The Bible declares that Christian social welfare is the essence of the Church and the foundational mission for Christians. Church must strive for the welfare of the community not as optional activity when she can, but mandatory to carry out God's command. Frequently than not for many Christians, however, the first mission of the church is set on world mission and evangelism while executing Christian social welfare is viewed only as a partial means of evangelism or at best, selective.
When the early church activity is analyzed they considered both evangelism and Christian's welfare ministry as worship. Evangelism and welfare both cannot be left behind but seen together as an essential mission that the Church and the Christian commanded to do.
The purpose of this paper is to study the identity of Christian social welfare and based on its findings, inform that Christian social welfare is the essential mission of the church, just much as the church's mission of evangelism.
The theoretical basis of Christian social welfare comes from God. In creation account, God conveyed complete welfare to man, and this fact sets the biblical basis for Christian social welfare. Furthermore, the figures of the Christian God, Trinity, and the attributes of God's love and interdependent union secures the theological basis for Christian social welfare.
This Christian social welfare identity established through the stated two theoretical grounds calls for the essence and foundational mission of the church. By establishing the identity of Christian social welfare, churches and Christians can go out to the world and live a valuable life that shows God's love.
This study does not limit to theoretical research but examined quantitative research. The perception and identity of the Christian social welfare of pastors, church leaders, and the lay is evaluated in order to position the practical foundation for Christian social welfare. Quantitative research result showed that Christians do have a high awareness of Christian social welfare. However, there is a considerable lack of methodological awareness of how actually go out to the community and practice Christian social welfare. In order to increase the practice of Christian social welfare to the community, the church needs to provide theoretical education on the identity of Christian social welfare. Only then, can the church will play a role in conveying the love of God to the world.
Christian social welfare is an integral and essential mission that the church should fulfill.