First of all, this is not my opinion but it is how God wants us to see the world. I would like to note that some will be offended so I will try to walk a fine line, and leave my opinion out of it. Let me state my opinion up front so you will know it: I am in full agreement that Christians should be the most outspoken people for change in our world because it is not God's will for unrighteousness to abound, and I have great respect and even admiration for the love, concern, and boldness of those who are involved in causes.
Now the question is this: Should Christians try to change the world by promoting causes such as ending abortion, protecting marriage, saving Darfur, protecting capital punishment, ending forced child labor, etc.? The answer is yes, definitely. But why and how?-Why-
All I want to do here is ask 2 questions. Do we Christians get involved in a cause because we care about people who are hurting, because we want to see an end of unrighteousness, so that we will feel more comfortable in a better world, so that others will share our viewpoint? Or do we get involved in causes so that Jesus Christ will be magnified?
-How-
First we need to see what the Bible says about where the world is headed. And Matthew 24, one the greatest battle grounds of differing eschatological views, is the place to go. In the normal reading of this passage Jesus is laying out events of the future of the world until the end of this present age (24:3) when He will return to set up His righteous kingdom (24:30-31). Taking the normal reading of this passage Jesus tells us that at the beginning there will be false teachers, false messiahs, war, famine, and natural disasters (24:4-8). Jesus says this is the “beginning of sorrows” (v.8). He then goes on to describe how it will become even worse as it gets closer to the end, and this will result in lawlessness and the degradation of love (v.12). So does Jesus accurately describe our world today? You would have to be ignorant of all current news to not see how accurate Jesus is.
Now let’s turn over to Romans 1 and look at what God does with a nation/people that has degrading love and is heading toward lawlessness. In this passage Paul describes a debased people (Rom. 1:28) who exchange the truth for a lie (v.25), and approve and promote sin (v.32). Does this describe America? Is America becoming more debased, abandoning biblical truth, and promoting sin? It should be obvious that it is. If this is so then what does God do with a nation like ours? God gives them up to their sin (1:24, 26, 28) and allows sin take care of judging the nation (Jas. 1:15). It should be clear that our nation has been abandoned by God. It is only a matter of time before sin runs totally free, there is no more adhering to the law, and we become like Israel in the time of the Judges: “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25).
Now back to our subject. Now that we have seen where our world is headed and that our nation has been abandoned by God we can now see that promoting social/moral causes is misguided effort because there is no hope for success. In fact there is an added denouncement by Jesus who gives a curse to any who would try to make a proselyte for their religious cause (Matt. 23:15).
So is it hopeless for believers to change America/the world? Yes if it is done by forcing "religious beliefs" onto society. Back in Matthew 24 Jesus gives us the answer to our question of how we are to promote righteousness in the midst of so much wickedness. Jesus says that the gospel is the primary thing (24:14). We are to make disciples, not religious proselytes (28:19-20). Yes we should stand up for righteousness and yes we should speak out against wickedness (2 Tim. 4:1-5), but it must be done for the purpose of bringing people to Jesus (Jude 3-4). Not to “heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race” (sorry Michael Jackson).
Let me be very blunt about what Jesus is saying. He is saying that we believers cannot force our moral standards onto unsaved people because they have no capacity to receive it. There is nothing within the unbeliever that would coerce them to change. It is only the moving of the Holy Spirit in a heart that can bring true and lasting change. And since only believers have the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9), it logically follows that we must bring people to saving faith in Jesus before we can expect change. Let’s stick to doing what Jesus commanded us to do and go out into the world and preach the gospel of his saving death and resurrection. Jesus will take care of the hearts of men and bring changes. Let’s magnify Him (John 3:14-15; Ps. 34:3)!
Nehemiah Ryan © 2009
ORIGINAL NOTE COMMENTS
Derek Brewster
Nehemiah... Have you ever pondered over the possibility that maybe you might dabble in too much legalism? Just maybe?
Mike Burkett
Perhaps most significant in all this is the fact that we as saints live in two spheres at the same time: "in Christ," "in the world". It is important to note the order Scripture gives: in Christ, second in the world. Too many times as Christians we reverse the order. Our position in Christ should drastically affect how we live in our city. If we focus only on being "in Christ" then it will be easy to fall into a monastic, self absorbed approach to spirituality. We may become "salt" and "light," but it will be of little value since we will be divorced and separated from those who desperately need to see the supernatural. Christ was a "friend of sinners."
If we only concentrate on being "in the world" then we may easily become absorbed into our culture and be salt that has lost its savor. We will become a thermometer rather than a thermostat one who merely reflects the conditions around us rather than altering them. The truly "dangerous" Christian concentrates on both. Balance is key.
Nehemiah Ryan
Exactly, and we can see the example of Jesus Himself. He came into the world because he cared about us, and he preached righteousness, and he provided for the poor, and gave his ministry to meeting needs. Yet at the same time he preached the gospel of His kingdom because only it brings about the change of people to be like their King. Furthermore he came ultimately to give his life for the world so that 'whoever wills' could enter into His kingdom. The cross truly does affect every part of life.
Aaron Walton
Liberalism is part of the issue too. One issue recently I was reading was on "Who is our Missionary model? Jesus or Paul?" In short, Liberalism says we are continuing Jesus' work, which consists of healing people, loving people, and setting things in order (without arguing from the Bible of course). For example, the contrast is Peter who recognized the impotent man at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3) was healed by God, and that "neither is there salvation in any other." I do not think it is a stretch to say we should not expect any sinner to walk rightly unless he is saved through Christ, "For there is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
The conclusion to the matter being is that the gospel needs to be preached. Because there is no other means by which men may be saved. We should not expect social programs to help, because that is not the means by which men are saved. (We should also not complain! because they must accept Christ to be changed! and to walk rightly.) We have the gospel. Let us take it to people.
Nehemiah Ryan
I've heard some say that God wants us to catch fish, not try to clean the fishtank.
No comments:
Post a Comment