by Joel V Webb | Feb 16, 2024 | Uncategorized
A lot of buzz has been going around the Christian internet sphere
about the recent ad campaign from “He Gets Us”. I have seen a lot
of posts from people who are either for or against the campaign. For
myself personally I think they both have valid points.
For the against
crowd their focus is on the lack of a repentance message. Ultimately,
no matter how you parse it the core of the Gospel is that we are to
turn to Christ, repent, and follow Him in the new life He offers. If
we leave this out (even under the guise of pre-evangelism),
people may think that following Jesus can happen without a change.
That change can only truly come from the power of the Holy Spirit
working in our lives. Through prevenient grace, God opens our eyes to
our need for repentance to make the choice to ask Christ to forgive
us, and then we begin to follow Him. Demonstrating our allegiance to
our King in every aspect of our lives. I do also share some of the
political leaning concerns as well. The messaging that is presented
does utilize imagery and hints towards a more progressive liberal
political message that is hard to separate from what they are trying
to do. The definition of “hate” in our modern world really means,
“you don’t agree or accept how I live my life, so you hate me!”
That is not the definition of hate, and utilizing that definition,
then Jesus would be called a hater for calling people out of their
sin. Not making them comfortable in it.
On the other hand,
there is room to agree with some of the heart that this particular
campaign is getting at. From my perspective many in the Evangelical
world have traded gospel witness for political activity. This is not
to say we shouldn’t be involved in politics. We are to be! But it
seems that for some the primary method of bringing about change has
turned to political mechanisms, rather than the Great Commission.
Instead of proclaiming Christ as King and having our hope in Him,
some seem to ascribe messianic power to the presidency of whoever is
their candidate of choice (be it Republican or Democrat). As
Christians our method of impacting the world around us never has
been, and never will be politics…rather transformed hearts. When we
trade God’s Kingdom for setting up our own it leads to tyranny,
injustice and death. Because of much of this many’s discourse has
become very militant and unloving. Rather than presenting the gospel,
we also throw in whichever partisan politics we want to see
established.
So what are we to
do?
Balance and wisdom
are needed. Any gospel preached without repentance is not actually
good news because it does not solve our greatest human need.
Salvation. Likewise, we are to love and be gracious. Jesus didn’t
demand the Zealots or Pharisees to join the others movement, but
rather to follow Him and sin no more. We can and should stand firm on
the truth of the gospel, while at the same time being filled with
love and grace towards those who are hurt and broken, in need of
hearing the transforming message of the gospel. Just like all who now
follow Christ did before coming to a saving knowledge of King Jesus.
The washing takes
place, the washing away of our sins.
by Joel V Webb | Jan 10, 2024 | Uncategorized
What is Biblical Justice?
This is often a hot button issue of discussion. Many Christians completely ignore issues of justice and don’t involve themselves in transforming the world around them through the gospel. While others take concepts of justice with almost no discernment or differentiation from political ideologies that are antithetical to Scripture and hiw we are to see the world.
Here are some points I have found helpful in assessing how we enact justice.
If a view of justice blames all evil on external systems of oppression while ignoring Solomon’s pride-deflating insight that our own hearts are full of evil and moral insanity (Eccles. 9:3) then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview sees evil not only in systems (Ps. 94:20), where we ought to seek justice, but also within the twisted hearts of those who make those systems unjust. All the external activism in the world won’t bring about any lasting justice if we downplay our need for the regenerating, love-infusing work of God through the gospel.
If a view of justice deconstructs relationships in terms of “power differentials” and argues that all such hierarchies are oppressive and must be abolished in the name of “equality” then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview totally opposes the sinful abuse of power, but sees many hierarchies, like the parent-child, rabbi-disciple, elders-congregation, teacher-student relationships, as part of God’s good design for human flourishing.
If a view of justice interprets all truth, reason and logic as mere constructs of the oppressive class, if it encourages us to dismiss someone’s viewpoint on the basis of their skin tone or gender, then it is not true justice. The Greatest Commandment calls people from every ethnicity and gender to love God with our whole minds. A mind that loves the Father assesses ideas based on their biblical fidelity, truth-value and evidence, not the group identity of those articulating it.
If a view of justice encourages rage and resentment toward people groups as a motivator for social activism then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview calls us to overcome evil with good, love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Family and reconciliation among every tongue, tribe and nation, not intertribal warfare, is the Bible’s model for justice.
If a view of justice breaks people into group identities, generating a spirit of mutual suspicion, hostility, fear, labeling, offended-ness and preoccupation with one’s subjective feelings then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview champions a unifying kind of love that “is not easily offended,” and offers us the fruit of the Spirit like joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.
If a view of justice treats individuals as exemplars or ciphers of their identity groups, attributing goodness or guilt on the basis of skin tone, gender or social status, then it is not true justice. A Christian worldview assesses everyone as guilty based on our group identity “in Adam.” This guilt can be erased only by finding our new and deepest group identity in Jesus, “the second Adam.” Rather than condemning people for ethnic or gender group identity, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
If a view of justice seeks behavior modification, often through intimidation, speech codes and ideological re-education, then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview seeks character transformation not through political coercion but through the in-working power of the Holy Spirit, the discipleship of the family and the local church.
If a view of justice teaches that the human telos (i.e., our ultimate purpose and meaning) is defined by the creature, and that anyone who challenges our self-defined telos is an oppressor, then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview teaches that our telos is defined by the Creator and the sinful refusal to live within that God-defined telos brings oppression to ourselves and those around us. Real authenticity and freedom don’t come from defining yourself and “following your heart,” but from letting God define you and following his heart.
(taken from Thinking Biblically About Social Justice – Talbot Magazine – Biola University)
