Can a Christian fight for rights and revolt against injustice? Governments are put in place by God. God is sovereign and His will is perfect. There are purposes behind the way countries are run and manipulated in this world. Can a Christian critically examine their world, see injustice, and work for revolution? If a puppet government exploits the resources of a nation, mistreats its people, and swells the pockets of the rich do the Christian citizens of that nation work within the system for change or do they work to topple or completely rework the system? What sorts of actions are appropriate for Christians to take and what do they fight for? This physical world is not our home or the ultimate ; the spiritual is our home and is ultimate. But does that mean that we leave the poor, the oppressed, and the enslaved members of this world to their fates because we see that to be their lot?
I am thankful for the blessings that I have in my life, but I live a pretty coddled life in a part of the world that is hated for the way that it treats others. The United States is full of inequality and I would be lying to say that I am not on the top as a white middle class Christian who will soon be a college grad. Inside and outside there is need for change. Do we sometimes argue ourselves out of positive societal change because we believe so fiercely in the sovereignty of God (to the point of defacing it)? Maybe this is only something I struggle with. I've had one person come up to me and tell me they were upset with the way that sovereignty is emphasized to the point of minimizing merciful action in a hurting world. I wonder if this is more widespread in reformed circles. I have been mulling all of this over in my head over the weekend and it did not come out as I thought it would. Toned down, maybe?
I know that we are not building a physical or political world, but I guess my main decision to make in my thoughts is whether or not Christians should violently act for political changes if it brings about social justice, equality, and freedom (in a non-Bush sense of the word).
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- john
- My name is John. I am a student. I do not sleep much. I drink a lot of coffee.
2 comments:
Putting right what is wrong in the world is a major role for Christians. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..." That's not just living holy in a messed up world, that's putting things right by caring for the widows and orphans.
The kingdom of God is not just a spiritual place. It's not just up in the sky. It's being built here on earth.. "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We are living stones of that kingdom. Jesus Christ was the firstfruit of the New Creation.. he was resurrected as a physical person, so the physical really does matter. As Christians, we are working to see the new creation come, to see the garden of eden renewed on the earth-- the place where God was intimately present with His people in a very physical sense.
So, I think your questions are very good ones. I think they can be best answered when you start looking at Christianity and the world from the viewpoint of the kingdom of God and that the new creation is how God is restoring what was lost. I think that societal change is very important. Christians need to be voices in the desert crying out against injustice and declaring that Jesus is King. We don't need to try to do it in some politically secular way, where we just try to fight for human rights. We need to declare the truth and not be ashamed of it.
By the way, I'm a friend of meredith beck's and happened to read what you wrote, and obviously got a little excited about it. Forgive me if I sound a little loca.
P.S. Have you ever listened to N.T. Wright? He talks a lot about what you are thinking about and you can find a lot of his talks online for free. He's a Bishop in England of the Anglican church. Listen to his stuff on Jesus and the Kingdom, or Jesus and God. He also talks specifically about social reform.
Tell me if I just sound crazy. I want to know what you think.
--Dori Williams
I agree that Christians play a major role in the advancement of God's purposes on earth. Christ has redeemed us to works which he has prepared for us and we can work to bring Christ's redemption to the world.
I do not believe that we will see a garden of eden renewed on earth through an eventual reclaiming of all that was lost, but that instead the gospel will be preached to all nations and people from every tribe, tongue, people and nation will believe and then Christ will return and establish a reign on this earth.
Now when you say that Christians should not fight for human rights in politically secular ways I am not sure what you mean by that. Do you mean in aforementioned ways that are sinful, in a secular political environment, or in a struggle that is devoid of the gospel and the desire to see the kingdom built?
I would agree that Christians should not fight against injustice in sinful ways. That is a given. If a Christian's personal struggle against injustice is devoid of the gospel then it falls into that category. However, I do believe that there is a place for the Christian in the secular political environment and even in secular political struggles.
My friend disagrees with me a lot on the latter because he says that if a Christian engages in secular political struggles it means that a Christian feels some sense of entitlement that they should fight for and that they do not deserve anything.
While I agree that we do not deserve anything, I think that we should always critically examine our context for injustice or neglect, even if it is on a minor scale. For instance, if I go to a restaurant and I am served poorly cooked food by a rude waiter, the owner of the restaurant should know and if he does not change and apologize then I should stop going to that restaurant and warn others against it.
Now apply that to a political context. If a government oppresses their people, serves them poorly, and does not allow honest debate, how should Christians in that community respond? I think my main issue is that I do not believe we should just let things like that happen, but I do not know how we should respond in such circumstances. Yes, I do believe that the gospel should be the motivating force behind our response, but I do not know what that looks like in the secular and political environment.
I have never listened to N.T. Wright. I will have to give it a go when this semester ends.
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