What concerns me the most which is wrong is that I see it as taking up the church resources mainly in discipling its congregation, not to mentioned any spiritual awakenings from those who come by. It is easy for people to substitute a good work instead of spending time in growing spiritually. I see the more time spent on mercy ministries, then the less time we have on helping people grow in their faith.
I think others, including myself, have been clear that
discernment is to be used when dealing with this issue. Put one way, you don't throw resources to the wind and not care where it lands. On the other hand, we cannot deny temporal needs to those who ask based upon their interest or disinterest in spiritual things. (cp. Lk 17:12-19; Jh 6:10ff)
But your statement above provokes a question which I would be curious to know the answer to. What resources are necessary in 'discipling its congregation... and ... spiritual awakenings' which would put a burden upon a church's finances or other things? Just curious.
Small congregations usually have limited resources to be sure, although I have known small congregations that also had affluent members and thus financial matters were not much of an issue and this afforded them greater opportunity to do more. Unfortunately, the money typically wasn't used for such things but mainly it was spent on themselves. I was a member of a good-size church of about 600+ and I was very much taken back by their bickering over whether the parking lot should be repaved or spent on other building improvements. The parking lot was in far better shape than the road leading to the church. I voiced my dismay and suggested that the money would be far better spent in helping some of the impoverished families that were in the local neighborhood. Seeing dirty children, in ragged clothes playing barefoot in a garbage-strewn yard moved my heart. What a wonderful opportunity was available for the deacons and/or members to offer ministry to those families. But my suggestion was met with strong opposition and summarily dismissed. When it came to asking for funds and/or help with the work I and a couple of other men were doing at the local jail and prison, some were willing to write a check as long as they didn't have to DO anything with "those type of people".
A church which has a burden to minister to the world will find a way by God's providence to do the work, for it is His will that such work be done, IMHO... with
discernment, of course because we are to be good stewards of all that God gives to us, including spiritual things. (cf. Matt 7:6; Mk 6:10,11)
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