The church I attend (One Community Church) does something we call “Live Love.” People talk about “random acts of kindness,” and maybe we’ve been the instigator or recipient of such gifts. The Live Love idea goes one step further into intentional acts of kindness, following Jesus into the world around us.
So many times churches view interactions with their surrounding community as a way to obtain new attendees or members. If I offer you financial help, spiritual guidance or friendship, don’t we commonly expect the other person to reciprocate by attending our church? That’s a sales transaction with an offer, acceptance, and implied contract. We let the prospect (er, person) sample the wares and then try to close the deal by suggesting they attend the church. I know we don’t always mean to, but if you look at the presentation of the “help” or the entertainment, the implicit expectation of reciprocity is clear. I believe this is one of the major factors in the apparent lack of success for outreach. The prospects recognize what is occurring and so they shy away.
Live Love is simply loving on the community with no expectation of return. It’s an ambush of help or love with absolutely no strings attached. Some took a roll of quarters and paid people’s cost for filling up drinking water jugs. Others saw neighbors moving and helped them. A recent rainstorm had filled a school parking lot with mud so it ended up being shoveled and swept. Firefighters and deputies received doughnuts, coffee, and cookies. Customers in a few convenience stores were asked their favorite candy bar and it was handed to them. At most we gave the recipients a business size card that said “You’ve just been ambushed by Live Love” with only the church name and web site on the backside.
In Matthew 6:1, Jesus said, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Johnny, one of the people who attends the church, posted a story on his Facebook page about a Live Love moment that occurred in an airport restaurant. A mother was traveling alone with her special needs son who was tired and cranky. He had a meltdown and the mother could not calm him. Meanwhile a customer at another table paid their bill in secret – Live Love in action.
Don’t we help to build the kingdom of God when we remember that Christ sends us into the world to follow him and be a light? Expecting someone to show up at church after helping or interacting with them seems to me to be the same as announcing giving with trumpets as Jesus condemned in Matthew 6:2. The reward comes from the Father, not from the building of a larger congregation or empire on earth.
Where have you seen this secret giving occur? Have you been the recipient? I’d like to hear your stories, and I’d like to include some in my new book which I’ll be starting work on shortly. You do need to register – sorry but it’s necessary because of the Internet trolls around now.