JoeTucker’s Weblog

So I recently changed some of my worksites and am now a teacher/tutor at Hunting Park Christian Academy (think less ritzy private Christian school and more poor parish Catholic school). I tutor the students in math and teach Bible to the 7th and 8th graders (this has been a surprisingly hard task). Anyway, the 8th graders are travelling with Paul and studying his various letters and cities, so I have had to read up on my Pauline epistles; one such review was the book of Galatians (my housemate Lindsey’s favorite book of the Bible).

And while reading and rereading the book of Galatians I happened upon this little gem of a verse that I thought quite applicable to the Church and those who minister. So, without further ado, Galatians 2:0-10

James, Peter, and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me [Paul] and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

So let me add a little context to elucidate why I like these verses. Paul and Barnabas have been called (sent, what have you) to spread the Good News to the Gentiles. Peter, James, and John have been focusing primarily on preaching to the Jews. The whole idea of preaching to the Gentiles was somewhat controversial, but the apostles approved it.

So we end up with two very different ministries going on. One group is preaching to their own, a monotheistic group of dedicated, well-versed Jews, telling them that the fulfillment of prophesies, the Messiah, has come and his name was Jesus. The other group is preaching to the Gentiles, pretty much anyone who wasn’t a Jew. So we have polytheists, pagans, heathens, diplomats, etc. People from different backgrounds and cultures. Two very different ministries. Two very different teachings (in some ways….the whole Jesus thing was kind of a mainstay….).

Yet, there was one call to commonality. Continue to remember the poor. As Peter, John, and James sent Paul and Barnabas out all they asked of them was to continue to remember the poor. They had no specific ministry conditions, they had no set destination for Paul and Barnabas to go to. Their sole condition (according to Galatians 2…) was to continue to remember the poor.

And I love what this implies about the Church. We minister at times to very different groups of people. Some work at summer camps, some serve in nurseries, some go to Philadelphia to work with kids, some go to Africa, some pastor within the church, some teach jr. high, some serve the elderly. Different ministries, different applicable lessons. But there is one consistent calling, continue to remember the poor. And I love this premise. That no matter where or to whom we minister we are asked to continue to remember the poor.

The very thing Paul was eager to do.

But I can understand Peter’s need for a reminder. For we often forget about the poor while choosing our ministry of preference. So Peter asks Paul to continue to remember the poor, no matter who he is ministering to Jew or Gentile.

Because the implication (and truth from Acts 6) is that the Jerusalem church (pastored by James, John, and Peter) was highly involved with helping and serving the poor. And I can imagine Peter (much like I have experienced this year) understanding the Kingdom value of proximity to and ministry with the poor.

So my encouragement to you, wherever you find yourself ministering, continue to remember the poor.

Grace and peace.