Torch, Fall/Winter 2010

Fall–Winter 2010 | TORCH 27 CHAD JACKSON | CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY Good News to the Poor by Pastor Bob Rohm, Vice President for Christian Ministries at Cedarville University “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Jesus responded to John the Baptist’s disciples in Matthew 11:5 saying, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them .” What did Jesus mean? Who are “the poor,” and what was the “good news”? Although Jesus had clearly modeled compassion for the poor, we can say with certainty that the good news was not an economic program that would lift them from their economic limitations. The good news was that a gracious, loving God had freely paid the penalty for sin, defeating death and opening the door to heaven. The good news was not a program, but a gift. God comes to needy, broken people who acknowledge their need and spiritual poverty. He has good news for anyone who realizes that without Him they are hopeless. Ephesians 2:8–9 says it best, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” That is good news! WORDS OF TRUTH A Generous Example to Follow Generosity toward impoverished people should be part of a Christian’s DNA. The apostle John wrote, “If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). When we extend ourselves for others, we reflect Christ, whose generosity flows from His character. He has “lavished us with the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7–8) because He loves to give, and He wants us to follow His example. Only market economies have sustained economic development to lift the poor out of poverty. And it is only when we have the freedom to choose how to give our surplus that we reflect God’s glory as cheerful givers, helping those who do not have their basic economic needs met. Dr. Bert Wheeler serves as the Berry Chair of Free Enterprise and professor of economics at Cedarville University. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Tennessee and also conducted graduate work at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He has taught at Cedarville since 1992. PHOTO CREDIT PHOTO CREDIT for sharing God’s gi s with those who are less fortunate. economic history is a story of bare and failure. We nd brief glimpses wealth, although it was concentrate PHOTO CREDIT Fall–Winter 2010 | TORCH 27 Good News to the Poor by Pastor Bob Rohm, Vice President for Christian Ministries at Cedarville University “Are yo the one who is to com , or shall we look for another?” Jesus responded to Jo n the Baptist’s disciples in Matthew 11:5 saying, “Go and tell John what you hear and se : t blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the d af hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them .” What did Jesus mean? Who are “the poor,” and what was the “good news”? Although Jesus h d clearly m deled comp ssion for the poor, we can say with certainty th t the good news was not an economic program that woul lift them from their economic limitations. The go d news was that a gracious, loving God had freely paid the penalty for sin, defeating death and opening the door to heaven. The good news was not a program, but a gift. God comes to needy, broken people who acknowledge their need and spiritual poverty. He has good news for anyone who realizes that without Him they are hopeless. Ephesians 2:8–9 says it best, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift f God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” That is good news! WORDS OF TRUTH A Generous Example to Follow Generosity toward impoverished people should b part of a Christian’s DNA. e apostle J hn wrote, “I nyone has the world’s go ds and sees his brother in ed, yet closes his heart gainst him, how do s God’s love abide in im?” (1 Joh 3:17). When w extend urselves for others, we re ect Christ, whose generosity ows from Hi charact r. He has “lavished us with the riches f His grace” (Eph. 1:7–8) becaus He loves to g ve, and e wants us to follow His example. Only market economies have sustained economic dev lopment to li the poor out of p verty. And it is only when we have the freedom to choose how to give our surplus that we re ect Go ’s glory as che rful givers, lping those wh do not have heir basic economic n eds met. Dr. Bert Wheeler serves as professor of economics at Cedarville University. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Tennessee and also conducted graduate work at Mid- America Baptist eological Seminary. He has taught at Cedarville since 1992.