Pop Justice:Pop Justice:

Is social action the latest church Is social action the latest church trend?trend?

Bono has helped the evangelical Bono has helped the evangelical church in America become more church in America become more sensitive to those in need around the sensitive to those in need around the world and awakened our marginalized, world and awakened our marginalized, or in some places forgotten, call to see or in some places forgotten, call to see justice. But, is the new focus on social justice. But, is the new focus on social justice just another pop-Christian justice just another pop-Christian trend?trend?

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2006/09/pop_justice_is.http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2006/09/pop_justice_is.htmlhtml

What if social justice and compassion What if social justice and compassion projects are simply the latest trend?projects are simply the latest trend?

In recent years, many church have In recent years, many church have become involve in social justice issues, become involve in social justice issues, or at least talking about it.or at least talking about it.

Will it last or will it fade like every Will it last or will it fade like every other trend?other trend?

Trends in the ChurchTrends in the Church

Small groupsSmall groups Seeker sensitiveSeeker sensitive Vineyard worship musicVineyard worship music Cell churchesCell churches Baseball diamond for assimilationBaseball diamond for assimilation Holy laughterHoly laughter Radio preachingRadio preaching

Routine of TrendsRoutine of Trends

ExcitementExcitement

Adoption by early innovatorsAdoption by early innovators

With time, most churches participate With time, most churches participate

Eventually, it passes and we wait for Eventually, it passes and we wait for the “new” thing.the “new” thing.

Will all the attention the church at Will all the attention the church at large is now rightfully and biblically large is now rightfully and biblically giving to social justice fade with giving to social justice fade with time?time?

It is horribly sad if this rising interest It is horribly sad if this rising interest in justice is only short-term.in justice is only short-term.

Hopefully it won’t fade away, but Hopefully it won’t fade away, but come to be seen as central to what it come to be seen as central to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.means to be a disciple of Jesus.

www.johnstott.org/the-impawww.johnstott.org/the-impact/?id=1f6a337f2972298226ct/?id=1f6a337f2972298226695eb2b1d28d82695eb2b1d28d82

EvangelismEvangelism

The Lousanne Covenant (1974) The Lousanne Covenant (1974) defined evangelization as “the whole defined evangelization as “the whole church taking the whole gospel to church taking the whole gospel to the whole world.”the whole world.”

Use the Whole BibleUse the Whole Bible

Holistic theology and practice of Holistic theology and practice of mission requires a holistic mission requires a holistic understanding and use of the Bible.understanding and use of the Bible.

The Bible shows us God’s priorities The Bible shows us God’s priorities and passions.and passions.

The Bible shows us God’s heart:The Bible shows us God’s heart:

For the last and the least (socially, For the last and the least (socially, culturally, and economically) as well as the culturally, and economically) as well as the lost (spiritually).lost (spiritually).

For those dying of hunger, AIDS, and war, For those dying of hunger, AIDS, and war, as well as those who are dying in their as well as those who are dying in their sins.sins.

For the landless, homeless, family-less and For the landless, homeless, family-less and stateless as well as for those who are stateless as well as for those who are without Christ, without God and without without Christ, without God and without hope in the world.hope in the world.

Old Testament ProphetsOld Testament Prophets

OT prophets confronted Israel and OT prophets confronted Israel and demanded that they change their demanded that they change their ways, if they were to have any hope ways, if they were to have any hope of fulfilling their mission of being a of fulfilling their mission of being a light to the nations and a blessing on light to the nations and a blessing on earth.earth.

The dominant prophetic call was to The dominant prophetic call was to repentance among God’s people, so repentance among God’s people, so that God could get on with the job of that God could get on with the job of blessing the world.blessing the world.

Scandals and Abuses in the Scandals and Abuses in the World-wide CommunityWorld-wide Community

Mega leaders wielding vast Mega leaders wielding vast wealth, power and controlwealth, power and control——unaccountable, unattractive and unaccountable, unattractive and unChristlike.unChristlike.

Scandalous biblical ignoranceScandalous biblical ignorance——multitudes of ordinary Christians in multitudes of ordinary Christians in so-called evangelical churches never so-called evangelical churches never hear the Bible preached or taught.hear the Bible preached or taught.

Prosperity gospelProsperity gospel—a 21—a 21stst century century form of indulgences, except you pay form of indulgences, except you pay your money not for release from your money not for release from pains after death, but for receipt of pains after death, but for receipt of material blessings here and now.material blessings here and now.

Ungodly alliancesUngodly alliances with secular with secular power—political, economic and power—political, economic and military—identifying themselves with military—identifying themselves with agendas and ideologies that reflect agendas and ideologies that reflect human empire not the kingdom of human empire not the kingdom of God.God.

Criticism of 16Criticism of 16thth Century Century ReformationReformation

Was criticized because it lacked Was criticized because it lacked missionary awareness and energy..missionary awareness and energy..

They were so obsessed with tackling They were so obsessed with tackling abuses in the church that they neglected abuses in the church that they neglected world mission.world mission.

How ironic and tragic will it be if 21How ironic and tragic will it be if 21stst century evangelicals are so obsessed with century evangelicals are so obsessed with world missions that we neglect abuses in world missions that we neglect abuses in the church and remain willfully blind to our the church and remain willfully blind to our own idolatries and syncretism?own idolatries and syncretism?

If reformation without mission If reformation without mission was defective, then mission was defective, then mission without reformation will be without reformation will be deluded, self-defeating and deluded, self-defeating and even dangerous.even dangerous.

Course CorrectionsCourse CorrectionsAjith FernandoAjith Fernando

At the end of the 19At the end of the 19thth century, theological century, theological liberals began emphasizing the liberals began emphasizing the humanness of Christ while evangelicals humanness of Christ while evangelicals reacted by emphasizing the atoning work reacted by emphasizing the atoning work of Christ.of Christ.

Liberals concentrated on good deeds Liberals concentrated on good deeds while evangelicals focused on saving while evangelicals focused on saving souls.souls.

www.christianvisionproject.com/2007/11/getting_back_on_course-print.htmlwww.christianvisionproject.com/2007/11/getting_back_on_course-print.html

By the middle of the 20By the middle of the 20thth century, century, evangelicals realized their mistake!evangelicals realized their mistake!

C. F. H. Henry’s work, C. F. H. Henry’s work, The Uneasy The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Conscience of Modern FundamentalismFundamentalism (1947), and the (1947), and the Lausanne Covenant of 1974 were Lausanne Covenant of 1974 were landmark documents leading the landmark documents leading the church to see social concern as an church to see social concern as an element of the church’s mission.element of the church’s mission.

Regardless of political allegiances, Regardless of political allegiances, Christians were encouraged to Christians were encouraged to engage the culture and seek to daily engage the culture and seek to daily demonstrate the Christian ethic.demonstrate the Christian ethic.

The old “evangelism versus social The old “evangelism versus social action” war was over—or so I action” war was over—or so I believed. believed.

Serving in Sri Lanka, I was devoted to Serving in Sri Lanka, I was devoted to raising up a “post war” generation raising up a “post war” generation for whom social involvement and for whom social involvement and evangelism were natural outgrowths evangelism were natural outgrowths of commitment to Christ.of commitment to Christ.

Neglecting Evangelism?Neglecting Evangelism?

I hear evangelicals talking a lot about I hear evangelicals talking a lot about justice and kingdom values but not justice and kingdom values but not proclaiming the gospel to those of proclaiming the gospel to those of other faiths and winning them for other faiths and winning them for Christ.Christ.

Proclamation or Presence?Proclamation or Presence?

Evangelicals emphasized proclamation Evangelicals emphasized proclamation

Liberals emphasized presence—living Liberals emphasized presence—living out our Christianity before the people. out our Christianity before the people.

I believe the “presence versus I believe the “presence versus proclamation” battle has come back to proclamation” battle has come back to the church. the church.

Many nations are outlawing Many nations are outlawing conversion through coercion.conversion through coercion.

Severe persecution is the result.Severe persecution is the result.

We face several obstacles that could We face several obstacles that could stop our evangelistic momentum and stop our evangelistic momentum and replace it with more palatable replace it with more palatable agendas.agendas.

Questions to Challenge Our Questions to Challenge Our ShortsightednessShortsightedness

Do we talk about the coming Do we talk about the coming judgment?judgment?

If not, the next generation won’t If not, the next generation won’t believe it. believe it.

One generation neglects the belief, One generation neglects the belief, the next generation rejects it.the next generation rejects it.

Jesus said, “What does it profit a Jesus said, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”forfeit his life?”

The context indicates that the Lord The context indicates that the Lord is talking about eternal destruction is talking about eternal destruction which can only be averted by which can only be averted by accepting his grace, denying self, accepting his grace, denying self, taking up the cross, and following taking up the cross, and following him. him.

Does his perspective color the Does his perspective color the way we look at people who do way we look at people who do not follow Jesus?not follow Jesus?

Why did the Holy Spirit ensure Why did the Holy Spirit ensure that there are seven statements that there are seven statements of Christ’s Great Commission in of Christ’s Great Commission in the New Testament? the New Testament?

Is it not because Jesus believed Is it not because Jesus believed that before he left, it was important that before he left, it was important to drill into his disciples’ minds the to drill into his disciples’ minds the priority of the work of saving souls priority of the work of saving souls for eternity?for eternity?

Does Evangelism Have Priority Does Evangelism Have Priority Over Social Concern?Over Social Concern?

Reluctant to use the language of Reluctant to use the language of priority.priority.

Such talk comes out of the Western Such talk comes out of the Western desire to have things nicely lined up desire to have things nicely lined up in logical progression.in logical progression.

I prefer, that our calling is to be I prefer, that our calling is to be obedient to God totally. If God is in obedient to God totally. If God is in control of our lives, he will lead us so control of our lives, he will lead us so that we will give the proper place to that we will give the proper place to the whole will of God for us.the whole will of God for us.

Holistic ThinkingHolistic Thinking We are called to be holistic.We are called to be holistic.

But part of holistic Christianity is the But part of holistic Christianity is the statement of Christ that all earthly gain is statement of Christ that all earthly gain is worthless if a person loses his life to eternal worthless if a person loses his life to eternal destruction.destruction.

The stark fact of lostness places before us The stark fact of lostness places before us the urgency of evangelism.the urgency of evangelism.

I will encourage people to live the Christian I will encourage people to live the Christian life in society, but I will also follow Christ’s life in society, but I will also follow Christ’s example in placing before Christians the example in placing before Christians the fact of eternal damnation and the glory of fact of eternal damnation and the glory of eternal salvation.eternal salvation.

I am reluctant to reinsert the priority I am reluctant to reinsert the priority argument. But we need clarity. argument. But we need clarity. Some will rightly say that because of Some will rightly say that because of calling or circumstances in some calling or circumstances in some parts of the world, faithful Christians parts of the world, faithful Christians cannot always preach. They are cannot always preach. They are called instead to social work, and called instead to social work, and government regulations prohibit government regulations prohibit combining social work with combining social work with evangelism. Fair enough.evangelism. Fair enough.

Some parts of the body of Christ may Some parts of the body of Christ may be called to do things other than be called to do things other than proclaiming the gospel of eternal proclaiming the gospel of eternal salvation, though they would verbally salvation, though they would verbally advocate other aspects of the advocate other aspects of the kingdom agenda—such as justice, kingdom agenda—such as justice, fair play, and righteous values. fair play, and righteous values. Indeed, every Christian needs to be Indeed, every Christian needs to be committed to the whole gospel, committed to the whole gospel, seeking to be a personal witness seeking to be a personal witness through life and word.through life and word.

To that end, Christian social-service To that end, Christian social-service organizations must ensure that their organizations must ensure that their workers are not only committed to workers are not only committed to their social work, but also to Christ as their social work, but also to Christ as the Lord of their lives. So even the Lord of their lives. So even though verbal witness may not be though verbal witness may not be part of their job descriptions, they part of their job descriptions, they need to be committed to it in their need to be committed to it in their person lives.person lives.

Practical realities will dictate that not Practical realities will dictate that not every segment of the church will be every segment of the church will be involved in all forms of proactive involved in all forms of proactive evangelism and all forms of social evangelism and all forms of social engagement.engagement.

Taken together, the whole body of Taken together, the whole body of Christ will be engaged in the whole Christ will be engaged in the whole mission of the church.mission of the church.

As the Lausanne movement puts it, As the Lausanne movement puts it, “The whole church must take the “The whole church must take the whole gospel to the whole world.”whole gospel to the whole world.”

Brussels Statement Brussels Statement CommentaryCommentary

A long history of reaching, planting, A long history of reaching, planting, training, and touching people.training, and touching people.

Touching is what we do.Touching is what we do.

Our actions in compassionate Our actions in compassionate ministries should be clearly enunciated ministries should be clearly enunciated as part of an intentional theology and as part of an intentional theology and strategy.strategy.

Kingdom of God is key term to Kingdom of God is key term to formulate biblical principles of church formulate biblical principles of church missions that seeks to obey all Christ's missions that seeks to obey all Christ's commandscommands

Signs of the Kingdom are seen clearly in Signs of the Kingdom are seen clearly in Jesus’ ministryJesus’ ministry

Jesus’ exemplary ministry and sacrifice on Jesus’ exemplary ministry and sacrifice on the cross is a summons to service for all the cross is a summons to service for all His followers.His followers.

Though the Kingdom of God plants Though the Kingdom of God plants signposts of the future in the signposts of the future in the present:present:

There remains an eschatological There remains an eschatological fulfillment when the messianic fulfillment when the messianic salvation will be perfectly salvation will be perfectly accomplished in the age to come.accomplished in the age to come.

To enter the Kingdom requires a To enter the Kingdom requires a radical transformation in one’s life radical transformation in one’s life through repentance and faith in the through repentance and faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.atoning work of Jesus Christ.

The blessings of life in the Kingdom The blessings of life in the Kingdom come by God’s gift of grace alone.come by God’s gift of grace alone.

The Pentecostal narrative in Acts connects The Pentecostal narrative in Acts connects the Kingdom of God and mission of Jesus.the Kingdom of God and mission of Jesus.

The empowerment of the Holy Spirit in The empowerment of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 and the eschatological hope in the Acts 2 and the eschatological hope in the return of Jesus energized the early church.return of Jesus energized the early church.

The Spirit empowered disciples to do all The Spirit empowered disciples to do all that Jesus began to do and teach.that Jesus began to do and teach.

Acts demonstrates the rule of God Acts demonstrates the rule of God pushes followers to:pushes followers to:

Continue miracles, signs, wondersContinue miracles, signs, wonders

To continue compassionate responses to To continue compassionate responses to human needhuman need

To break down humanly constructed To break down humanly constructed social barrierssocial barriers

Continue to proclaim the Gospel to all Continue to proclaim the Gospel to all nationsnations

To enter the Kingdom is to come To enter the Kingdom is to come under God’s rule and be incorporated under God’s rule and be incorporated into the new order of life where love into the new order of life where love is normative.is normative.

Moral imperatives such as love, Moral imperatives such as love, mercy, peace, justice, respect of mercy, peace, justice, respect of person are not prescriptions of law, person are not prescriptions of law, but what life looks like under God’s but what life looks like under God’s rule.rule.

The local church is called to be God’s The local church is called to be God’s visible and corporate entity bearing visible and corporate entity bearing witness to his Kingdom in mission witness to his Kingdom in mission and reconciliation between people.and reconciliation between people.

The ministry of the church is to all The ministry of the church is to all people because all people have been people because all people have been made in the image of God.made in the image of God.

Jesus’ earthly ministry demonstrated Jesus’ earthly ministry demonstrated a deep concern for every aspect of a deep concern for every aspect of human existence.human existence.

To follow Jesus’ example, the church To follow Jesus’ example, the church must do the same.must do the same.

The church models Jesus’ lead:The church models Jesus’ lead:

Ministry to children provides dignity Ministry to children provides dignity

To the marginalized, it provides self-To the marginalized, it provides self-worth and justiceworth and justice

To the sick, it provides healingTo the sick, it provides healing

The hope of the return of the Lord The hope of the return of the Lord makes demands on our life and makes demands on our life and service in the present.service in the present.

We long for Jesus’ return, but we are We long for Jesus’ return, but we are not passive.not passive.

The promise of Christ’s return The promise of Christ’s return compels us to continue to proclaim compels us to continue to proclaim the good news, engage powers of the good news, engage powers of darkness and show compassion of darkness and show compassion of Jesus to suffering people.Jesus to suffering people.

This is the gospel preached and This is the gospel preached and demonstrated to all nations until the demonstrated to all nations until the end.end.