Dubbing it “death with dignity,” there are currently ten jurisdictions in the United States in which euthanasia (assisted suicide) is legal. 14 states have abortion policies that are rated “protective,” “very protective” or “most protective” of the practice. The most protective state funds abortions without even involving a physician. What’s more, 21 states have laws and policies that are considered “medium to highly supportive” of LGBTQ causes. Seven of those states are so committed to the ideology that they’ve incorporated it into their school curricula.
Christians are, undeniably, engaged in a culture war. The kingdom of God is under assault and the battle has left no ground unstained. Politics, entertainment, education, business—there is a conflict at every front. Leaders in each industry consistently denounce “archaic” or “puritanical” religious principles while hypocritically preaching a doctrine of love and acceptance for everyone except those that disagree with them.
When you see cultural bullies victimize the masses does it ignite a fire in your belly? When your helpless neighbors are being harassed by godless leaders do you feel like you should act? Hopefully the answer is yes! It’s natural for a Christian to want to step up for victims of injustice in the name of Christ. But what’s the appropriate action? What do we do with righteous indignation? What does God-honoring, biblical activism look like? Here is Jesus’ example.
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Mt. 9:35–38)
Wait, what? Jesus was proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom when He made the same observation you made, that people were harassed and helpless. And like you, He had compassion on those that were being bullied like sheep without a shepherd. However, His response was not what you might expect. He said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” When He saw mistreated people, He did not turn in anger to the abusers, but in tenderness to the abused. He did not direct the disciples to confront manipulative rulers, but to entreat the Father for an increase in people that would care for the souls of the wounded.
Be honest. When you read the particulars in the introductory paragraph was your first inclination to find a hill to charge? When confronted by injustice do you run around, through and over a field of harassed and helpless people to pursue an oppressor? Make no mistake, the Bible repeatedly tells Christians to “hate evil” so the hostility injustice evokes is legitimate. The appropriate response, however, is not to attack but to save.
There are many times when Jesus confronted evil rulers. He called them “blind guides,” “whitewashed tombs” and “serpents” because He knew the state of their heart. He even spoke of them being sentenced to hell, but He never mobilized His disciples against them. On the contrary, His call to action was to “harvest.”
Are you fed up with the current state of our culture? Are you frustrated by laws, policies and attitudes that flaunt their violation of God’s law? Does your heart break for those that are unwittingly bombarded by shameful ideologies? Then rise up! Not by taking to the streets and certainly not by excessive complaining. Enter the field and begin to harvest! Lasting hope and real change will never be delivered by celebrities, political parties or titans of industry. Take matters into your own hands by turning your righteous indignation into compassion for the harassed and helpless with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. (Jn. 4:35–36)