The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his094/hunt11.arj/HUNT11.TXT

Text File | 1991-10-28 | 12.6 KB | 236 lines

   Increasing numbers of Christians are engaging in social and
political "activism" for the astonishing purpose of attempting to coerce
ungodly society into adopting Christian standards of conduct.

"Operation Rescue" is one example.

 Its founder, Randall Terry, explains that its purpose is to
create social upheaval and thereby pressure government into
changing the abortion laws. A typical brochure declares: "Rescues help
produce the social tension necessary for political change... whether for
good or bad, political change comes after groups of Americans bring
enough tension to the nation and pressure on politicians that the laws
are changed."

   No matter how commendable the goal of such tactics, there is not
one example in the entire Bible of political or social "activism" ever
being advocated or used by God's people.

That fact must weigh heavily upon any consideration
of this important topic. There are numerous cases
of civil disobedience in Scripture, but it was never engaged in for the
purpose of forcing an ungodly society to obey Biblical principles. The
Hebrew midwives, for example, disobeyed Pharaoh's edict and spared the
lives of the male babies, even lying to cover up their "rescue
operation."

    God was so pleased that their names, Shiphrah and Puah, have
been preserved for us (Exod. 1:15-22). This was, however, a matter of
individual conscience before God, not an organized attempt to pressure
the pagan Egyptians by mass demonstrations into adopting Israel's
God-given morals.

   The same is true of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's refusal to
obey the king's command to bow to an idol, and of Daniel's defiance of
the royal decree against prayer. Though boldly witnessing for God even to
kings, Daniel never used his high government position to attempt to
pressure a pagan society into practicing a godly way of life. Nor did
Joseph or Esther pressure the pagan societies, in which they held high
positions, to adopt Biblical morals. So it was with Ezra and Nehemiah.
They used their influence with kings to obtain permission to rebuild
Jerusalem and the temple, but made no attempt to change the practices of
those societies though they included abortion, homosexuality, and other
evils.

   There are no Biblical examples to support today's "Christian
activism." Christ "suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should
follow his steps." He sternly and repeatedly rebuked Israel's false
religious leaders, yet He never spoke out - not even once - against the
injustices of Roman civil authority! Nor did He advocate, organize, or
engage in any public protests to pressure Rome into changing its corrupt
system, or the society of His day its evil ways. He submitted to unjust
authorities as Romans 13 tells us we should do today: "Who, when he was
reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but
committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Pet. 2:21-25). No
"activism" here! So it was with the apostles and the early church.

   Yes, Paul told the centurion, who was about to have him
unlawfully scourged, that he was a Roman citizen; and he told the local
officials at Philippi to come and apologize for beating him and Silas
without trial. That was not, however, political/social "activism." He was
not attempting thereby to change society, but he was simply standing up
for his personal rights under the law -- as we should do, which includes
voting. Paul was determined to obey God rather than men and never held
back from preaching the gospel, though it meant his life. If "Christian
activism" is God's will, Paul would have been the first to pursue it
fearlessly at whatever cost.

   Scripture, then, from Genesis to Revelation, offers neither
example nor doctrinal teaching to support the idea that Christians ought
to engage in political/social activism, lobbying, take-over methods of
Coalition on Revival -- or that Christians in public office could or
should influence society to adopt Biblical standards of conduct. Don't
forget, any change must be effected through a corrupt political system
involving an ungodly majority above and below. Romans 13 tells us to obey
rulers, and 1 Tim. 2 to pray for them -- not to attempt to change them by
coercion.

       It is not only foolish but counter-productive to attempt to
persuade the unsaved to live like Christians. They can't do it -- and if
they could it would only blind them the more to their sin and need of a
Savior.

   Acts 19:23-41 tells how a large group of citizens in Ephesus
staged a huge "demonstration" against Paul and the gospel he preached. A
crowd of probably several thousand persons tore their clothes, threw dust
in the air and for two hours vociferously chanted their praise to the
locally manufactured god that was their chief source of income. "Great is
Diana of the Ephesians!" they cried. Should Paul have gathered a larger
crowd of Christians to cry out yet more loudly and longer and thereby
impose their will upon the local authorities? Of course not! Such
unchristian conduct is demeaning of our Lord and His gospel and would
have been unthinkable for the early church.

  Yet that is basically what "Christian activism"
involves today -- the well-meaning but foolish
attempt to force "Christian principles" upon a godless society through
more effective lobbying, larger demonstrations and greater "social
upheaval" than the homosexuals, abortionists or pornographers can
produce.

   Rather than pressure the uugodly to live like saints, we must
win them to Christ that they might live wholly for God. Our personal lives
must be lived in obedience to God's laws even if that brings us into
conflict with civil laws.

  In addition to avoiding idolatry and immorality,
Christians must preach the gospel to everyone everywhere,
regardless of government edicts to the contrary. In so doing, the
apostles made that historic declaration: "We ought to obey God rather
than men" (Acts 5:29)! Their example has been followed by Christians down
through the centuries, from the martyrs under pagan Rome and its
successor, Roman Catholicism, to those who smuggle Bibles behind the Iron
Curtain today.

   Though forbidden by the authorities, the apostles persisted in
preaching the gospel. Like their Lord, however, they made no attempt to
lobby in Rome for an end to prostitution and abortions; nor did they
stage public demonstrations for a change in unjust laws. There is a
danger of being so caught up in the social aspect of good causes that one
forgets that the soul must be placed before the body.

 The Great Commission does not involve exerting a Christian
influence upon society. We are not to "change society," but
to "convert individuals." There is much talk today about "changing
the world for Christ."

      In fact there is no Biblical
teaching or example to support that popular slogan. Rather
than persuading sinners to live like saints, we must call them to
"repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21).

   But aren't we supposed to be "salt and light" in the world? Yes,
Christ said so. What did He mean? We must look to Him as our perfect
example. Jesus, "the light of the world," never advocated or tried to
effect social/political change. His light reveals sin and leads men to
salvation, fitting them for heaven. Salt purifies the would that light
reveals and reproves (Eph. 5:8-13).

   Significant changes in society have been effected by preaching
and example. Unfortunately, the abolition of slavery, the enactment of
child labor laws and greater rights for women, while improvements to be
thankful for, have not made society any more godly. Nor is it any more
likely under these better conditions that a higher percentage of mankind
will end up in heaven than before. While such changes are worth looking
for, many who call themselves Christians have become so absorbed in good
causes tht they have lost their fervor for saving souls. They have ended
up joining forces with non-Christians who also espouse "traditional
values," and promoting a compromised "social gospel" that cannot save.

   Yet the good that social/political activism often produces is a
strong motivation for engaging in it. Many Christians were involved in
the civil rights movement that finally ended segregation. Surely it is
not wrong for Christians to engage in such activities! Certainly the
innocent babies that are being murdered in abortion clinics just as the
Jews were in Nazi extermination camps ought to be rescued! Should
Christians do nothing? Is there no basis in Scripture for helping those
who are downtrodden?

   Yes, the Bible warns us: "if thou forbear to deliver them that
are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou
sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart
consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall
not he render to every man according to his works?" (Prov. 24:11-12) The
parable of the Good Samaritan, too, tells us that we ought to care for
all those who are in need of help, even as Christ commands: "Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you." These principles come under
God's law written in the consciences of all mankind: "Love your neighbor
as yourself."

   We ought to do all we can to rescue babies who are being aborted,
just as we would seek to rescue anyone in danger. The Bible doesn't tell
us what individual saints may have done in this regard because it is not
specifically a Christian task nor is it something that has been assigned
to the church, but it is the responsibility of every person. Moreover,
"Rescues" should be engaged in to save lives -- not for the purpose of
creating "social upheaval" to coerce an evil society into adopting
Biblical standards.

   Suddenly Gorbachev is granting freedom of worship and preaching
in the Soviet Union comparable to what we have enjoyed in the West. What
are his motives?

      Like Constantine in ancient Rome, he finds this
necessary for the good of the Empire -- and may even think that freedom
will destroy the church that grew strong under oppression. Sadly, many
Soviet Christians who have managed to bring families out to the West and
have initially thanked God for liberty, have lost their children to drugs,
free sex, pride, lust, worldliness that seem to be a greater hazard for
believers in the West's "freedom" than under communist oppression.

   Today's "Christian activism" is far too narrow and selective. It
addresses certain issues but ignores many others of equal or greater
importance. We must not only rescue the unborn, but the children in
public schools who are being perverted through the teaching of
immorality, witchcraft, and occultism. We must identify psychology as the
major vehicle of so much of this evil, and root it out of our churches,
seminaries and universities.

   We must denounce sin, call for national repentance, and preach
the gospel in convicting power. Christians must call for repentance not
only for homosexuality, child abuse, pornography and abortion, but for
rebellion against God and rejection of Christ. The church must be
indicted not only for its lack of social concern, but for its heresies
and failure to preach the truth. We must denounce the destructive false
teachings that abound. It is hypocritical for the church to protest the
world's sins while tolerating and honoring those who preach a false
gospel and are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

   Instead of protests we need prophets who call the world to
repentance: Enochs who walk with God and warn of judgment (Jude 14-15);
Noahs, "A preacher of righteousness" (2 Pet. 2:5), who warned of
judgement to come and built an ark for escape. What if he had tried,
instead, to reform society!

       We need Daniels: "Mene, mene, tekel upharsin"

-- the handwriting is on the wall, America! You've been weighed in the
balance and found wanting! Murdered babies, the abomination of
homosexuality, and society's flippant, deliberate rebellion against God
have aroused His anger be-yond any possibility of reprieve! We need
Isaiahs and Jeremiahs, who had never heard of making a "positive
confession" or of the "power of positive or possibility thinking," but
preached truth!

   "Christian activism" is not Christian and represents a detour
from the straight path the church is to walk before the world. It can
confuse the real issues, lead to compromise and unholy alliances, and
divert time and effort that would better be used in proclaiming the
gospel. Weigh the demands upon your time and set priorities. Be fully
engaged in rescuing souls for eternity.

In Christ's love, Dave Hunt