Signature Assignment

By:
Victoria Ramirez
BIB 314
Fresno Pacific University
August 5 !"13
!
#$ere are many e%am&'es t$roug$out t$e Bi('e )$ere *$ristian servant $oo+ is &ortraye+
an+ t$e i+ea of (eing a servant an+ serving ot$ers is mo+e'e+ (y not on'y ,esus- +isci&'es (ut (y
,esus $imse'f. For t$is very reason one can assume t$at in t$is mo+ern +ay ,esus )ou'+ sti'' $o'+
service on to ot$ers an+ for ot$ers very $ig$'y. /ue to t$e fact t$at +uring $is time ,esus serve+
many aroun+ $im an+ a'so encourage+ $is fo''o)ers to +o t$e same I (e'ieve t$at ,esus )ou'+
&artici&ate in a ,** service &ro0ect serving t$e $ome'ess $o)ever ,esus )ou'+ ta1e a more
$an+s2on a&&roac$ in $is service an+ $e )ou'+ ta1e t$is o&&ortunity to teac$ t$e )or+ of 3o+4
giving $o&e to t$e $o&e'ess an+ )or1ing from t$e (ottom u& )$ic$ seeme+ to (e ,esus-
s&ecia'ty.
Before ,esus arrive+ &ro&$ets +escri(e+ $im as a servant. ,esus )as to come to eart$ an+
serve 3o+ t$roug$ $is many mirac'es an+ +ee+s. An+ at t$e same time $e )as serving t$e &eo&'e
an+ t$e )$o'e )or'+ (y ta1ing u& t$e cross an+ +ying for our sins. As )e see in Isaia$ 4!:1
56ere is my servant )$om I u&$o'+ my c$osen one in )$om I +e'ig$t4 I )i'' &ut my S&irit on
$im an+ $e )i'' (ring 0ustice to t$e nations. 5 #$erefore )e can say t$at ,esus $imse'f is t$e true
+efinition of *$ristian servant $oo+. As 7ar1 1":45 states 5for even t$e Son of 7an came not to
(e serve+ (ut to serve an+ to give $is 'ife as a ransom for many.8 7o+e'ing servant $oo+
t$roug$out $is 'ife ,esus 'e+ t$e )ay for many to fo''o).
/uring ,esus- time $ere on eart$ $e engage+ in many servant $oo+ e%&eriences. 6e
$ea'e+ t$e 'e&ers $e fe+ $is $ungry fo''o)ers an+ $e (roug$t service to a'' t$ose in nee+ t$roug$
$is )or+s an+ t$roug$ $is teac$ings. ,esus +i+n-t +iscriminate against )$o )ou'+ receive $is
service4 $e )e'come+ a'' $e serve+ a'' an+ eventua''y $e +ie+ for a''. As 9ray(i'' +escri(es in
$is (oo1 The Upside-Down Kingdom, 5for ,esus serving +i+n-t mean catering to t$e )e'' to +o
)$o cou'+ &ay $ig$ &rices. 6e care+ a(out t$ose )it$ genuine nee+s regar+'ess of status
3
:9ray(i'' !"11;.8 ,esus care+ a(out t$e 5'east of t$ese8 t$e &eo&'e strugg'ing suffering an+ t$e
ones most in nee+4 t$ese )ere t$e &eo&'e t$at tru'y nee+e+ $is service. An+ $e serve+ t$em )it$
'ove an+ com&assion. /uring ,esus- time an+ very simi'ar to our o)n time t$e (ottom of society
)ere seen as 0ust t$at t$e (ottom. But ,esus +i+n-t see it t$is )ay. Accor+ing to ,esus in 3o+-s
1ing+om t$e (ottom is t$e to& t$e 'east are t$e great an+ t$e &oor are t$e ric$. #$is u&si+e +o)n
&ers&ective )$ic$ 9ray(i'' gives great +etai' a(out in $is (oo1 is a great &ers&ective on )$o
,esus )as an+ )$y $e +i+ t$e t$ings $e +i+.
<ne of ,esus- main teac$ings invo've+ 'oving ot$ers as )e 'ove ourse'ves an+ $e
mo+e'e+ t$is teac$ing in many )ays (ut one of t$e main e%am&'es )as t$roug$ $is service to a''
an+ t$roug$ $is com&assion for a''. ,esus encourage+ $is fo''o)ers to fo''o) $is e%am&'e an+ to
$ave com&assion for eac$ ot$er an+ to 'ove eac$ ot$er as )e 'ove ourse'ves an+ (y +oing t$is )e
are serving 3o+. As )e see in 7att$e) !5: 3524"
35 For I )as $ungry an+ you gave me foo+ I )as t$irsty an+ you gave me +rin1 I )as a stranger
an+ you )e'come+ me 3= I )as na1e+ an+ you c'ot$e+ me I )as sic1 an+ you visite+ me I )as
in &rison an+ you came to me.- 3> #$en t$e rig$teous )i'' ans)er $im saying ?@or+ )$en +i+
)e see you $ungry an+ fee+ you or t$irsty an+ give you +rin1A 3B An+ )$en +i+ )e see you a
stranger an+ )e'come you or na1e+ an+ c'ot$e youA 3C An+ )$en +i+ )e see you sic1 or in
&rison an+ visit youA- 4" An+ t$e 9ing )i'' ans)er t$em ?#ru'y I say to you as you +i+ it to one
of t$e 'east of t$ese my (rot$ersDaE you +i+ it to me.8
#$roug$ t$is teac$ing )e see t$at ,esus )ants us to 'ove an+ serve eac$ ot$er. ,esus (eing a
servant $imse'f encourages $is fo''o)ers to (e 'i1e $im +o as $e +i+ 'ove as $e +i+ an+ serve as
$e +i+. #$is is t$e rig$teous )ay4 t$is is t$e )ay to t$e 1ing+om.
So )e come (ac1 to t$e ,** &ro0ect in Fresno )$ic$ serves t$e $ome'ess (y &rovi+ing
t$em )it$ a mea'. Fou'+ t$is (e )or1 t$at ,esus )ou'+ (e invo've+ inA Fou'+ ,esus c$oose to
serve t$is )ayA Fe'' accor+ing to 9ray(i'' t$ere are a fe) Guestions to eva'uate t$e &ro0ect or
service to see if it is tru'y a service t$at is +oing t$e 5@or+-s )or18 $ere on eart$. #$e Guestions
4
9ray(i'' &resente+ are as fo''o)e+:
5F$at are t$e s&ecific nee+s t$is &rogram a++ressesA Fou'+ &eo&'e create t$is &ro0ect ane) if it
)ere terminate+A /oes it e%&ress t$e s&irit an+ mission of t$e 3os&e'sA Is t$is structure +esigne+
to serve in t$e S&irit of ,esusA /oes it &romote an e%c'usive se'f2rig$teous &ostureA /o &eo&'e
en0oy &artici&ating in itA Is f'e%i(i'ity (ui't into its natureA 6as a time (een +esignate+ to
eva'uate its functionA8 :9ray(i'' !"11;.
I (e'ieve ,esus )ou'+ as1 simi'ar Guestions a(out t$e &rogram $e )ou'+ )ant to ma1e
sure t$e &rogram is serving a &ur&ose serving t$ose in true nee+ an+ most im&ortant'y t$at t$is
service )as (eing +one in our 6eaven'y Fat$er-s name.
#$is &rogram a++resses t$e &$ysica' nee+ of t$e $ome'ess &oor or &eo&'e t$at $ave (een
stric1en (y &overty. #$ese &eo&'e are in nee+ of one of t$e essentia' &arts of 'ife foo+ an+ t$is
&ro0ects aims to &rovi+e t$ese &eo&'e )it$ a mea' to fu'fi'' t$at nee+. Accor+ing to t$e *a'ifornia
re&ort t$e $ome'ess &o&u'ation in Fresno *ounty is estimate+ at a(ove B""" &eo&'e. #$erefore
t$e nee+ for t$is ty&e of service is o(vious'y &resent. 7ore an+ more &eo&'e are (eing $it $ar+ (y
our roug$ an+ unforgiving economy. Peo&'e are 'osing t$eir 0o(s $omes an+ (asica''y
everyt$ing. Fe can say t$at t$ese &eo&'e $ave (een 'eft at t$e (ottom strugg'ing an+ suffering.
,esus )ou'+ o&en u& $is arms to t$ese &eo&'e an+ $e )ou'+ give t$em $o&e an+ t$ey )ou'+ (e
strengt$ene+ t$roug$ $im.
#$e ,** &rogram is a &rogram t$at )or1s t$roug$ *$rist an+ t$eir servant $oo+ mission
re&resents t$e s&irit of t$e 3os&e'. #$e &rogram aims to $e'& t$ose in nee+ t$e 'east of t$ese t$e
strugg'ing. An+ t$roug$ t$eir service t$ey (ring t$e goo+ ne)s to t$e &eo&'e. #$roug$ t$eir )or1
t$ey s$o) t$eir 'ove an+ com&assion for ot$ers. #$ey strive to serve t$roug$ ,esus for ,esus.
6o)ever t$at +oesn-t mean t$at ,esus )ou'+n-t )ant to a(so'ute'y ma1e sure t$at t$is &rogram
5
)as )or1ing for t$e goo+ of t$e &eo&'e an+ H<# for t$e goo+ of t$emse'ves. ,esus )ou'+ ma1e
sure t$at t$is organization )asn-t ref'ecting any P$arisee 'i1e c$aracteristics $e'&ing ot$ers on'y
for t$e &raise from ot$ers (ut tru'y ref'ecting ,esus- teac$ings serving ot$ers $um('y.
,esus invites an+ &ortrays $um('e servant $oo+ not assertive in+ivi+ua'ism. #$erefore
,esus )ou'+ ma1e sure t$at t$e ,** service &ro0ect )as not +is&'aying a se'f2serving 5service8
(ut instea+ +is&'aying a tru'y $um('e service serving ot$ers )it$out any e%&ectation of receiving
anyt$ing in return no &raise an+ no &at on t$e (ac1 from ot$ersI0ust for t$e sa1e of +oing
3o+-s )or1. As $e te'' us in 7att$e) =:124
5Be)are of &racticing your rig$teousness (efore ot$er &eo&'e in or+er to (e seen (y t$em for
t$en you )i'' $ave no re)ar+ from your Fat$er )$o is in $eaven. ! 5#$us )$en you give to t$e
nee+y soun+ no trum&et (efore you as t$e $y&ocrites +o in t$e synagogues an+ in t$e streets
t$at t$ey may (e &raise+ (y ot$ers. #ru'y I say to you t$ey $ave receive+ t$eir re)ar+. 3 But
)$en you give to t$e nee+y +o not 'et your 'eft $an+ 1no) )$at your rig$t $an+ is +oing 4 so
t$at your giving may (e in secret. An+ your Fat$er )$o sees in secret )i'' re)ar+ you.8
For my service &ro0ect assignment I serve+ at a sou& 1itc$en an+ t$e e%&erience )as
(ot$ &ositive an+ a 'itt'e negative no) t$at I ref'ect (ac1 on it. #$e )or1 +one t$ere is one t$at is
e%treme'y nee+e+ in our community4 in+ivi+ua's an+ fami'ies 'ine+ u& out t$e +oor 0ust to get a
+ai'y mea' an+ t$e intent of t$is service is +efinite'y &ositive. 6o)ever t$e e%&erience ma+e me
rea'ize t$at ,esus )ou'+n-t necessari'y serve t$is )ay main'y (ecause I cou'+ see a +ivi+e )it$in
t$e &eo&'e t$ere )ere t$e servants :t$e aff'uent or )e''2off in+ivi+ua's; an+ t$ere )ere t$ose
(eing serve+ :t$e &oor or t$e o&&resse+; an+ t$ere )as 'itt'e to no interaction (et)een t$e t)o
an+ I t$in1 ,esus )ou'+ see t$is as a negative as&ect of t$is ty&e of service.
/uring ,esus- time t$ere a'so )as a $uge +ivi+e )it$in t$e society4 t$ere )ere t$e &oor
an+ t$e ric$. But ,esus +i+n-t +iscriminate $e +i+n-t 0u+ge $e 0ust serve+ t$ose )$o tru'y
nee+e+ $is service an+ $e +i+ it )it$ $umi'ity 'ove an+ com&assion. Jven t$oug$ t$e sou&
=
1itc$en )as (eing 'i1e ,esus in one as&ect t$ey +i+n-t +iscriminate against )$o t$ey serve+4 I
+i+n-t fee' or see any $umi'ity 'ove or com&assion from t$ose serving. 6o)ever I +i+ fee' a
$uge amount of a&&reciation an+ t$an1s from t$ose )$o )ere (eing serve+ )$ic$ )as very
sur&rising to me (ecause I +i+n-t e%&ect t$em to (e so gratefu' for t$e service (ut t$ey tru'y
)ere. I (e'ieve t$at ,esus )ou'+ +efinite'y (e $a&&y )it$ t$e service t$at )as (eing &rovi+e+ for
t$ese strugg'ing in+ivi+ua's4 $o)ever I t$in1 $e )ou'+ )ant to remin+ t$e servants )$at it means
to serve for $im an+ t$roug$ $im.
For t$is reason I (e'ieve ,esus )ou'+ +o t$ings a 'itt'e +ifferent )$i'e serving )it$ t$e
,** service &ro0ect4 $e )ou'+ c$ange u& t$e environment an+ s$a1e u& t$e +ynamics. #$is
)ou'+ H<# (e a serving &ro0ect )$ere t$e aff'uent serve t$e &oor or )$ere t$e u&&er c'ass
serves t$e 'o)er c'ass. HoK #$is )ou'+ (e a service &ro0ect )$ere A@@ come toget$er to server
eac$ ot$er. I (e'ieve ,esus )ou'+ ca'' it somet$ing 'i1e 5s$aring a mea' toget$er8 rat$er t$an
fee+ing t$e &oor or fee+ing t$e $ungry. #$is )ou'+ not (e a ty&ica' sou& 1itc$en sty'e serving
forming a 'ine an+ &assing out a tray of foo+ a(so'ute'y H<#. But instea+ t$is )ou'+ (e more
'i1e a fami'y gat$ering a'' 3o+-s c$i'+ren s$aring a mea' toget$er coming toget$er to serve eac$
ot$er an+ 3o+.
<f course ,esus )ou'+ ta1e t$is o&&ortunity to s$are $is )is+om an+ 1no)'e+ge )it$ t$e
&eo&'e )$i'e teac$ing t$em t$e )or+ of 3o+. For ,esus t$is )ou'+ not (e a service &ro0ect 0ust
'imite+ to fee+ing t$e &oor 'i1e it is for many servants no for ,esus t$is )ou'+ (e an
o&&ortunity to s&rea+ t$e 3os&e' to t$e &eo&'e. #$is )ou'+ (e an o&&ortunity to create unity
amongst t$e c'asses of society an+ I (e'ieve ,esus )ou'+ ta1e fu'' a+vantage of t$is o&&ortunity
to (ring toget$er a society torn a&art an+ in +es&erate nee+ of $o&e unity an+ a(ove a'' in
+es&erate nee+ of *$rist.
>
<vera'' I fee' t$at ,esus )ou'+ &artici&ate in a ,** service &ro0ect t$at serves t$e
$ome'ess4 $o)ever I t$in1 ,esus )ou'+ +o s&ecific t$ings 5$is )ay8. Because 0ust as 9ray(i''
+escri(es in $is (oo1 an+ as I )itnesse+ +uring my o)n e%&erience in t$is ty&e of service
service &ro0ects 'i1e t$ese can (ecome (ritt'e an+ 5can easi'y (ecome coercive (ecause t$ey are
t$e @or+-s )or1. 6uman creations structures $ave uncanny )ay of ta1ing c$arge an+ (ecoming
t$e masters of t$eir o)n creators.8 #$erefore I (e'ieve ,esus )ou'+ eva'uate t$e ,** service
&ro0ect an+ ma1e sure t$at it )as re&resenting true *$ristian servant $oo+ an+ if it )asn-t $e sure
)ou'+n-t $esitate to (ring fort$ t$e necessary c$anges. I (e'ieve t$at ,esus )ou'+ see t$e
+es&erate nee+ for t$is ty&e of service in to+ay-s society t$erefore I t$in1 $e )ou'+ ste& for)ar+
to serve t$is nee+ (ut as I &revious'y mentione+ $e )ou'+ +o it )it$ true $umi'ity an+
$um('eness an+ $e )ou'+ ma1e sure t$at t$e organization )as mo+e'ing t$ese c$aracteristics as
)e''.
B
Resources
9ray(i'' /. :!"11;. The upside-down kingdom. :revise+ e+.;. 6arrison(urg Va: 6era'+
Press.
The california report. :!"13;. Retrieve+ from $tt&:LL))).ca'iforniare&ort.orgL