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I link these articles here because I believe the issues are important for Christians to be mindful of and to carefully weigh out. Some articles are of a controversial nature, and their inclusion here does not necessarily express my agreement with either the political or theological views of the source. I simply find these articles worth discussing and bringing to the attention of my fellow believers (or worth reminding about).
Ephesians 6:12: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Romans 12:18: If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
As Christians, we absolutely MUST remember these verses as we weigh out our positions on moral-civil issues and then seek to enact and support laws, policies and practices in society that reflect our positions. It is not the people who disagree with us that we “fight” against, but the devil behind them (whether or not they are aware of it). Because the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors, we must extend a Christian grace even to those with whom we disagree. When we fail to extend such a grace, we fail as credible ambassadors of Christ.
Issue 1: Inciting Bible Study:
Desiring God: All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God, Continue in It: This is an excellent message on the authority of Scripture, and also has some tie-in with the Issue 2, below.
Desiring God: The Shelf Life on Preaching the Gospel to Yourself:
John 5 shows the folly of fixing on the Scriptures while ignoring the God of grace. Jesus crossed paths with a troop who liked to think of themselves as soaked in the Scriptures, but they were getting them all wrong, taking them in through the wrong grid. What an epic tragedy: They had God himself in the flesh, standing in their very midst, and they missed him because their Bible reading was going awry with self at the center.
Jesus says to them, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39–40). The lesson for us is to never disconnect our searching of the Scriptures from a conscious awareness and pursuit of Jesus as our Savior, Lord, and Treasure. The gospel of Jesus is the core, culmination, and meaning of the Scriptures. No matter how passionate the study, regular Bible intake that is not in accord with the truth of the gospel becomes zeal without knowledge.
Displace the gospel from the center, and studiousness with the Scriptures soon becomes a massive self-salvation project.
Issue 2: Degrading Church Leadership: There are two primary dimensions in which I see this happening on the macro scale, one is the egalitarian view that allows women to become the heads of a church body, and one is the condoning of open sexual immorality by church leaders. The condoning of open sin is the simpler issue to handle, it just shouldn’t happen. But the egalitarianism vs. complementarianism issue needs a more careful address than that (the TGC video linked below does an excellent job). First, it is important to clarify that complementarianism is not the “traditional” approach to headship and submission that egalitarians and feminists characterize it as. Complementarianism is the historically traditional approach, but egalitarians and feminists will most often approach the issue in a way that only casts it in light of the abuses and wrongs done under it – much like characterizing all of Christianity by the abuses, wrongs, and brutality that happened during the Crusades. It is also helpful to distinguish between men from boys and women from girls (basically, distinguish adults from children, for both genders).
In the marriage and theological (teaching) dimensions of life, men have explicit biblical headship over everyone (women and children). Also in the marriage and theological dimension, women have headship over children. The 5th commandment is to honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12), and Timothy had learned his faith from his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). It’s not explicitly stated, but I think that it’s safe to pull out the principle that if a godly woman is old enough to be a mother or grandmother to a young man, that she can rebuke him if there is a biblically valid reason, even though she has no explicit headship over him. Frankly, if you’re a physically mature male, but morally and theologically immature, then you’re still a boy, and you have no headship whatsoever, over anyone. Mark Driscoll would call you – and I would agree with him – a boy who can shave (thank you, Pastor Mark, for that very helpful term).
I have no particular objection to women having headship over men in an administrative or civic capacity, until her administrative or civic authority bleeds over into a theological issue, then her headship runs out. I have no objection to my wife being in charge of my to-do list (mainly because if I’m in charge of it, nothing will get done), but I speak for my house on theological issues – even if my wife disagrees with me (which she very rarely does, and when she does disagree, it’s discussed in private).
Associated Baptist Press: Baptist Women Pastors Reach Milestone:
The Gospel Coalition: Why is TGC Complementarian?
The Gospel Coalition: To my Egalitarian Friends and What’s Wrong With Patriarchy?
Christianity Today: Are Women Happy At Church? Nearly 75% Say Yes, Yet Feel Guilty:
Barna Group: Christian Women Today, Part 1 of 4:
Christianity Today: Canada’s Largest Protestant Church Elects Openly Gay Leader: Homosexuality is not some especially depraved sin or brand of sexual immorality, it is just another type of sexual immorality. The biblical inconsistency of churches like this one is demonstrated in their (sinful) condoning of open homosexuality, but their (correct) disdain for open adultery.
Issue 3: Intolerance of Orthodox Christianity:
Christianity Today: Family Research Council Points to Southern Poverty Law Center in Sparking Shooter’s Reaction:
Some good news: Christianity Today: InterVarsity Re-Instated As New York University Decides Leadership Policy Is “Common Sense, Not Discrimination”
Issue 4: Voting by Faith: What is the role of our faith in our vote? I have said before that morality can come from nearly any religion, even though salvation only comes from one. Even though I do not agree with the theology of either of our main presidential candidates (or vice presidential candidates, for that matter), there is one with whom I share more ideas about morality than the other.
The Resurgence: Politics and the Kingdom of God: The last two sentences summarize the whole article, and make a strong case for balanced thought and careful discernment.
Those who act as though politics are the primary way God has determined to bring about the kingdom of God will inevitably downplay the significance of the church as God’s agent through which the Spirit works in the world. On the other hand, those who avoid all political or cultural involvement as inherently evil will miss or downplay the social and cultural ramifications of the gospel of Jesus.
The All of Life series from which this article comes is also a worthwhile read, though it doesn’t focus entirely on Christian political engagement.
Associated Baptist Press: Analyst says Romney plays religion card:
Pew Research Center: Religion & Politics 2012:
Christianity Today: President Obama’s Faith Council Focuses On Human Trafficking:
Related articles
- Headline Highlights: Week of August 10th, 2012 (thinkrhema.wordpress.com)
Think Rhema 