Monday, March 9 – Today, we conclude the message from Pastor Chappell.
So what are Christians to do in a society that confuses and mislabels right and wrong?
- Recognize the source of confusion.
Sometimes Christians think they can help by joining in the confusion. Of course, they don’t phrase it quite like that. But instead of standing firm on biblically-clear issues, they equivocate or sidestep by saying things like, “This is a really-nuanced issue, and I can’t answer it directly.” Or they hope to gain the understanding of the world by joining people or organizations that are founded on an anti-God bias for some form of a “greater good.”
Satan is the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). And one of the ways that he brings confusion is by adding complexity—moving people away from the simple realities of truth.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)
This is not to say that issues of our day such as racism, abortion, homosexuality, or others do not have varied factors to their impact on individual lives. It’s not to say that there might not be multiple approaches to how to help or bring change. But it is to say that the Bible’s truth regarding them is straightforward and simple. And if we cannot directly bring God’s Word to bear on the root issues, we are either cowardly or undiscerning.
When people come to us who are suffering because of their struggle with these issues, we should be compassionate and care for the aspects of their lives touched by sin. But we should not struggle to be straightforward in saying what the Bible says on clear moral issues.
- Bring clarity through Bible teaching.
A confused society needs a biblically-committed church with a clear message. If people are not going to hear the truth about what the Bible says at church, where are they going to hear it?
If young people are not going to hear what the Bible says about gender distinction, the sanctity of life, justice, and creation from their parents and from their church, where will they hear it?
Christians today are inundated with false teaching that assumes the form of education or news. They need pulpits, lecterns, and discipleship relationships that bring biblical clarity to topics that feel confusing.
- Declare the gospel.
If Christians need to hear Bible truth to bring clarity to the moral issues of our day, what do the lost need?
They need Christians who have the clarity to see the central issues of sin and salvation.
They need family members, neighbors, coworkers, and friends who will see past the conversations about politics and mask mandates and bigotry to lost hearts who need a Savior.
They need churches who care enough about reconciliation that they recognize the need of every man, woman, boy, and girl to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
Please don’t misunderstand this call to declare the gospel as a simplistic way of saying, “Cultural issues don’t matter; just tell more people about Jesus.” Cultural issues do matter. But they don’t matter more than a human soul. They don’t matter more than the realities of heaven, hell, and salvation through Christ.
We could invest our entire lives in bringing kindness to human need—and I’m thankful for those who have done that. But if that kindness is divorced from the essential issue of the gospel of Christ, it doesn’t bring lasting help.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
Yes, we must boldly speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We must do justly and love mercy (Micah 6:8). But we must also declare the gospel.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)
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