from terror to peace

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
My soul also is struck with terror,
while you, O LORD—how long?

Turn, O LORD, save my life;
deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who can give you praise?

I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eyes waste away because of grief;
they grow weak because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
they shall turn back and in a moment be put to shame.

Psalm 6; NRSVue

There’s not a one of us who doesn’t like to feel well, and not a one of us who likes to feel bad. That however does not line up with the human predicament in this life. Yes, we have those feel-good experiences, but more often than not, they are too few and too far in between. Well, I’m sure I don’t speak for everyone, but I’m guessing I speak for the majority of us, and certainly for myself. We do cherish those time of refreshing rest and as our faith grows, probably the experience of such grows along with it. Yet when it comes right down to it, I often find that I’m needing to manage my emotions, keep them under my hat, to myself, shared many times with my wife, but in the discipline more and more towards the goal of keeping them more between myself and God, asking for prayer along the way when need be.

The psalmist is experiencing almost as it were, violent attacks inside if not out. Shaken with terror, languishing, bed no place of rest. Internal suffering due to external threatening circumstances. It seems they had flesh and blood enemies. That translates directly in our day for the many who suffer at the hand of authoritarian regimes which are a law to themselves. And even where I live in the United States, too many languish in places of little or no hope, victims themselves of an unjust system.  For a person like me who lives in privilege compared to most on the planet, the enemies cited here would be spiritual. Yes, I believe in a power of evil that would undo creation, in fact, as it were, make something quite the opposite of such, all in rebellion against God. One sees evidence of such in different reigns of terror, as well as devasting war and violence, right up to the present time. But if we have eyes to see, we’ll see this evil at work in far more subtle ways. One can go back to Jesus as portrayed in the four gospels, stay in that for a good length of time, and that will help one discern this power at work in supposedly good ways in the world at the expense of what is really good. Jesus as God coming to be and restore our full humanity, helps us simply discern this as humans and then act, something akin to “the good Samaritan.” Note too in the psalm that the terror the psalmist experiences is ultimately turned back on their enemies.

I’m glad for God’s faithfulness in helping us, just as the psalmist notes. There is hope or assurance that God has all things in hand, that God sees, that God understands, that God will act, in fact is acting. All a matter of faith, yes, but in a reality that not only includes all the hard stuff, but the great answer even now in this present existence, with the promise of what’s yet to come.

perspective on poverty and wealth

Let the brother or sister of humble means boast in having a high position and the rich in having been humbled, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

James 1:9-11; NRSVue

It doesn’t matter where you live, whether in a war torn, famine ravaged place in Africa, with little to nothing to make it through during a North Korea winter, or not having enough to eat with no affordable healthcare in the wealthiest nation in the world, the United States. Abject poverty is bad. With that we see homelessness, totally unnecessary, but part and parcel of capitalism, which prioritizes money over people so that it’s almost like a contest to see who can get the most at the expense of many others.

For most of us, we’re somewhere in between. Many struggle from week to week and month to month to make ends meet with little set aside in the case of an emergency. They are then subject to predatory lending, just another staple of the “rugged capitalism” which is more and more taking its toll. The stock market continues to rise (at this point), stockholders are happy, but workers on whose backs the money is made often don’t have a living wage and so try to work two or more jobs, and add to that, not affordable healthcare being the case for many as well, unless they press through the complicated hoops of the US health system, even after that, tough. A mockery of neighbor love, of justice.

But again, to try to speak of people in between, many will have to watch their money all the time, while some live in relative comfort, with a cushion and along with that tax breaks the poor don’t have, to make life predictable and aside from its normal stresses, manageable. Then the very few who have more than they could ever spend at least on themselves. And all such people meeting together in the name of Jesus as church. Or even those who do not. It seems like James in the above passage is speaking to all.

The poor should rejoice because they are rich as God’s children, God’s loved ones. Ironically with less money, they have less concerns of others stealing them blind. After all, what will the thieves get? But like the poor widow Jesus referred to, they can still give more than all the rich people together, as they trust in God to provide.

On the other hand, the rich can rejoice because they are merely stewards of all that God has given them. They know their time is limited, that they exist to love their neighbor, that while they’re to take care of their own, they’re also to watch out for the poor, for those in need, to help wisely where they can along with others. To try to get to the root of the problem which is inevitably systemic, not stop at giving handouts which too are important.

Rich and poor together can rejoice and glory in the God who gives life to all. Naked they came from their mother’s womb and naked they’ll return. They brought nothing into the world and they’ll take nothing out. The wise remember this, and pray, think, plan and act accordingly.

More to meditate and act on from the book of James.

giving from the heart

Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

I do not say this as a command, but I am, by mentioning the eagerness of others, testing the genuineness of your love. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my opinion: it is beneficial for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something. Now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not regretfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,

“He scatters abroad; he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

2 Corinthians 8:7-11; 9:6-9; NRSVue

2 Corinthians 8-9 is worthy of a careful read and study since it is written by Paul to the Corinthian church in regard to a special need among the poor of God’s people in Jerusalem. Fastforward this to the present day, and there’s no shortage of good endeavors which we can help. I am not at all against helping causes for humanitarian aid, urgent medical care, or whatever important, good services there are in the world which are not done in the name of Christ. But I like to begin with organizations which are ministries done in the name of Christ.

Good works need to start at home. When family is struggling, we have to be present for them as best we can. Neighborhood and community issues should matter to us as well. The goal should not be just charity, but systemic change. We need to be a voice for those who can’t afford to live, yes, even here in the United States, the wealthiest nation on earth. Yet too many of its citizens and people who live here can’t afford housing and may not be given needed healthcare available here. If we don’t pay attention to issues like this, and are happy just to give handouts, we’re frankly not doing well enough. At the same time, there are always great needs in the world for food, water, basic provisions for life in famine ravaged or war-torn nations, or whatever people are facing.

But now to some of Paul’s point in the matter of giving. Elsewhere in Scripture we read about systematic giving, say a tenth of one’s gross or net income, what a person or family may set aside to give each week for the ministry of church or of good works to help people in need. That is good. What Paul was referring to here was a special needs project. After letting the Corinthian church know about the poverty of the church in Jerusalem, they eagerly committed themselves to help. That was a good start, but Paul was writing to remind them that there needed to be a good follow through, a completion of what they had begun or at least had purposed. Paul points to the generous act of Christ in becoming one of us and all that followed, and he urges them to complete this work with that in mind.

Paul also lets them know that God wants this to come from the heart, not regretfully or under compulsion since God loves a cheerful giver. I think that we need to begin to see that giving sacrificially from the heart is part of what it means to be a follower of Christ and the point of that, what it means to be human. Humans have a tendency to be greedy and to hoard. In that is lack of faith in God and God’s provision. Idolatry in Scripture is often tied to gaining exorbitant riches at the expense of others. Paul’s vision we find in this passage (2 Corinthians 8-9) is that the churches will take care of each other. Giving certainly doesn’t stop there, but this is foundational to all other necessary giving done in the name of Christ. And from that we open our hearts to the needs of the world.

the scandal of the denial of systemic evil, of systemic racism (from a diminished gospel)

Thus says the LORD:
For three transgressions of Tyre,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they delivered entire communities over to Edom
and did not remember the covenant of kinship.

Thus says the LORD:
For three transgressions of the Ammonites,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead
in order to enlarge their territory.

Thus says the LORD:
For three transgressions of Judah,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have rejected the instruction of the LORD
and have not kept his statutes,
but they have been led astray by the same lies
after which their ancestors walked.

Thus says the LORD:
For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they sell the righteous for silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals—

Amos 1:9, 13; 2:4, 6; NRSVue

Among the scandals today, there’s the denial or failure of acknowledgement within the church, yes, within the church of systemic wrong. It is commonly called “woke” in what’s meant to be a disparaging way, once meant simply to be “alert to racial prejudice and discrimination.”

This is one reason I no longer identify as an evangelical. Their understanding of the gospel in general is that it’s about one’s personal relationship to God through Christ and one’s spiritual growth in Christ. The church is to help them in that endeavor so that by and by all a believer needs is a Bible and they’re good to go, ideally the weekly gatherings helping in that. Some churches do a really good job at that, and it’s not like there isn’t some truth in this. I would think the churches which do well also try to touch on systemic evil, at least that was my experience at one of them. But by and large it’s all about the individual and the individual’s relationship to God.

The thought from that is if we can help people come to Christ and start to grow in Christ, the wrongs in society will take care of themselves. When it comes to racism, just get everyone converted and everyone will love each other, and it will all be good to go. I know this is a generalization, but I have no doubt that it’s an accurate one. After all, why all the denial today of systemic wrong, or at least the systemic evil people don’t want to talk about, one of them, racism?

Yes, there’s an important individual aspect and application of the gospel, no doubt. But if that’s the sole focus and if it stops there, then we might as well cut out a large portion of Scripture, of the gospel itself. The good news in Jesus is meant to address not just individual problems, but societal ones as well. It is not just about individual people, but people groups. Otherwise, isn’t the church in danger of a practical denial of a central part of the gospel.

What God judges God intends to redeem in the new creation, reconciliation work of Christ. I personally want to consider this. I’ve spent all too long considering essentially nothing more than the individual aspect and now want to take in the actual message of the Bible, of the gospel in its entirety, that’s it’s about God’s reconciling of all, breaking down walls of separation between people groups, bringing together all peoples in Christ into a harmonious whole in which the shalom or peace and flourishing of everyone takes place. Maybe that’s not your theology or understanding of Scripture but look again but keep reading. You’ll find much more, indeed something different, and frankly much better.

the church and state aligned never knows best

Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

John 18:36; NRSVue

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”

Acts 5:29; NRSVue

Christendom has a long, sorry history of the church and the state aligned, imposing its will on all citizens and everyone in its border. With that has come persecution to those who did not submit to its moral code. It is almost inevitable that any serious following of Christ will conflict with state authorities.

The United States might pride itself in some degree of separation between church and state, but the obvious, inescapable original sin of slavery has a tragic record of many churches either complicit or an overwhelming number of them in full support of such over decades and generations. And now it’s considered wrong to acknowledge injustice in systemic ways.

There is a significant push to abolish any idea of separation of church and state in practice, so that the church can impose its will on everyone, which means the state is actually what is in control.

What does that mean? Pure and simple, that Christians will be bound to obedience to some authority other than Christ. You can’t say Christ and any state. Obedience for the Christian is supposed to be to Christ alone, period. The idea and practice of civil disobedience comes from that thought. Christians submit to punishment for not submitting to the state when such submission is contrary to their submission to Christ.

No, the church and state together will always do more harm than whatever supposed or real good is done. Even the thought of such is harmful, actually idolatrous, and a nullification of the gospel.

on MLK Day, sensitivity to the plight of others

And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

Luke 3:10-14; NRSVue

There’s no doubt that the entire system is wrong and needs to be changed. That was true in John the Baptizer’s and Jesus’s day and is no less true today. In the midst of that, what do we do? Yes, we advocate for needed change, here in the US, “liberty and justice for all.” We listen to the stories and struggles of the others: the people of color, the marginalized, those who face threats and rejection. And we stand with all such, for a better world, a just nation no less.

There’s little use of trying to change people’s minds on issues related to this. To say that public education in inner cities is underfunded and that there’s a lack of equality across racial lines is considered “woke.” Unfortunately nowadays in the US, everything is turned into a culture war issue. Those on the Christian side oppose a national effort to redress the harms and imbalance that our history has wrought on blacks and stand in favor of further marginalizing the marginalized, indeed canceling them out altogether in the name of godliness, even in the name of Christ.

They might say that helping others should depend on the church and voluntary good deeds. One of the questions, very much related to this entire subject is simple: Will such address the problem of a living wage and healthcare? I don’t know how people can deny that either is a right for people, but there are serious Christians who take ethics seriously who consider healthcare a privilege, not a human right, and who espouse a largely unregulated free market with too often low wages, and an unrealistic healthcare option. And you can’t entirely blame the businesses. “We the people” are not stepping up to make sure that everyone has enough to live and flourish.

The US military industrial complex against which President Dwight Eisenhower warned against has been in full sway, a large chunk of the US economy, many of our tax dollars going to that, and now US tax dollars going to the killing of Gazan children and women, civilians in the Israeli bombardment in the wake of the terror of Hamas. Two wrongs don’t make a right. The US, for what good it has done is complicit and implicated in too much that has proved wrong. Look no further in our recent history than Afghanistan and Iraq. God bless all the good wishes in that, and some good in the freedom and wellbeing of women in Afghanistan, happened for a while. And may all of those who wanting to do good sacrificed so much, be blessed.

A nation’s values are reflected in its budget. And Christians more than any other group in the US support war and the buildup of the military. And at what expense? What are we doing? What are we known for, as a result? I ask anymore not what is Christian because I don’t want to hear the answer on that, but what is human. Indeed the way of Christ is to be human, to love our neighbor as ourselves in love for God. To reject all that stands in the way and violates such love.

We can’t be dependent on systems to take care of all the injustice while we go on in our lives of overabundance. So many on the “liberal, progressive” side advocate for justice for the poor and speak against racism, but when push comes to shove, are no better than their political opponents. All too often they are advocates for what is just as long as they don’t have to make the necessary sacrifices. Yes, we do need better systems, but such systems depend on the good will of people. We all have to pull together in this. Words are cheap including all my words here; actions are what matter. And Christians, I would prefer to say those who profess to be followers of Christ ought to be among those who lead the way in this.

So yes, we need to do what we can, just as John the Baptizer said, and that is vitally important. But we also long for and welcome in a reign even now present, the reign of God in which no one is left behind, when righteousness and peace kiss each other (Psalm 85:10). Where Jesus is.

what are God’s mighty works today?

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

Luke 19:29-40; NRSVue

The Bible is full of God’s mighty works from creation to the exodus to the Incarnation and resurrection, and so much else in between. People rightfully talk about a sinner turning to God in repentance as a part of God’s mighty works and yes, I would concur (Luke 15). In a way that could be considered an end, but also a means to an end. God’s will is that good works of love be done in God’s name, in the name of the Lord. That they would be done, period.

Now as [Jesus] was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”

Luke 19:37-38; NRSVue

If we follow in the way of the Lord, what deeds of power will come from our hands by the Lord? Wouldn’t it be the same things which came from his hands? To care about and for the down and out, the marginalized like the LGBTQ+ community, those discriminated against in the systems of injustice, the poor who don’t have living wages or healthcare, the prisoners who are forgotten, victims in and refugees from war torn places, and all such like. What good is our profession of faith if such is not our passion? Read on, and you’ll see what our Lord thinks.

As [Jesus] came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

Luke 19:41-42; NRSVue

what Jesus really cares about (contra Christians?)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:31-46; NRSVue

I find it fascinating how Christians regulate Scripture so that a lot of it doesn’t apply directly to us today. Some say that anything before the resurrection does not apply to us but is under the law and meant for Jews. The book of James is readily put into that category along with the Sermon on the Mount not to mention the above passage. Or really? Even for such, surely this becomes a challenge. After all, Jesus seems to be talking about the final judgment when he divides people or nations like sheep and goats, the one into life and the other into condemnation.

I don’t really enjoy picking on Christians and I know I fall short as well in both understanding and in practice of what I might understand. That said, we still have to take Scripture and the words of our Lord seriously. Much has been made of “pro-life” over the past decades. And yet what is consistently pro-life? The Christians who advocate for that are the same ones who believe their view should be forced on others, whatever their views on abortion, immigration, capital punishment, prison, police, racism, history of wrongdoing, systemic injustice, the military, the military industrial complex, war (evangelical Christians have been polled as more pro-war than any other segment of American society), the proliferation of guns, healthcare (in their view a privilege, not something to be given to all, not a human right), affordable housing, a living wage (which to many of them is opposed to capitalism, the deregulated, unfettered free market), affordable higher education, medical care for pregnant women whose health along with the health of the fetus is at risk, protection for all who are marginalized like the LGBTQ+ community, etc. There seems to be nothing more important to these Christians than their religious freedom which they imagine to be at perilous risk, ironically pressure points brought to bear because of their own actions. And the idea that they force their views by law on all the rest of us. Their gospel evidently is not the power of salvation for all who believe. It certainly is not as big as the gospel of the Bible.

When it gets right down to it, what did Jesus say? As Christ-followers we go with that, and we judge all else in that light.

be thankful, give thanks

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2; NRSVue

I don’t think many of us are comfortable being put on the spot to tell people what we’re thankful for. On the other hand, I think being thankful should become more and more a part of our lifeblood so to speak.

We certainly live in a world in which there’s much to grieve over, even be angry about. And our minds and hearts can be taken in so many directions. All the more so in our media soaked, digitally saturated world, where the latest news along with misinformation is right at our fingertips.

No matter what we’re facing, God wants to help us live with a heart that is thankful. It’s noteworthy that blacks who have suffered so much in the United States and still are subject to systemic wrong and discrimination to this day, are often noted for being celebratory in thanksgiving to God in their hopeful worship services and in their lives. Yet all the while facing wrong and suffering.

That’s an example to us, many of us in a much more privileged existence which we take for granted. But still we face difficulties and troubles too, which sometimes can rock our world and are difficult no matter what for us who are anxiety prone. But even then, God wants to help us be thankful so that in our prayers we give thanks to God.

For what? For all the blessings of life, for whatever good we can find in the world, for the hope that we have for a better world through God’s vision given to us and the beginning of its fulfillment in Christ. For the simple things of life, like a butterfly, a flower, the birds, a cup of coffee, you name it.

There is always something for us to be thankful about and give thanks to God for.

why a social gospel is important

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:16-21; NRSVue

The social gospel broadly speaking is concerned about the influence and change of the good news of God in Christ on the ground where people live (for a good summary of it, see this). I have often heard people, specifically Evangelicals say that whatever change comes in society is because people are saved, regenerated by the Spirit, changed, and then can make a difference in their own world beginning with their families. By the way, that’s not only good, but important in itself. If it’s mentioned in terms of a church, and in our individualistic culture and mindset, that seems to have been rare in my experience, it almost always gets back to individuals helping other individuals through the saving gospel. One of the other emphases, however, that I’ve noticed is something like what is sadly, I say, found in bumper stickers of cars, something like: “(Christians are) not perfect, just forgiven.” That seems to put all the emphasis on forgiveness of sins, as if that’s all the gospel of Christ is about. It’s like if you have your ticket to heaven, you’re all set. Akin to Dallas Willard’s good point about “barcode religion (Christianity).” The difference in one’s life in terms of character and good works is brushed to the side, perhaps completely dismissed.

If we’re not concerned about life on the ground in terms of poverty, the wide gap between the rich and the poor, systems that hold racial minorities and here in the United States particularly black people in a disproportionately difficult place for generations, the plight of refugees and foreigners, the lack of equal distributable healthcare for all, living wages, affordable housing, acceptance of all humans and the marginalization of none, human flourishing in general for all (one must not forget the climate crisis), then our gospel falls short of the gospel we find in the Bible.

To really get this, to understand it, one needs to read the Bible from cover to cover. Yes, forgiveness of sins is important, and so is justice and mercy for this present life. This is not about, for example American politics. This is a gospel that because of the needs found, would want its adherents as a whole, not individually of course, to seek to address them all. I didn’t address war and conflict above, because I think that if the problems I listed were seriously being addressed in a sustained way, that would help alleviate much of that. But seeking to help resolve human conflicts would also certainly be in the mix.

All of this is in a Jesus-like way within the good reign of God. It would not be a political party in the United States or represented in the United Nations. It brings with it the very touch of heaven, something the world can’t give. But it is worldly in its influence and outworking.

Yes, the social gospel is a vitally important aspect of the gospel, not just indirectly, but directly. In Christ we are a light for the world in every way imaginable.