Day 27 – March 21, 2010
“The Methodist church must have something to give. Simon Peter said to the lame beggar at the
Beautiful Gate of the temple at Jerusalem, ‘I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have.’
Peter gave them Christ.” (Prophetic Evangelist: The Living Legacy of Harry Denman, 1993)
I have often heard the story about a visit Thomas Aquinas made to Pope Innocent II. When he arrived in
Rome, he found the Pope counting the money that had been donated to the Church. Pope Innocent
remarked, “Thomas, the Church can no longer say, ‘silver and gold have I none’!” Looking at the large
pile of money, Thomas replied, “That is true but neither can we say, ‘In the name of Jesus of Nazareth,
rise up and walk’!”
By global measures, we are rich. Our resources are considerable, and when we hear of disasters or
difficulties in our communities, we have systems in place to respond in tangible ways. Even with our
recent economic downturn, we are generous and extremely responsive. That is something we should
celebrate. But offering monetary or physical assistance will never be enough to justify our claiming the
label Church. The Church is the body of Christ on Earth, and whatever else we offer to the world, we
must offer Christ in reality and power.
When each of us, clergy and laity alike, is devoted to following and sharing Jesus, our approach to
evangelism will be about far more than eradicating poverty and alleviating suffering. It will never be
enough for us to rescue people from their earthly oppressors. There is a deeper oppression that only
Christ’s power can break.
Only when we introduce Christ into the lives of others will their lives cease to stumble along. It is in his
name that the lame of the world actually rise up and walk.
Acts 3:6 (New Living Translation)
But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus
Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
Submitted by: Rev. RuthAnne Henley
