Mission Twenty-One: On Mission in a Politically Divided Culture
Four Divisive Cultural Issues
Racial Justice
Concern for the poor and marginalized
Pro-life vs abortion
Marriage definition: between one man and one woman
The Socio-Political Divide
• The first two issues are championed by liberals (primarily democrats in the political spectrum)
· Racial Justice
· Concern for the poor and marginalized
• The second two issues are championed by conservatives (primarily republicans in the political spectrum)
· Pro-life
· Marriage definition: between one man and one woman
Key Questions for Us as Followers of Jesus
• How do we better understand these issues?
• Which issues need to be incorporated into our lives as followers of Jesus?
Our Mission
• "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
Making Disciples
• The one doing the discipling must be a disciple of Jesus
• Making disciples requires a relationship between the disciple and the disciple maker
• Making disciples of all nations means making disciples of all races
• The most egalitarian entity in the world is the Church of Jesus Christ – all are welcome!
Issue #1: Racial Justice
• “Racial justice is the systematic fair treatment of people of all races that results in equitable opportunities and outcomes for everyone. All people are able to achieve their full potential in life, regardless of race, ethnicity or the community in which they live.”
Equity vs Equality
• Equity involves trying to understand and give people the opportunity to achieve and enjoy full, healthy lives
• This is a worthy and attainable goal for all people
• Equality, in contrast, aims to ensure the outcome that everyone gets the same things in order to enjoy full, healthy lives
• This is largely unattainable because it fails to take in consideration variables like education, individual drive and initiative, family background, or a person’s values and objectives
Issue #2: Concern for the Poor and Marginalized (build slide)
• John 15:12-13 Jesus says to His disciples, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” And Jesus adds this in John 15:17 “This is my command: Love each other.”
• A command not a suggestion
• Love (agape) is not the same as liking others
• Love (agape) is a choice, not a feeling
• Places others ahead of ourself
God’s Love Changes Us
In Matthew 5:43-45, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
• This love of God is radical
• It comes through yielding ourselves to God
• It requires us to receive God’s love in order to give it to others
Becoming Uncomfortable
• We are most comfortable being around others who are like us
• Each of us were poor and needy from God’s perspective
• We are called to risk being uncomfortable and associate with the poor and the needy
• Economic classes, social classes, or racial superiority are all oxymorons for the Church of Jesus Christ
Issue #3: Pro Life vs Abortion
• Abortion became law by fiat of the Supreme Court, not by Congress or any State Legislature
• The nation is sharply divided on this issue
• Both sides claim “rights”
• The left claims the “right” to choose
• The right claims the “right” to life for the unborn
Understanding Life (build slide)
Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Jeremiah 1:5 adds, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,”
• All life comes from God
• All life is valuable to God
• All life belongs to God
• There is no more innocent life than the unborn
• Who has the right to take innocent human life?
Abortion Alternatives
• We can assist the birth mother financially, we can assist with child care, we can mentor and help bless the child, we can help with adoption if that is the choice
• None of us knows how the Lord may use a life that is spared from abortion
The Unpardonable Sin?
• Because abortion is legal in America does not make it morally right. Don’t be confused in this issue, taking innocent life is sin, no matter what the law of the land says.
• God’s law supersedes all human law and each of us is accountable to God for the choices we make
• Repentance, agreeing with God about sin and turning from it, enables us to receive God’s forgiveness and grace
Issue #4: The Definition of Marriage
Genesis 2:24 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
• God’s plan is one man and one woman for life.
• Cultural pressure to include homosexual and serial heterosexual marriages doesn’t change God’s definition
God’s Perspective on Marriage
• “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4 The Message version says it this way, “Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.”
• Sexuality is a gift from God and it is intended for pleasure within the context of marriage between one man and one woman.
One Man and One Woman
• Jesus responded to a question about divorce saying, “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Mark 10:9)
• Paul confirms this writing to the Church in Corinth who were asking a similar question; “Are you married? Do not seek a divorce.” (1 Corinthians 7:27)
Cultural Pressure on God’s Model
Approve and Bless Same Sex Marriages
• Leviticus 18:22, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable."
• Paul adds, “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." (Romans 1:26-27)
• Approve and Bless Serial Heterosexual Marriages
• God declares, “I hate divorce.” (Malachi 2:16) Paul reminds us that in all relationships we are to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
• As followers of Jesus, we are called to love and care for our spouse before ourselves
Your Beliefs and the word of God (build slide)
• Are you a liberal strongly supporting racial justice and concern for the poor and the marginalized?
• Are you a conservative strongly supporting a pro-life agenda and marriage between one man and one woman for life?
• I hope you are neither one
All Four Cultural Issues Belong to Us
• As we make disciples and practice equity we will promote racial justice
• As we love one another as Jesus loves us we will care for the poor and marginalized
• As followers of Jesus who created all life, we are to advocate for life in all stages including the unborn
• As we love our spouse as God loves us, our marriages will be pleasing to God and model His plan – one man and one woman for as long as the two shall live!