Category: Engaging Our Culture

responsible for others' happiness

Are You Responsible For Others’ Happiness?

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I know it’s popular for Christian and secular counselors to say that others aren’t responsible for our happiness. But the fact is, they are. Not completely, but partly. That’s why Jesus and His apostles taught us to live in community. We are all partly responsible for others’ happiness. Much, if not most, of the teachings on relationships in the New Testament begin with the assumption that we affect others’ happiness. Scripture instructs us to “encourage each other” (Heb. 10:25). 2 Corinthians 1:4 teaches: “Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” We are responsible to bring comfort and encouragement to others, which are elements of happiness. Many other passages could be cited to support this. That is why the popular teaching about happiness is dangerously mistaken. Continue Reading →

martin luther king justice

Are You A Blessing To Your Society?

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Christians agree that Scripture teaches that they should help the needy and bless our society. Paul states this overarching principle: “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10, NIV). Loving the people in our society includes loving them by trying to reform societal structures that inflict suffering or injustice. Believers need to exercise whatever influence they have to accomplish these goals. After Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire in the 4th century, Christian teachings led to the adoption of humanitarian measures such as banning the bloody gladiator battles and banning infanticide. Christian congregations helped the poor and redeemed citizens taken prisoner by Rome’s enemies. Faithful congregations have pursued social justice ever since. If we can set up a food bank to help the hungry then we do it. If we can change laws that Continue Reading →

Christianity and society

Christianity In Society And Christian Nationalism – Part 3

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This is the third in a three-part series. The first post is here and the second one is here. We are called to be leaven in our society, but pursuing social change can sidetrack congregations if they are not vigilant. Congregations easily veer away from pursuing Christformation in their members because inner transformation is more challenging than any other calling on the body of Christ. The pursuit of social transformation is one of the great temptations that draws congregations away from their mission of making disciples (Christformation). Making it their top priority to achieve certain social results puts them on a path to spiritual decay. Some congregations pursue social transformation by engaging in “culture wars”; others try to gain political influence to Christianize their society; others find their identity in helping the needy and others focus on transforming institutions causing systemic damage to society. Congregations may not even be conscious Continue Reading →

Christianity and society

Christianity in Society and Christian Nationalism – Part 2

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Last week we began to look at the role of Christianity in society. We saw that Christianization can not be supported from Scripture. Christianization has not worked well in the past. History teaches us that when Christian organizations or hierarchies gain positions of direct political influence in the name of Christianity then it is only a matter of time before nominal Christians, wolves in sheep’s clothing, rise up to positions of influence within the church seeking the power held by the church. Obviously, this brings dishonor to the body of Christ and fills the church with ungodly leaders. The history of monastic orders in the Middle Ages is a perfect example of this. Several times godly reforming monastic movements gained so much wealth and power that they became complacent and worldly and the movement lost its effectiveness. It even came to pass that local nobles were allowed to buy the Continue Reading →

Christianity and society

Christianity in Society and Christian Nationalism – Part 1

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As a former lawyer this topic is something I have given a lot of thought to. As a Christian in law school I developed a deep appreciation for the wisdom of the American Constitution. Through the years I have reflected on the role of Christianity in society. The goal of Christianization movements is the administration of a society according to Christian values. Some views are stricter than others so we find that there is a continuum of Christianization thinking. Like prosperity gospel teachers, Christianization teachers often take Old Testament passages that refer to Old Covenant politics or to the final fulfillment of the kingdom of God and apply them to our current age. Christianization thinking is tempting for Christians when they witness their society decline into self-worship and destructiveness. A term that is becoming synonymous with Christianization is Christian nationalism. Unfortunately, definitions of this term diverge, often according to the Continue Reading →