Mercy Motivations--Kingdom and Church, II

New Creation Mercy

Where God exerts his rule through his Word and Spirit, the effects of sin are healed. Thus the kingdom is like a great banquet (Matthew 22:2) and is a state of total fulfillment of blessedness (Matthew 5:3, 10). This healing is always partial, because the kingdom is not fully come, yet this healing is substantial, because the kingdom is already present.


Edmund Clowney writes that kingdom evangelism must have a holistic focus:

“The renewal of Christ’s salvation ultimately includes a renewed universe… there is no part of our existence that is untouched by His blessing. Christ’s miracles were miracles of the kingdom, performed as signs of what the kingdom means…His blessing was pronounced upon the poor, the afflicted, the burdened and heavy-laden who came to Him and believed in Him…The miraculous signs that attested Jesus’ deity and authenticated the witness of those who transmitted the gospel to the church is not continued, for their purpose was fulfilled. But the pattern of the kingdom that was revealed through those signs must continue in the church…Kingdom evangelism is therefore holistic as it transmits by word and deed the promise of Christ for body and soul as well as demand of Christ for body and soul.” [from a chapter, “Kingdom Evangelism,” by Clowney, found in the book The Pastor-Evangelist (edited by Roger Greenway, 1987]

More from the book by Timothy J. Keller, Ministries of Mercy.


A man’s hands were wrapped to protect himself—he looked like a boxer with gauze and tape around his knuckles—and he was on a bed lying hemmed in, much like a large tent, with a mesh of nylon netting. He only moaned as I spoke with him. I read Psalm 23 to him this past Thursday—and he brightened up. I reflected with him on the Lord’s shepherding mercies. I spoke. He moaned. I prayed. He moaned. He didn’t/he couldn’t make eye contact with me. But his countenance told me that he was listening. I ministered with him for about 20-25 minutes. God’s providences are always gift-wrapped. Holistic gifts, encircling both body and soul, encompassing word and deed, are the ones that present the incarnation to us. God spoke out Himself; God enfleshed Himself. Word and deed, holistic stuff...a new creation already on the way.  


G. Mark Sumpter

Out From the Shadow Lands

Minor Adjustments in Hospital Visitation Bring Huge Results

The patient had been eating like a bird since yesterday afternoon, and didn't want to work on her bedside physical therapy.

The nursing staff decided to get the chaplain's thoughts on the matter.

“We can't seem to make any progress with her, can you help; do you have any suggestions?”

The chaplain stopped in, and he noticed right away that the room was dreary-dark. He asked permission and pulled the curtains back. Within an hour or so, the patient asked for water and ice chips.

Two or three hours later: “Ma'am, do you think you'd like to take a walk? I'd be happy to ask the staff to walk you around the nurse's station?”

“Well...You know, I think, I might like that...but I think I'd like to start with a wheelchair ride first.”

“Yes ma'am, wow...yes...what was I thinking. Let's start with the wheelchair.”

It's the little things, the simplicity of minor adjustments, that show the practical, specific measures of care. Maybe it's the location of a tray, the placement of the phone, the provision of a deck of cards or some flowers and a card.

The minor things can move mountains for these folks who appear to be without hope. The changes in the little things are like dynamite breaking up the despair and depression.

G. Mark Sumpter