Of all the mental images that are conjured at the mention of a goat, do you imagine a wealthy so-called Christian too miserly to help the poor?

I've got to be honest, it's tricky to make the jump, but the seminar this morning with Mark Grieve, Gwen Tremlett and Ans van der Zwaag entitled "Don't be a goat' put the question into sharp relief.

Mark began with a quick overview of the biblical texts (and there are loads " from Jeremiah to Matthew to James) insisting that any genuinely Christian disciple " the person truly saved by God's grace " will be committed to compassionate service to the poor and disadvantaged.

It's a pretty serious issue to think about in a rich Christian community that professes to love the Bible.

I remember the day I read Luke 14:12, where Jesus suggests to his host that whenever a banquet is held, it's not friends, relative or wealthy neighbours that should be invited, but the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. I was horrified. I'd never done this, and didn't remember ever having been taught to do this. I'd spent my years debating the value of different Bible translations and the place of Hillsong music in church but had totally missed a clear command from Jesus.

I realised that even if I wanted to invite a poor person to my place for dinner, or a party, I couldn't because I didn't even know any. My Haitian sponsor child was the closest I got.

So the seminar was good this morning " I've been working with Mark in Auckland Park, Johannesburg for the last year and have seen some of Ans' work in neighbouring Hillbrow.

I've been involved with what can only be called a fledgling work with Joburg's homeless, and I've got plenty to learn about ministry and the Scriptures, but I'm convinced that if service to the poor " love for our neighbours " isn't intricately woven into our understanding of mission and ministry, frankly, we're out of step with Jesus himself.