Alzheimer's and Kingdom Service

I was ministered to today by Joyce Spiaggi, a member of First Baptist Fisherville (where I pastor). She is taking care of her mother who has Alzheimer's disease. I went to visit Joyce to encourage her but I was the one encouraged as I saw her love, patience, care, and service to her mother.

One of the things I've admired about Joyce is that even though she has this burden she carries at all times, she rarely misses Sunday worship (or Sunday School). But she told me today that she wished that she could be more involved.

I told her that the most godly thing she could be doing right now is what she is currently doing: serving her elderly mother. See, sometimes its easy to fall into the trap of thinking that kingdom work/ministry only takes place between the walls of the church building. Now, to be sure, I believe that if you aren't actively involved in the life of the local church (unless providentially hindered), you are out of the will of God as a Christian. Study the epistles and see how the gospel imperatives can only be obeyed in the context of the gospel community (the church).

Having said that, our kingdom roles extend outside the context of the church into our spheres of influence. In Joyce's case, in this season of life, it's her mother.

Consider these words I recently read from pastor/scholar Philip Ryken.

Kingdom work can include any good thing that is done for Christ as King—anything that advances his kingdom, or opposes his proud enemies, or speaks in defense of his kingship. We can do kingdom work in the marketplace. Whenever we make a fair sale, build a solid house, or shine a good shoe—if we do it for Jesus—we are advancing the cause of our King by bearing witness to the values of his kingdom. We can also do kingdom work in the home. Whenever we put beautiful flowers on the table, or pick up our shoes off the floor, or decide to be the first to say, “I’m sorry,” we are bearing witness to the kingdom of God. Then we can do kingdom work in society. Whenever we oppose the evil of abortion, or work for the end of child abandonment, or take an active role in what is happening in the lives of people in our neighborhood, this too is kingdom work. We also do kingdom work through the ministry of the church: inviting friends to worship, passing out Bibles, welcoming people with disabilities, supporting workers overseas, laboring in prayer for people doing all kinds of ministry that we ourselves are not called or gifted to do. This is all the more true when we tell people the gospel in words they can hear and understand, which is the most direct way to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ (P. G. Ryken, 1 Kings, 28-29).