Dear Church Family,
This came from a conversation with a parent who asked me how I thought we should talk to our kids about what is going on in our country and the world. Here are some biblical principles that I think help us answer that question.
First, it is good to stand for justice, but in a fallen world, we don’t always get it. It is not supposed to be surprising to Christians that there is injustice in the world. Jesus said, “blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This does not mean that we don’t stand for justice. It just means that we prepare ourselves to be mistreated when we do stand for true justice. It means that we do not need to exact vengeance or retaliate in violence, because Jesus says we are already blessed, and don’t have to worry ourselves with that. Vengeance is the Lord’s, and He will deal justice to all people when the time is right. So, we must stand for justice, not vengeance. And while worldly people don’t play by those rules, they will severely regret that one day. We may grieve the injustice, but we dare not become unjust ourselves in response. God can handle the wickedness of our nation without our adding to it.
Second, as Augustine points out in The City of God, our citizenship is the Heavenly City, not this worldly one. That does not mean that our citizenship in America is meaningless. It means that while we seek the betterment of our nation, this nation is not our ultimate good. Christ is. Our country is a nation of the people by the people and for the people. And the more our people drift from the Judeo-Christian worldview, the more it becomes a pagan nation by pagan people for pagan people. That word, pagan, is harsh in some people’s ears, but it simply means people who believe in false gods. We are surrounded by a culture that promotes worship of false gods. From literal idolatry, to figurative idolatry in the heart. Many Christians are struggling to process this reality, since the change happened so fast. In just over a couple decades the majority of the cultural climate has gone from Judeo-Christian to post-Christian/anti-objective-morality. It can be very difficult to adjust to this new reality. But we need to realize for ourselves, and teach our children, that the world truly is not our home. It is not just a neutral highway either. It is actually a warzone. But the good news is that the Kingdom of Heaven has already won and is constantly invading. Jesus is the just judge and the gracious justifier, all accomplished at the cross. But for us, the battlefield is not on land or in a battle of wits. It is in our hearts and the hearts of people, and our weaponry is the Sword of Truth, God’s Word.
Third, what are Christians really supposed to be doing in this sinful world? In what way are we supposed to be a light? The answer is two-fold. We are called to make disciples by proclaiming the gospel and teaching. We are also called to do good in the city. We are to be loving, joyful, peacemakers, full of patience and kindness, doing good to others, true to our word and to God, and not violent or unable to control ourselves. These things are true of believers because they come from the Holy Spirit. We may need to grow in some of these more than others (or in all of them), but they are there to some extent. As we live these things out, we should be making a practical impact on the physical lives of those around us. Christians who make a bad name for Christ are those who do not live out these spiritual truths in their physical lives including the way they speak. Letting the Holy Spirit change how we live is how we do good in the city. But our number one responsibility and calling as a disciple of Christ is to make disciples. That means we must share the gospel with people and teach those who believe how to obey Christ and grow up in their salvation. We do not save souls. But through the proclamation of the gospel, the Holy Spirit invades and breathes new life into them as they put their faith in Christ. They are given new hearts and new desires. It is there that the world changes: in the hearts of men.
Finally, so why have people been raging in the capitol and the cities and fighting fierce battles on social media? Much of it is because our culture is a pagan culture and has no real basis for morality anymore. Everything is a double-standard because people have abandoned any standard which is not themselves and their ever-changing sinful desires. Another reason is because many professing Christians are not truly Christians. They call themselves Christians because they admire the “ethic of Christ,” but He is not really their Lord, because they so easily jettison anything He says that doesn’t line up with their personal standard of righteousness. A third reason is because many Christians are simply sinning because they have forgotten many of the points I addressed above. But I think the main point they have forgotten is the first one. Many Christians grew up in a world where Christian morals and values were in line with the mainstream culture. But now that that has changed, Christians are suffering from whiplash and aren’t used to holding the minority opinion or being ridiculed by a national majority for it. Christians have forgotten where the real battle is. Christians on all sides of every issue have forgotten that the battle is in the sinful heart. The only weapon that can pierce through the scaly armor of sin is the gospel.
To clarify, we must stand for religious freedom, propose laws against evil practices, seek better programs to help and equip the poor, be a voice for the unborn, and stand for many other issues in the public square. But we cannot lose our minds and act like unbelievers when pagan law makers do not agree with righteousness. Instead, we must be people of the Word, meditate on the Word, live out the Word, and preach the Word with our mouths. It is the gospel of the Word of God that will change the pagan into a saint. Are not we all just pagans saved by grace?
If we make these principles more and more apart of how we live and parent, we will best equip our children to be strong believers in this world. Sometimes we are so afraid to send our children out into the world. But what if God is actually making them into stronger Christian warriors than we are. We must let God do His thing, and help be a part of training His little ones to be mighty men and women of God.
Sincerely,
Brian Van Doren
