I thought that was remarkable asI reread it today Deuteronomy
14, 28.
(04:42):
One-tenth of all of theirproduce was to be set aside
there to enjoy it themselves.
It's a different kind of tithethan what we think of when we
think of an offering and aworship service in the new
covenant, but they're called toset it aside and to care for in
that way, levites orphans,widows and then, very
specifically, sojourners, peoplewho were either travelers or
(05:04):
those who are from outside ofGod's people.
In Leviticus 19, 9 to 10, godcalls farmers not to gather
every single part of their cropsthe gleanings would be the
edges of their farmland but toset those things aside for the
person who was a foreigner.
And the argument it's clarifiedin Deuteronomy 24, verses 14 to
(05:26):
18.
What you're supposed to sense asan Israelite is that you were a
sojourner, you were a stranger,you were a person who was a
slave.
That's the argument behind whywe should care for those who are
strangers, and that's kind ofmy argument throughout this
article, that unless you canimagine and put yourself in the
shoes of someone who is in need,it's very difficult to have
(05:49):
compassion or mercy towardothers.
And so my hope, my desire andI'm really preaching to myself
in this would be that I wouldsee those who are outside
Christ's church through the lensof my own need and my own need
for mercy and grace andcompassion.
So Israelites were supposed tosee those who were in need of
the poor and those who weresojourners and see themselves
(06:12):
really in the needy.
So I give an example Boaz caresfor Ruth and she's very
astounded by this.
Ruth is a Moabitess, so she isfrom outside of God's people,
and she falls down before Boazand says why have I found favor
in your eyes that you shouldtake notice of me, since I am a
foreigner?
But I make the case there thatBoaz is not really doing
(06:34):
anything extravagant, he's justpracticing God's benevolence
toward those outside of hispeople.
But you might say well, that'sthe Old Testament, that's the
old covenant.
Do those principles apply tothe new covenant church?
And we see, as you move intothe New Testament we'll discuss
together some of the sections inJesus's teaching, but I will
(06:56):
look at the epistles.
Galatians 6, 10 says as we haveopportunity, let us do good to
everyone and especially to thehousehold of God.
And then Hebrews 13 says thatwe should love the brothers in
verse 1, but then, right afterthat, verse 2, show hospitality
to strangers.
And so there's this patternback and forth of definitely a
(07:18):
priority of benevolence towardGod's church, god's people,
god's household.
We would not want to, in thispodcast episode, make the
argument that we should so focuson the outsiders or people
outside of God's church that weneglect the household of God,
the priorities on the householdof God.
But we're not supposed toforget those who are outside and
we're supposed to care for thestrangers.
(07:39):
And then I just address somecommon objections.
Oftentimes we may think what ifyou prioritize mercy ministry
so much that you don't focus onthe Word?
And I saw as a missionary kidthe ability to do both well to
reach the lost with the gospel,to have nominal Catholics and
(08:00):
those who are totally unchurchedcome into our churches and the
elders and deacons work togethervery well to both care for the
soul and the body of people whoare coming in.
Another common objection mightbe what if deed ministry to the
lost exhausts all benevolentresources for God's people?
And I think that's sort of afear-based response.
(08:22):
And I just in my experienceI've been a pastor for seven
years and a missionary kidbefore that I've never seen that
happen, where we give soextensively out of the
benevolence that we exhaust it.
So that's sort of an argumentfrom my experience.
But the main thrust of thearticle, just to sum it up, is
something that I found inJonathan Edwards and he said in
(08:44):
a section called Christiancharity, or the duty of charity
to the poor, explained andenforced.
A common objection can be Idon't want to help this person
because he is of an ill temperor ungrateful spirit.
And Edwards responds Christloved us, was kind to us and was
willing to relieve us, thoughwe were very evil and hateful,
of an evil disposition notdeserving of any good.
(09:06):
So we should be willing to bekind to those who are of an ill
disposition and are veryundeserving, and I think that's
the spirit behind our compassion, that we should again be able
to place ourselves in theposition of those who are lost,
who are needy, and realize Godhas been gracious and merciful
toward us, and we should thenextend benevolence with wise,
(09:27):
practical and prudentialconsiderations, but we should
practice love and care for thelost in that way.
Chris Cashen (09:33):
That's very helpful and that was a broad
brush walk through scripture andyou've given us so many bases
upon which to premise this kindof ministry to those who are in
need.
Thank you, I was curious.
Your article did not touch uponthe Good Samaritan and I
(09:54):
thought what we might do is takea look, read through that
passage in Luke and see whatelse we can draw out, what else
you can draw out from thatparticular passage that really
applies to your article, yourtake on this and just walk
through that a bit.
Would that be all right if wedid that?
Adrian Crum (10:15):
That'd be great.
Reading from Scripture isalways good.
Chris Cashen (10:18):
Okay, all right, I'm glad we agree.
I'm going to read from Luke,chapter 10.
This is the English StandardVersion.
And behold, the lawyer stood upand put him to the test, saying
Teacher, what shall I do toinherit eternal life?
He said to him what is writtenin the law?
How do you read it?
(10:39):
He answered you shall love theLord, your God, with all your
heart and with all your soul andwith all your strength and with
all your might and yourneighbor as yourself.
And he said to him you haveanswered correctly, do this and
you will live.
And he said to him you haveanswered correctly, do this and
you will live.
But he, desiring to justifyhimself, said to Jesus and who
(11:00):
is my neighbor?
Jesus replied a man was goingdown from Jerusalem to Jericho
and he fell among robbers whostripped him and beat him and
departed, leaving him half dead.
Now, by chance, a priest wasgoing down that road and when he
saw him, he passed by on theother side.
So, likewise, a Levite, when hecame to the place and saw him,
(11:22):
passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as hejourneyed, came to where he was
and when he saw him, he hadcompassion.
He went to him and bound up hiswounds, pouring on oil and wine
.
Then he set him on his ownanimal and brought him to an inn
(11:43):
and took care of him, and thenext day he took out two denarii
and gave them to the innkeeper,saying Take care of him and
whatever more you spend, I willrepay you when I come back.
Which of these three do youthink proved to be a neighbor to
the man who fell among therobbers?
Amen, adrian, would you justpray for us?
(12:08):
Yeah, let's pray.
Adrian Crum (12:11):
Thank you, father, for your word.
Pray for us.
Yeah, let's pray.
Thank you, father, for yourword.
Thank you, lord, that you havebeen kind to the ungrateful and
the evil, as Jesus says inanother section of the Sermon on
the Mount, pouring out yourgoodness and your general
benevolence, lord, and we praythat our hearts would have a
similar kind of disposition evenas we walk through this passage
(12:31):
and continue this podcastconversation.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amen.
Chris Cashen (12:35):
Amen, thank you.
Well, the Good Samaritan was onhis way somewhere, obviously as
a parable, and we don't haveall the facts and we need to
keep it as a parable.
But as we speculate a littlebit, possibly he was headed to
conduct some sort of business totrade or engage in some sort of
business to trade or engage insome commerce of kind.
(12:55):
They might have had plans tomeet somebody.
What if a person he wassupposed to meet became
indignant at his delay?
How would he explain hisactions, especially if the
person he was to meet was aSamaritan?
And I think the idea here isthis was a Jew that had fallen
into the hands of robbers.
(13:17):
We can only wonder, but we cando more than wonder as we
consider how a deacon maybe adeacon in your church might
scripturally answer a member ofhis own congregation when he
receives a complaint that anon-Christian stranger was
served by the diaconate.
(13:39):
And as this member voices hiscomplaint to your deacon your
deacon in trouble.
Now he mentions the fact thatthe priest and the Levite
rightly refused to help the onewho was half dead, as they
didn't know him.
By the way, this member who'sasking or complaining had
(14:01):
previously asked for financialhelp from the deaconate on two
occasions was given help on thefirst, but denied on the second.
How do you now counsel yourdeacon who has fallen into this
situation?
Adrian Crum (14:16):
Yeah, I think one of the reasons that the
description of the first deaconsin Acts 7 are those who are
filled with wisdom and with theSpirit is all of these questions
about diaconal work are filledwith lots of nuance about
diaconal work are filled withlots of nuance and I don't think
there are necessarily alwaysBible passages that we can
(14:36):
directly one-to-one apply toevery situation.
There's a sense in which weneed to be very discerning and
wise and just learn throughexperience.
Some of the best training thatcan happen is spending time with
deacons who have done this fora long time.
But I think the heart or thespirit behind that is a sense
that the member deservessomething.
I put in a request with thechurch and I should have
(14:58):
priority over the stranger.
I remember hearing an anecdoteof someone saying I've been
paying into the benevolence fora long time, I want to draw from
it and I had to explain thatit's not like an insurance
policy or something where youput in a claim and draw from the
benevolence.
God calls us graciously andcompassionately to give into the
(15:19):
diaconal fund and then thedeacons are the ones who have
the wisdom, the discretion todiscern when and how to disperse
that.
So I don't want to make thecase again in my article.
This is sort of a very simpleor obvious thing to do.
There's going to be lots ofquestions that need to be asked,
but I think church members needto see again God's love and his
mercy and his compassion,definitely towards his own
(15:39):
people, but also that one of theways that he finds the lost is
he cares for them, both throughword and also through mercy.
Chris Cashen (15:48):
That's excellent insight and I really think
that's the right way to head.
And this member that hascomplained is not realizing
certainly the blessings that thechurch has as it serves those
outside of the community, butalso this idea that I have a
(16:10):
right to those funds and Ishould get them first.
Excellent, well, again in theGood Samaritan parable we never
hear from the one who was beatenand half dead.
He remains silent throughoutthe parable.
The parable really, in a sense,isn't about him but about
(16:32):
Christ.
So the Samaritan never receivesa thank you.
There's no appreciationexpressed within the parable
itself.
We know that receiving the thankyou wasn't, again the point of
the parable, as Christ servesselflessly, with absolutely no
(16:54):
thanks from those who we read ofin the New Testament.
But we know at times that thosewho receive our ministry of
mercy never respond in the waythat we desire them to respond.
Again, your deacon, who justcame back from speaking to that
member sharing the counsel thatyou had already given, comes
(17:17):
back again, and now he hasexperienced this action and this
complaint.
He's now reluctant to serve andto minister to strangers
because he's not quite sure he'sgoing to receive what he wants
to get from them in terms oftheir gratitude.
Again, how do we guardourselves against falling into
(17:41):
that kind of cynicism or thatkind of attitude if we've been
engaged in the ministry andhaven't gotten out of it what we
expected?
Adrian Crum (17:52):
Yeah, that's helpful.
I think I guess I would say afew things.
One of the reasons I'm servingon the Committee for Diaconal
Ministries of our denominationis I just really appreciate our
deacons.
I'm very grateful for the menwho serve.
I've heard them say I've beenin two calls, one in Northern
California Sacramento area andnow in the greater Grand Rapids
area.
(18:18):
I've heard deacons say at timesI'm just a deacon and I always
want to say no, there's absolutedignity and God has set apart
men for this office.
It's a very, very beneficialand necessary and glorious
office to be a deacon.
So I think encouraging and notbeing too critical of deacons is
very helpful, just as aprinciple in general.
But I think sometimes we doserve as any office.
As pastor I can do this.
You know I preach a sermon andI want to get a lot of thank
(18:39):
yous and a lot of feedback andencouragement.
We serve as if the Lord or God'speople you know, owe us
constant thanks and that's justnot the case.
I think we need reminders ofsteadfast, steady faithfulness
and loving people who don'talways say thanks.
One of my professors always usedto say that sheep in the
congregation will sometimes biteyou as the sheep bite their
(19:02):
shepherd.
I think deacons will be bit alsoby those who they're trying to
be merciful toward, and I thinkI quoted a pastor who died in
the last couple of years,timothy Keller, and he says we
all want to help kindhearted,upright people whose poverty
came on them without anycontribution from them and who
will respond to our aid withgratitude and joy.
(19:24):
And then he finishes frankly,almost no one like that exists.
Exists, and I think to somedegree, if we're waiting for the
perfect response from someoneoutside Christ Church or poor
people inside of this church inorder to reach out and serve, we
probably won't help people atall, because almost everyone
contributes to their need insome way at least, and we
(19:45):
certainly don't want toencourage idleness or laziness
or other things like that.
The scriptures speak about thattoo but we all contribute to
our brokenness and our need insome way, and we don't give
thanks like we should, and Ithink taking that into account
is necessary.
Chris Cashen (20:00):
Yeah, I also think it's helpful for the deacon to
remember any Christian toremember that they're really
serving Christ.
They're really serving Christ.
That that is.
That's the one that their focusshould be on.
Their heart should be set uponit's Christ.
And once we do that, thenthere's a sense in which,
(20:27):
regardless of the response thatcomes from those we serve,
there's always a joy becausewe're serving Christ.
So just another thought there,and he says that explicitly
right In Matthew 25,.
Adrian Crum (20:43):
When did we care for you?
When you were a stranger orpoor or naked?
And he says whatever you did toone of the least of these, my
brothers, you did to me.
Chris Cashen (20:51):
So I think that's yeah essential to remember by
loving God's people we're lovingchrist.
So thank you, thank you.
Well, the good samaritan,apparently a busy fellow, had
things to do but did stop,whereas the priest and the
levite refused to.
(21:12):
And so, once he found lodgingfor the stranger he was helping,
he engages an innkeeper veryinteresting to continue the care
that he had started, apparentlyunable to continue staying with
the man, and asked for helpfrom another.
As deacons take on the case ofmercy, especially to those
(21:35):
outside of the church who aremost often in dire need of
housing or medical care, foodaddiction, what about seeking
help from others?
Adrian Crum (21:50):
Yeah, this is a very big question and I think
I'll just address the thingsthat I can today and then maybe
we could come back to this inanother Reformed Deacon podcast.
I think it's very helpful toremember that we don't serve as
isolated Christians or evenisolated churches, but we belong
to other churches, we have afellowship with other.
(22:10):
We're Presbyterian in the senseof being regional and I'm so
grateful as I get to know thiscommittee.
We're very intentional aboutserving Presbyteries committees
of deacons and, lord willing,those committees get to know
their local churches and theneeds in the local churches and
so if a local church cannot carefor its own congregants or
those outside, they can appealto their Presbyteries committee
(22:33):
and get wisdom, advice, counseland hopefully also some funds
from their committee.
And we see that in ScripturePaul was very intent on caring
for churches that he had served.
So in Romans we see in chapter15 that he's carrying a gift for
those in one congregation whowere served by another
congregation.
(22:54):
We see that in 2 Corinthians 8and 9, the encouragement to
generosity and really everythingwe have about giving in the
church is not local.
Interestingly, it's regional.
The encouragement at the end ofCorinthians 16 to set aside a
gift on the first day of theweek.
That's about a regional visitfrom Paul.
(23:14):
So there's thisinterconnectedness assumed in
Paul's letters, where we belongto each other and we care for
each other.
In terms of the question ofreceiving help from people
outside the church, so you couldask, you know, is it
appropriate for Christians tohave government aid or to seek
help for those who are addicted?
I often have to answer, youknow, is it appropriate for
(23:35):
Christians to belong toAlcoholics Anonymous?
I think my case would be.
I don't think that thegovernment is required in
scripture to offer these kindsof goods and services that our
government in the United Statesoffers.
I don't think there's abiblical case that says they
must do that.
But the fact that they do andthat they require us as
(23:58):
taxpayers to participate makesit so that I think it's
prudential and wise to benefitfrom those services, even though
the scriptures don't requirethem.
And I know that there areministers who would argue
against benefiting from socialsecurity and things like that.
But I think the fact we've beenrequired to pay in and pay into
(24:18):
different government servicesmakes it okay to draw from those
things, and I know Christiansdisagree about that.
On the question of Alcoholics,anonymous and things like that.
I think you have to be carefulwith the view of human nature
and fallenness and sin inministries like that.
So you in AA, my one concern asa pastor is that you have to
(24:39):
say the rest of your life.
I am an alcoholic, that's myidentity and I think, because
we've been united to a Saviorthat's died and resurrected, we
don't have to identify as oursin anymore.
We are united to a perfectSavior, we've died to our sin,
we live to righteousness.
But I do think there's a lot ofwisdom and I think some of
(25:01):
those ministries just have dealtwith addiction for many, many
years and they've been patientand worked through those kinds
of things and so I think,benefiting to whatever degree we
can, but being biblically wiseabout some of the assumptions
that they make about humannature, about fallenness, they
don't assume the gospel andredemption, and so I think we
have to, as pastors and deacons,help our congregants think
(25:24):
through some of those things.
Chris Cashen (25:26):
That's helpful.
It gets to be a sticky question.
I know there are strongfeelings on both sides, but I
think your answer was balancedand helpful to our deacons.
Well, let me just take a broadbrush approach now in thinking
about serving those outside thechurch, serving strangers,
(25:48):
refugees possibly.
Many times these interactionscome in the form of walk-ins.
People come to the churchbecause they know it's a place
where they might find help andjust open the door and walk in,
and so that puts a deacon, moretimes than not, in a responsive
(26:09):
or a reactionary mode, having toreact to an immediate
circumstance and try to respondbiblically wisely and certainly
quickly.
I'm wondering if there'sanother way not to lock the door
but, going a little bit beyondthe scope of your article, maybe
(26:31):
Might deacons be thinking aboutways to reach out to the local
communities to purposefully andintentionally find those who are
outside the church in need ofmercy.
Adrian Crum (26:50):
It's a great question yeah, first of all,
just on the heart, about notjust locking the door to
shut-ins.
I sit in an office throughoutthe day and I'll just be very
honest about myself when someoneknocks on the door and wants to
take my time and step inwithout an appointment and
things like that, thosedisruptions I always have to
work through the oh man, I hadnot planned for this use of time
(27:13):
and so I think we should justrealize that's human nature is
that we often need to prepareourselves to be servant-hearted
for others, to give our time, tobe humble about that and not
think of ourselves more highlythan we should.
But on your question aboutrather being reactive, being
proactive, I read a reallyinteresting book I think it was
(27:34):
used to train CRC deacons a longtime ago called the Deacons
Handbook to prepare for thisarticle.
I don't know how to pronouncetheir names, but Gerard Berghoff
and Lester DeCoster, let's say,have these concentric circles
of need.
I thought was very helpful inthinking about prioritization.
They say first, deacons shouldbe focused on training and
(27:54):
getting to know their owncongregation.
So what are the talents,abilities, resources within our
church and not think actuallyprimarily that their job is just
to pay out the needs of theirown congregation but to train
people in the church to serveone another.
We have a fellowship in oneanother's gifts and deacons can
be those who facilitate thatkind of training and service.
I'll give you a reallypractical example.
I have kids that need sort of aman in their life in my youth
(28:21):
group.
They're struggling in differentways and one of the things that
I've been talking to deaconsabout is a mentorship program
where dads in the congregationwho have ability to change the
oil on cars or build things canspend some time with these young
guys, training them, spendingtime with them.
And I think that's an exampleDeacons knowing the congregation
, what are the needs, and thenconnecting people who have
abilities with people who haveneeds.
Second, they say, is giving tothe needy in God's household.
(28:43):
So there is that sense ofdispersing from the benevolence
fund.
Third is delegatingcongregational mercy ministry.
There's important principlesthere from 1 Timothy 5,.
But then fourth is serving theneighborhood, and they talk
about researching all the needsin your neighborhood.
What are the food pantries?
What are the English as secondlanguage resources in your
(29:06):
neighborhood?
What is already there thatpeople are taking advantage of?
And I think that's very wise towork together with groups
outside the church.
Obviously, we aren't a socialorganization.
As the church, we have to havea clear sense of our mission,
but I think we can benefit fromknowing the needs outside of our
congregation and then taking astep toward people again in need
, rather than always beingdisrupted or feeling discouraged
(29:28):
by being interrupted by needsin our community.
The question of walk-ins isalways difficult and I really
appreciated the podcast thatwe've done here on the Reformed
Deacon January 1st 2023.
And it's speaking to threedifferent deacons John Voss,
chris Sudlow and Doug Voss and Ithink this would be an
excellent resource for ourdeacons.
(29:49):
It's always difficult to wiselyrespond in the moment.
I think being known as acongregation that's
compassionate and moving towardsthose right around us who are
in need certainly we don't givefoolishly to everybody with no
restriction, but I think beingthe kind of people who are
focused on being interested andbeing compassionate toward
others is important.
Chris Cashen (30:12):
Very good.
Yes, we are the light of Christand shining that forth is part
of the work of the Church.
Well, adrian, just thinkingvery broadly about your article
and certainly thank you for itand for the Scripture reference
within it how might your articlebe used generally as a means of
(30:33):
encouragement to our deacons?
Adrian Crum (30:36):
I think I got a few people.
I had a gentleman from OPCChurch in Ohio call me and say
just wanted to thank you forwriting the article.
I've kind of creeped intocynicism.
He's a truck driver and he saysthere's people all along the
road who I feel will takeadvantage of me if I help them.
And it was just anencouragement to him to not be
cynical but again to see himselfthrough the lens of what God
(30:59):
has done for him and not givehim to cynicism.
I love this quote from To Kill aMockingbird by Harper Lee where
Atticus the lawyer says to hisdaughter you have to get inside
the skin of other people andwalk around in it in order to
understand them a little bit.
And I think my hope would justbe that deacons read this
article and are reminded againthat God was merciful toward us
(31:22):
when we were unknown to hischurch, when we were lost Either
us or some previous generationmaybe parents or grandparents
were saved when we were unworthyof God's love and his kindness
toward us, worthy of God's loveand its kindness toward us.
And my hope would be thatdeacons see that kind of
generosity and compassion thatGod has had toward us and don't
allow their hearts to be closedin cynicism toward those who are
(31:43):
in need.
Chris Cashen (31:45):
Very good.
Well, the article has beenencouraging to me, brother.
Thank you so much for writingit and thank you, pastor Crum,
for taking the time to discussthis important aspect of mercy,
ministry and diaconal work withus today.
Deacons, we hope that thisepisode was and will be
encouraging to you in yourlabors for the Lord.
David Nakhla (32:08):
Thanks for joining us.
Go to our websitethereformedeaconorg.
There you will find all ourepisodes, program notes and
other helpful resources, andplease make plans to join us
again next month for anotherepisode of the Reform Deacon
Podcast.
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