Sinful nation, silent church

Recently, a pastor of one of the largest “evangelical” churches in America made an all-too-common comment. After listening to a sermon that included a description of the horrors of abortion, including partial-birth abortion, he remarked that he would never preach on that subject from his pulpit!

Was I shocked? Well, yes and no.

I was somewhat shocked that an “evangelical” minister of such a large church, and one who also holds a very important position in a national evangelical organization, would make such a statement. But surprised that it would be said by a well-known “evangelical” leader? No.

That is where we are in the church at large. More and more “conservative” and “evangelical” leaders are treating the social/moral issues of our day as a smorgasbord, dealing with only those issues they feel are socially acceptable and ignoring those issues they feel may be “controversial.” The problem with such an approach is where one draws the line. Some elect not to address abortion. Why? Because it is “controversial,” and some in their congregations may disagree. 

In today’s society, it would be safe to say it is unacceptable to address from the pulpit or apply biblical standards to these issues: abortion, pornography, and sexual immorality, including homosexuality.

But it would be acceptable to address AIDS (if you don’t point out the connection with homosexuality), drugs, alcohol, racism, sexism, hunger, etc.

Our society says it is politically OK to deal with corporate sins but not OK to deal with personal sins.

The church has a track record of turning its head away from what is happening in society. It is much easier to build buildings and attend meetings. Have we already forgotten what happened in Germany in the 1930s? Think of the millions of lives that could have been saved had the church opposed the rise of Nazism. The church did not because it was not politically OK to do so.

I have always felt that a faith that isn’t applied to the world is an unsound and unholy faith. As James reminds us, if we fail to apply our faith, we have no faith. Yes, we must try to change hearts, to share the Good News. But until those hearts are changed, we must continue to work within the socio-economic and political areas to change laws.

We are not “of the world,” but we are “in the world” and must respond accordingly. A million aborted children each year cry out to us to do so, not only with the preaching of the Word but also by applying the Word to the culture.

Please allow me to paraphrase James: “What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but has not works: Can his faith save him? If an unborn child is being killed in the womb and one of you says to that child, ‘Do not worry, little child’ – without doing what you can to save the child – then what does it profit the child?”

Thank God for those who seek to apply the Word and mix faith with works. Pray for those who are willing to separate their faith from the world around them.