"THE HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL, AMERICA!"
Excerpted From “Christian Activism: Is It Biblical? —by Dave Hunt
Increasing numbers of Christians are
engaging in social and political activism for the astonishing purpose of
attempting to coerce an ungodly society into adopting Christian standards of
conduct.... There are numerous cases of civil disobedience in Scripture, but it
was never engaged in for the purpose of forcing an ungodly society to obey biblical
principles. The Hebrew midwives, for example, disobeyed Pharaoh’s edict and
spared the lives of the male babies, even lying to cover up their “rescue
operation” (Ex 1:15-22). This was, however, a matter of individual conscience
before God, not an organized attempt to pressure the pagan Egyptians by mass
demonstrations into adopting Israel’s God-given morals.
The same is true of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego’s refusal to obey the king’s command to bow to an idol, and of
Daniel’s defiance of the royal decree against prayer. Though boldly witnessing
for God even to kings, Daniel never used his high government position to
attempt to pressure a pagan society to abandon its evil practices to begin a
godly way of life. Nor did Joseph or Esther pressure the pagan societies in
which they held high positions to adopt biblical morals. So it was with Ezra
and Nehemiah. They used their influence with kings to obtain permission to
rebuild Jerusalem and the temple but made no attempt to change the practices of
those societies, though they practiced abortion, homosexuality, and other
evils.
There are no biblical examples to support
“Christian activism.” Christ “suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye
should follow his steps.” He sternly and repeatedly rebuked Israel’s false religious
leaders, yet He never spoke out—not even once—against the injustices of Roman civil authority! Nor did He advocate,
organize, or engage in any public protests to pressure Rome into changing its
corrupt system or the society of His day its evil ways. He submitted to unjust
authorities, as Romans 13 tells us we should do today: “Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself
to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Pt 2:21-25).
Yes, Paul told the centurion who was about
to have him unlawfully scourged that he was a Roman citizen; and he told the
local officials at Philippi to come and apologize for beating him and Silas
without trial. That was not, however, political/social activism. He was not
attempting thereby to change society. He was simply standing up for his
personal rights under the law (as we also should do), and that includes voting. Paul was
determined to obey God rather than men and never held back from preaching the
gospel, though it meant his life....
Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation,
offers neither example nor doctrinal teaching to support the idea that
Christians ought to engage in political/social activism, lobbying, the takeover
methods of [various evangelical organizations and “spiritual warfare”
rallies]—or that Christians in public office could or should influence society
to adopt biblical standards of conduct. Don’t forget, any change would have to be
effected through a corrupt political system involving an ungodly majority above
and below. Romans 13 tells us to obey rulers, and 1 Timothy 2 to pray for
them—not to attempt to change them by coercion. It is not only foolish but
counterproductive to attempt to persuade the unsaved to live like Christians.
They can’t do it—and if they could it would only blind them the more to their
sin and need of a Savior.
Acts:19:23-41 tells how a large group of
citizens in Ephesus staged a huge “demonstration” against Paul and the gospel
he preached. A crowd of probably several thousand persons tore their clothes,
threw dust in the air and for two hours vociferously chanted their praise to
the locally manufactured god that was their chief source of income.” Great is
Diana of the Ephesians!” they cried. Should Paul have gathered a larger crowd
of Christians to cry out yet more loudly and longer and thereby impose their
will upon the local authorities? Of course not! Such un-Christian conduct is
demeaning of our Lord and His gospel and would have been unthinkable for the
early church. Yet that is basically what Christian activism involves today—the
well-meaning but foolish attempt to force “Christian principles” upon a godless
society through more effective lobbying, larger demonstrations, and greater social
upheaval than the homosexuals, abortionists, or pornographers can produce.
Rather than pressure the ungodly to live
like saints, we must win them to Christ that they might live wholly by God. Our
personal lives must be lived in obedience to God’s laws even if that brings us
into conflict with
civil laws. In addition to avoiding idolatry and immorality, Christians must
preach the gospel to everyone everywhere, regardless of government edicts to
the contrary. In so doing, the apostles made that historic declaration: “We
ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts:5:29)!
Though forbidden by the authorities, the
apostles persisted in preaching the gospel. Like their Lord, however, they made
no attempt to lobby in Rome for an end to prostitution and abortions; nor did they stage public
demonstrations for a change in unjust laws. There is a danger of being so
caught up in the social aspect of good causes that one forgets and neglects the
chief Christian calling. The Great Commission does
not involve exerting a Christian influence upon society. We are not to “change
society” but to “convert individuals.” There is much talk today about “changing
the world for Christ.” In fact there is no biblical teaching or example to
support that popular slogan. Rather than persuading sinners to live like
saints, we must call them to heavenly citizenship through “repentance toward
God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts:20:21).
We must not only rescue the unborn but the
children in public schools, who are being perverted through the teaching of
immorality, witchcraft, and occultism. We must identify psychology as the major vehicle of so much
of this evil and root it out of our churches, seminaries and universities.
We must denounce sin, call for national
repentance, and preach the gospel in convicting power. Christians must call for
repentance not only for homosexuality, child abuse, pornography, and abortion but for more
subtle forms of rebellion against God and rejection of Christ. The church must
be indicted both for its lack of social concern and for its heresies and
failure to preach the truth. We must denounce the destructive
false teachings that abound. It is hypocritical for the church to protest the
world’s sins while tolerating and even honoring within its ranks those who
preach a false gospel and are the enemies of the cross of
Christ.
Instead of protesters, we need prophets to
call the world to repentance: Enochs who walk with God and warn of judgment
(Heb:11:55; Jude 14-15); Noahs, preachers of righteousness (2 Pt 2:5), who warn
of judgment to come and invite sinners into an ark of safety. What if, instead
of building the ark, Noah had tried to reform society! We need Daniels: “Mene,
mene, tekel upharsin”—the handwriting is on the wall, America!
You’ve been weighed in the balance and found wanting! Murdered babies, the
abomination of homosexuality, and society’s flippant, deliberate rebellion
against God have aroused His anger beyond any possibility of reprieve! We need
Isaiahs and Jeremiahs!
[But] “Christian activism” is not
Christian. It represents a detour from the straight path the church is to walk
before the world. It can confuse the real issues, lead to compromise and unholy
alliances, and divert time and
effort that would better be used in proclaiming the gospel. Weigh the demands
upon your time and set priorities. Be fully engaged in rescuing souls for
eternity. (TBC, November 1989) _____END
Dave Hunt is, in my opinion, the most important Christian thinker and author in the past 50 years. CMR
A CHILD OF THE KING
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