To serve man

I'm a real sci-fi fan and years ago there was a Twilight Zone episode called "To serve man". It was about aliens that landed on earth with a book that had the title "To serve man" on the cover. Everyone was trying to figure out why aliens would be so kind to visit earth and bring people back to their planet.At the end it was discovered the awful truth that the book was a cookbook!
The majority of the time, we claim our goal is to serve God and "to serve man" when if fact we are cooking up something very different. Consider the following:
William Temple described the church as the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefits of its non-members. Is that how it is in your particular church? Too often the church's strategy for reaching those who "don't belong" is exactly backward. Priority goes to constructing an attractive ediface in a location near a growing suburb and as far from crime-infested downtown as possible. Next come the committees organizing concerts, covered dish suppers, Bible studies, slide shows, and the like. Then, with fresh welcome mat at the door, the members enthusiastically wait for all the lost and needy souls to come and join them. Of course they never do. What the church attracts are neighbors who are bored with their old church anyway, or those looking for a group with a bit more "status".
The folks "out there" have no iterest in the handsome sanctuary and progressive programs and wouldn't feel comfortable inside no matter what wonderful attractions were offered(And probably the church members wouldn't feel comfortable if they did come). But when the church fails to break the barrier, both sides lose. Those who need the gospel message of hope and the reality of love don't get it; and the isolated church keeps evangelizing the same people over & over until its only mission is to entertain itself.
Isn't it interesting that Jesus didn't set up an office in the temple and wait for people to come to Him for counseling? Instead, He went to them- to the homes of the most notorious sinners, to the places where He would most likely encounter the handicapped and sick, the needy, the outcasts of society. Our presence in a place of need is more powerful than a thousand sermons. Being there is our witness. And until we are, our orthodoxy and doctrine are mere words; our liturgies and gospel choruses ring hollow.
-from Chuck Colson's book Loving God
We can't force people to eat the bread,but we can make sure they have it.Yet for some reason we are reluctant to do so.It's much easier to stay in the bakery than to get into the truck.

The Parable of the Beggar and the Bread A beggar came and sat before me. "I want bread" he said. "How wise you are" I assured him. "Bread is what you need. And you have come to the right bakery." So I pulled my cookbook down from my shelf and began to tell him what I knew about bread. I spoke of flour and wheat, of grain and barley. My knowledge impressed even me as I cited the measurements and recipe. When I looked up I was surprised to see he wasn't smiling. "I just want bread" he said. "How wise you are." I applauded his choice. "Follow me and I'll show you our bakery." Down the hallowed halls I guided him, pausing to point out the rooms where the dough is prepared and the ovens where the bread is baked. "No one has such facilities. We have bread for every need. But here is the best part- this is our room of inspiration." I knew he was moved as we stepped into the auditorium full of stained glass windows.
The beggar didn't speak. I understood his silence. With my arm around his shoulder I whispered, "It overwhelms us all. People come from miles around to hear our background music and to hear me speak, Once a week my workers gather & I read to them the recipe from the cookbook of life. By now the beggar had taken his place on the front row. "Would you like to hear me?" "No, but I would like some bread" he said. "How wise you are" I replied. And I led him to the front door of the bakery. "What I have to say to you next is very important" I told him as we stood outside. "Up and down this street you will find many bakeries. But take heed; they don't serve the true bread. I know of one who adds two spoons of salt rather than one. I know of another whose oven is three degrees too hot. They may call it bread, but it's not according to the book."
The beggar turned and began walking away. "Don't you want bread?" I asked him. He stopped, looked back at me, and shrugged,"I guess I lost my appetite." I shook my head and returned to my office."What a shame" I said to myself."The world just isn't hungry for true bread anymore."
-from Max Lucado's book A Gentle Thunder

Incredible that God gives us the keys to the delivery truck, the gas tank is full, we all have our licenses, we have a roadmap, we know the route, we know where hungry people are to deliver the bread to, but we don't go even when we have orders from the Boss.And even when we do, do we give them the bread?

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