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Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road

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The first thing I do when I visit a church is look through the bulletin for any community service outreaches. In 99% of the Reformed churches I visit there are none. There may be service to the community (Bible studies, picnics, sports fellowships), but that community is limited to the church and usually excludes the poor and hurting.

Consequently I have often wondered if there is anything about Reformed theology itself that uniquely hinders Christians from showing compassion. Of course there are exceptions. Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan with over 20 established outreach ministries comes to mind. Moreover there are plenty of liberal churches disengaged from mercy ministries.

But still, why do most Reformed churches have only the mind of Christ but not His heart? Why are you more likely to find a liberal believer than a Reformed one involved in a homeless shelter, convalescent home, or AIDS hospice? Why are Reformed believers the most likely to know the story of the Good Samaritan but the least likely among Christians to be like the Good Samaritan?

In response to these questions, Dr. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) and a former professor of Westminster Theological Seminary, offers deep insight and much needed remedies for evangelical churches held captive by a homogeneous middle-class club mentality. If there is one book that needs to be read by members of Reformed churches at this time, it is Keller's Ministries of Mercy.

In our cynical postmodern age, Keller repeatedly emphasizes, compassion is the most credible apologetic. People may bicker over philosophies and worldviews, but it is those changing the diapers of the elderly in convalescent homes, those feeding starving orphans in northeast China, and those teaching Cambodian immigrants how to read English who present the most compelling argument for the truth of the gospel. Compassion is the one argument today that cannot be dismissed. (see e.g., recent NY Times op-ed).

Why then Reformed believers remain entrenched in word battles and do not take up the one weapon that is sure to cut through stony hearts and disarm accusations of hypocrisy may seem bewildering especially considering their alleged concern for the salvation of souls. But on second thought, this preoccupation with loving God with the mind, devoid of the heart, can, in my opinion, be explained in large part with this basic premise.

Nobody knows to become humble. People study to gain power ('knowledge is power'). And many people study Reformed theology to gain great power. In this light it is no wonder why very few Reformed believers show compassion to the suffering and oppressed.

For by definition, compassion requires identification with the weak. And that goes directly against the Reformed believer's desire to become powerful. It is no coincidence that most adherents to Reformed theology are in the middle-class. The motivation that drives the middle-class to move away from the struggles of the impoverished is the same one that draws them closer to Reformed theology.

Keller offers his own views on why evangelicals are not engaged in showing compassion, among them, a fear of failure (the problems are too big to even try grappling with) as well as self-serving pride (God helps those who help themselves).

But going beyond diagnosis, Keller's book is immensely practical on how to actually overcome a church's allergy to mercy. For example, he points out that starting churchwide projects like donating materials for baby showers to crisis pregnancy centers or setting up tutoring/ESL assistance for recent immigrants or leading Bible studies in prisons or regularly keeping the elderly company in convalescent homes or hosting holiday outreach banquets for lonely international students are largely laypeople led. Though tragically one's pastor may not see compassion ministries as being as important as Bible studies and prayer meetings, that is not a valid excuse for a regular member not to be involved in at least one outreach ministry in an ingrown church.

It is at this point that the extreme usefulness of the book becomes readily apparent. After giving a Biblical defense for compassion, Keller then details exactly how lay people with a burden to be like the Good Samaritan can motivate, mobilize, and manage others in the church to meet the needs of those that suffer from physical, social, spiritual, and financial deprivations - and all without relying, initially, on the church's budget. He persuasively explains through Scripture not only how every believer is a minister of mercy, but also how one can go about convincing others of that vital truth.

The book includes, inter alia, detailed surveys that a church can use to know just what are the needs of the community; practical strategies in overcoming obstacles and objections to church involvement in compassion; organizational advice to avoid mercy fatigue; and real life examples of what other churches are doing.

In short, Keller's Ministries of Mercy is a step-by-step plan on how any church can be like his model church (www.redeemer.com). Further, unlike Willow Creek, Saddleback, and other churches considered models in our time, Redeemer Presbyterian is distinctly Reformed in doctrine, community service in orientation, and ethnically and economically diverse in membership.

To read Ministries of Mercy is to know an ingenious spiritual battle plan for the church in our time. In order to make Christ known let alone know Christ intimately oneself, compassion, as this book conclusively shows, is prerequisite. Further we must not feign consternation over the fact that churches lack ethnic and economic diversity, especially since these same churches fail to meet the felt needs of their secular community. For creating diversity, as Keller powerfully explains, cannot be done apart from engaging in mercy ministries whose purpose is to reach those outside one's own cultural bubble. It was no less true in Jesus' time among the homogeneous Pharisees than it is in ours.

This book sets forth the Biblical principles for mercy ministry and then suggests practical steps to begin and persevere in doing acts of mercy in your family, church and community. The book is premised on the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the author parses the different parts of the parable (and key Old and New Testament passages) to answer such questions as why do Christians do acts of mercy? what is mercy? what is the balance between the ministry of the word and the ministry of deeds? what is the balance between giving and keeping? who deserves our mercy? All his answers are backed by scripture, so that this book neither comes out on the "left" or the "right" in the political spectrum. Ultimately, Keller shows that both views are inadequate, and only the biblical view can present a complete picture of whether, why and how we should help the poor. All Christians have been shown mercy by God and should therefore be motivated to tirelessly do acts of mercy. Recommended reading for all pastors and deacons!

This book is the most balanced and informative book on mercy ministry that I have read. Keller begins by establishing the basis for mercy ministry in the church on clear biblical principles and outlines practical steps to take in developing and maintaining it. From the solid biblical foundation which he lays for dealing with the disadvantaged, Keller avoids the political bias that often accompanies such works.

This book was given to me as a gift by a Sunday school student after visiting Redeemer Presbyterian Church where Dr. Keller serves. The work itself serves to bring out the Biblical views of how we can best serve others through the local churches. How can we know we have been touched by the Spirit of God?: if our lives (both individually and collectively) bear the fruit of that contact, one of which is mercy. This work also has many other excellent little treasures of wisdom within it. If you are a Deacon or a pastor, I would call this a "must" read.

i come to the book as part of a directed study that ought to result in a Sunday School class on the issues of "the ministries of mercy in the Christian Church".
This book is designed to be the answer to a set of questions about the conservative Church with it's accent on evangelism and how it strikes a balance as it condemns the liberal wing of the Church for it's accent on the social gospel perhaps to the neglect of evangelism and holy living.

This book is in two pieces: Principles and Practice (orthodoxy and orthopraxis), or why Christians ought to be good Samaritans and how to be genuine mercy bearers/witnesses.
Frankly, i am uninterested in practice except as it illumines ideas, so i will give the 2nd 1/2 less than it deserves in this review, that's just me. The author is fully aware that the two:thought and deed can not really be separated into nice watertight compartments, nor should they, for in doing so you loose something important.

It is written to intelligent laypeople who might be in a classroom at their local church working on the issues, or part of a small group interested in doing mercy ministries, the book is suitable and directed towards both needs and goes it's job well. Part information, part motivation, part analysis, part this-is-what-works, it's a good read, from the pen of someone who actually knows and does what he is talking about.

The book begins with the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10, it is the dominant metaphor of the book, this Call of the Jericho Road. Keller reminds us that the parable is the answer to the question: "what must i do to inherit eternal life?" He points out the two areas of responsibility: personally and corporately, thus in the introduction trying to counter the usual private vs public sin division that conservatives/liberal fall into. This is like much of the book, neither right nor left but like the Green's motto, out in front. He explicitly denies later that the Church ought to associate itself as an ally with either Right or Left in politics but remain faithful to God (pg 26).
Three lines of thought are introduced: the necessity of mercy, the scope of mercy, and the motivation of mercy, a triad that continues throughout the book, informing and organizing his writing to a great extent. From the introduction he explains mostly through the use of examples, rather than preaching or deep theorizing, it looks to be a personal commitment to put a face to his thoughts, to learn from those he has ministered to, to remember the lessons by faces rather than phrases.

Chapter 1: The Call to Mercy
Why? because mercy is a test, a test of the genuineness of our faith in God (pg 39)
Chapter 2: The Character of Mercy
Because of the Fall we are alienated from God, this causes alienation from self, from others, from nature.
The Church, as the agent of the coming and partly here Kingdom of God, is the holder of the deed ministry, putting into actions the words of Scripture in our lives, into our neighbors'.
Chapter 3: The Motivation of Mercy
Generosity and an incarnational lfestyle are the reflection of the love and joy felt at being saved by Christ.
4: Giving and Keeping: A Balanced Lifestyle
Simple living, contentment, calling and how wealth is to be used.
"Be sure your giving cuts into your own lifestyle so that some of the burden of the needy falls on you. (pg 78)
not a proponent of the false gospel of prosperity by any means!!
5:The Church and the World: A Balanced Focus
circles of closeness: family, church, state and circles of need: neighbors, strangers and enemies
6: Conditional and Unconditional: a Balanced Judgement
the two sides of mercy, the deeper involvement, let mercy limit mercy
7:Word and Deed: a Balanced Testimony
Probably the chapter to read in a bookstore to see if you want to read the whole book.
word and deed are interdependent, word is more radical and basic, but words often need the authentication that deeds can provide.

The second half of the book is practical instructions to both individuals and to local churches on how to put these principles into good practice.

thanks for reading this review. if you can help with further material on the topic of "ministry of mercy" please email me at rwilliam2@yahoo.com

Liberals tend to blame all poverty and need on oppression, conservatives blame laziness. This book shows how the Biblical conception of the problem is far more sophisticated than either extreme. Hard-thinking Biblical exegesis and practical application make this a truly wonderful book. The author is organizing pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Manhattan, which is known for its Reformed, Evangelical theology and commitment to mercy ministries. It has planted something like a dozen churches (mostly ethnic or multi-ethnic) in the metro. area in the past 10 years. Kellers knows how to operate faithful mercy ministries, in obedience to the Lord's charge to believers. This is a GREAT book!

Real religion is more than doctrinal orthodoxy; it has to do with how we show mercy in the same way that we have been shown mercy. The Parable of the Good Samaritan serves as our springboard into this study of the doctrine and practice of ministries of mercy. These two elements of doctrine and practice form the two pillars that serve as the outline of the book. Following a typical Pauline approach, the first half of the book sets forth the basic doctrinal foundation of Mercy Ministries. The latter half of the book then put doctrine to practice in a series of hands-on strategies and tactics that can be utilized to mobilize a Mercy Ministry within a church.

Criticizing this book would be a bit like attacking motherhood and apple pie. Keller gives an excellent balance as he shows that Mercy Ministries are not meant to replace the preaching of the Gospel, but that the message of the Gospel without the accompanying ministry of mercy is an incomplete message. Word and deed, mercy and evangelism are inseparable, existing in a symbiotic, interdependent relationship (Page 111). At the same time, he is careful not to confuse word and deed as has been done by some modern ecumenicals.

In the practical section of the book, he gives tactics that would be useful both to the layman as well as to the pastor and church officer. These include actual strategies for priming, preparing and cultivating a church to enter into the work of Mercy Ministries.

"God requires a love that cannot be required. Mercy is commanded, but it must not be in response to the command. Rather it is a response to the mercy of God that we have received. We are merciful because we have been shown mercy" (Page 62). "Orthodoxy without social concern is not orthodoxy" (Page 114).

There's a lot of books out there on being missional. Most of them laud the theory of being missional. This one provides a good example (on a local and urban scale) of how to move toward being missional. Keller provides a strong theological case and some practical examples of how to live out ones faith.

I recently became interested in studying deacon ministry, so I asked around about which books I should read. I was consistently given two titles: The New Testament Deacon by Strauch, and Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road by Timothy J. Keller. Strauch is typically recommended for his biblical exposition of the subject, while Keller is recommended for practical "how to" approach.

Ministries of Mercy is divided into two parts. The first being Principles, the second being Practice. After a brief prologue and a general introduction to various manifestations of neediness around us, Keller supplies seven foundational chapters for Christian mercy in the world. Each chapter focuses on a particular element of the parable of the good Samaritan from Luke 10. Keller addresses responsibilities, motivation, relationships, and wisdom as they relate to mercy. An important theme through these principles is the necessary role of the gospel.

"The only true and enduring motivation for the ministry of mercy is an experience and a grasp of the grace of God in the gospel. If we know we are sinners saved by grace alone, we will be both open and generous to the outcasts and the unlovely." (p58)

The second part is composed of seven chapters that examine the Christian practice of mercy. Keller addresses the roles families, church and government may play in mercy, though the clear emphasis is on the ministry of the church. This part of the book is all about the details. Page after page is full of statistics, ideas, suggestions, examples, and strategies for meeting every type of need from just about every type of situation.

Ministries of Mercy is immensely valuable, and perhaps the most convicting book I've ever read. Keller makes it clear that we're called to much more than a ten percent tithe or occasionally serving in a ministry we're comfortable with. And this call isn't just for official deacons, but every Christian is called to be a minister of mercy in some capacity. The second half of the book was rather boring as it went into many mundane strategy details. Some of the ideas offered are not really practical for most congregations (the ones that aren't mega churches). However, it's still helpful to think through these ideas and consider how the same goals might be accomplished. Overall, I consider Ministries of Mercy by Tim Keller to be one of those books that should be in most Christians hands, and studied by most Christian leaders.

Tim Keller does a great job laying out the biblical basis and practical insights for mercy ministries that's misunderstood and neglected in many evangelical churches.

i recommend this book to every christian and also to those who are distressed about the poverty and human plight, injustice and oppression.