In a recent sermon, I heard the early church described as liberal with their money but conservative with their bodies--Pastor Tim Keller was cited in this description I think. I was discussing this with a friend who responded with the query, “Is the early church something we necessarily want to imitate.” My response is a profound yes. Though certain cultural differences leave irreconcilable distinctions between the first days of the church and the church today, the calling and goals of the church have not changed. The early church understood something about that calling often missed in the western church culture--the call to serve the oppressed (among many other things unfortunately. Perhaps more on community later).
As a continuation of what was started in my last posting, let me relate this understanding of the early church to the present discussion. I was reading the forward of Tim Keller's "A Reason for God" yesterday, and I was again struck by his self-described, early struggle with the religio-political backwardness of our country. On the one hand, the liberal left who remains predominately morally relativistic yet concerned with social justice. On the other hand, a ‘morally conscious’ right who has all but forgotten the social injustices of this country and world. There's a pressure on moral grounds to assume sides. What could be more immoral than the oppressed? Don't misunderstand me, I maintain my position on the immorality of abortion and gay marriage. I merely think we, conservative believers--the western church, have been too conservative with our money and have forgotten our call to the social injustices of this world. Where 'the liberals,' the moral-relativist left who should have much less cause to pursue social justice have succeeded, the church-going conservatives have failed.
Matthew 25: 41-43
“’ I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’”
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him."
Malachi 3:5
“So I will come near to you for judgment, I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.
Psalm 146:9
The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
Isaiah 1:17
learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
Isaiah 1:23
Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them.
It’s not about a political affiliation… it’s about what we should or should not be doing as the body of Christ. Conservativism, the political right, is too often equated with Christianity and the stances we are called to take as Christians in our society. Our calling as believers and as a church stretch beyond the the Conservative and/or Liberal platform.
Last week I heard the sermon by pastor Mike Hsu that seemed to put the final, missing piece into this posting: God’s desire is to redeem ALL of creation, not just souls. The gospel is more than the reconciling of souls to God, it’s about reconciling EVERYTHING to God.
Colossions 1:19-20
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Romans 8:20-21
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Through the cross, this then would mean the reconciliation of relationships between conflicting ethnic groups and of souls to God. The redemption of the status of an outcast people restored to a society and an individual’s awareness of their need for the redemptive power of the cross.
Our calling is then not only for souls, but to pursue, through Christ, the redemption of creation—of all situations, circumstances, mishaps, misunderstandings, offenses, injustices, etc. … ALL things!
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6 comments:
Yes, yes and yes! Thanks for your continued consideration of this topic, often overlooked by evangelical Christians, but never overlooked by God. I continue to be astonished by how evangelical Christians have strong pro-life stances, yet forget to embrace an ethic of pro-life across the lifespan (ie-once that child is born--perhaps born into poverty, crime-ridden neighborhoods, etc). Wouldn't a truly pro-life stance include supporting life at all stages/life situations?
Well said, Levi. Although, I can tell you went to a liberal grad school because you don't know that "conservativism" is not a word -- it's "conservatism"!
My biggest question right now is whether I can reconcile my political beliefs with my spiritual beliefs. Obviously neither current political party does that (despite what both sides claim). That given, Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world; so my responsibility I believe is to represent the redemptive work of Jesus to His creation, regardless of political affiliation. Whew, so you're saying I can be against abortion AND against the bail-out, but yet want to help the oppressed??!! Happy day!
If that's my only typo I'll take it. In response to 'your biggest question,' i think that's partly what I'm addressing. Our calling is larger than a political affiliation. That said, the question of "how this is accomplished"--that is to say, if it is accomplished through or around politics is a different question and perhaps for another blog.
Fellas. I think this is becoming a defining question for those who follow Jesus. I know it has been in my life. What is Caesars? What is Gods? What is both?
Great stuff Levi.
Hopefully I'm not too late in adding my two cents to the conversation.
I whole heartedly agree with the statement that the church (the people of Christ) has seemingly forgot its call to help the oppressed. Too many Christians spend 99% of their money (that is after the govt takes its 45%) on themselves and forget that it is we who are to care for the "widows and orphans"...NOT the govt. We need to be more charitable with God's money and seek to have hearts to serve the oppressed. It is a tragedy if anyone in the church should be in want when the majority of the church has an abundance. (I believe we touched on this issue over a Crown and Sweet in H-town!)
I was hoping you could clarify something for me. In your blog you said that the liberal left has succeeded and the church conservatives have failed (in relation to social justice). Would you also say the same if the comparison was made instead to the general conservative right? Because to that I would say an emphatic NO. Overall, the liberal left has failed the oppressed with their oppressive policies (i.e. welfare). I believe conservatives have actually helped the oppressed by NOT supporting those policies. So to your statement, I agree that that the church needs to wake up to the fight for the oppressed but I won't do that by pawning that responsibility on to the gov't as many liberal Christians seem to think is the answer.
We've discussed some of this already over the phone but let me address it here briefly as well. By "success" I mean that the Left has pursued social justice issues and made genuine efforts to help the oppressed where Conservatives generlaly have not. I'm not saying that the Left has always done so rightly or out of the best motives 100% of the time--just that it is an important issue for them where it is not for the Right. Secondly, I don't know if I can say that my solution is to "pawn it off" on the Government. I am saying we, as believers, should be trying to do more--whatever that means--to help the oppressed and redeem social injustice. I would even say this could mean taking political action to do so. Exactly how this is done I am not sure I'm qualified to say. I don't know the statistics on welfare or exactly how you're defining "success" or "failure" as far as that goes. But it would be something I would be interested to learn more about.
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