The Church's Role in Society

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(John 3:16-18)

We have already established that it is God's will for the church to judge sinful practices within the church. However, it is not God's will for the church to judge sinful practices in the world—this is where many Christians err. In an earlier quoted passage of Scripture, the apostle Paul stated categorically that the church is not called to judge the world in this life, for their judgment falls under God's domain (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

Sadly, many in the church look upon the world and condemn them for their sinful practices, yet this is not our mandate at all. Our mandate remains the same as our Lord's. In the passage quoted above, our Lord tells us plainly that He did not come into the world to condemn it, but rather that the world might be saved through Him. Our Lord reveals that the only sin that condemns people to Hell is the sin of not believing in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

(Luke 13:1-5)

The world loves to condemn those it deems to be worse sinners than others, and some in the church tend to adopt this mindset. Nevertheless, in the passage above, the Lord is very clear that as far as condemnation to Hell is concerned, there is no such thing as one sinner being worse than another—they are all likewise condemned to Hell. Although the Lord did teach that certain sinful practices would incur harsher penalties than others (Matthew 23:14), He nevertheless warned that all sins have the same effect of condemning all who commit them to eternal punishment. He therefore admonished all to repent.

The church is meant to proclaim the same message to the world: repentance from "all sin" and salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Sadly, many in the church miss this when they highlight certain sinful practices in society and publicly condemn them (such as homosexuality) while simultaneously ignoring other "less grievous" sins. This practice is not condoned by the Holy Spirit and ultimately hinders the preaching of the gospel of salvation because it promotes a message of condemnation rather than one of reconciliation to God through redemption in Christ Jesus. When the world sees the church behaving in this manner, they view it as a bigoted organization, their witness becomes ignored, and the church becomes less relevant in society.

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honourable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

(1 Peter 2:11-19)

Another role the church plays in the nations where God has placed them is to set the example in society for how citizens should conduct themselves in obeying those who govern. In the passage quoted above, the apostle Peter admonishes the church to live godly lifestyles in the societies where God has placed them, specifically linking this concept to Christians submitting themselves to the ordinances of their governments for the Lord's sake.

I also want to draw attention to the fact that immediately after admonishing the church to submit to the ordinances of their governments, the Holy Spirit goes on to admonish the saints to be submissive to their employers as well. In His admonishment to the saints regarding submission to their employers, He speaks about being submissive not only to the good but also to the harsh. Clearly, this passage implies that the same principle should be followed in submitting to governments—that the saints should submit not only to good governments but also to those that are harsh.

The reason the saints are admonished to do so is because of conscience toward God. It is relatively easy to obey good laws, but it becomes much harder to obey laws that are harsh. Nevertheless, because God is the one who has put the authorities in place, that is exactly what we are counselled to do. However, harsh laws that contradict God's laws should be ignored, for as we have already mentioned, in those instances the church is to obey God rather than men.

Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?" And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?" Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

(Acts 23:1-5)

We have already referred to the above passage regarding praying for a nation's authorities; nevertheless, there is a further aspect that needs discussion. We have already seen that the rulers of nations are God's ministers, appointed by Him. Because they are His ministers, we are not to speak evil of them, for to do so is to speak evil of God Himself, who appointed them. God made this point very clear in the Old Testament (Exodus 22:28), and in the passage quoted above, the apostle Paul confirms that the principle remains unchanged under the New Covenant. Even God's angels dare not speak evil of Satan and his angels because they recognize that God is the one who has given them their positions of authority (Jude 1:8-10).

Many in the world love to revile their leaders, but believers are not to join them. Rather, they are to set the example by walking in obedience to the Lord on this issue. Sadly, all too often Christians are heard making derogatory remarks about the leaders of their nations as well. Make no mistake: to speak against the authorities of a nation that God has appointed incurs the wrath and judgment of God. Miriam learned this lesson the hard way. When she spoke against Moses and encouraged Aaron to do the same, God judged her with leprosy, and it was only because Moses interceded for her that she recovered from her illness (Numbers 12:1-15).

Does this mean that every time Christians speak against their leaders they can expect to break out in leprosy? Obviously not, but it does mean that God will not hold them guiltless, for He will correct them in justice and will not let them go altogether unpunished (Jeremiah 30:11). This does not mean we cannot speak truthfully about a nation's leaders, such as calling them dishonest if they have been proven to be so. Even the Lord Jesus referred to Herod as "a fox" because of his cunning and deceitful manner of governance (Luke 13:32). Nevertheless, we are not to revile our rulers, for they are God's ministers. In other words, unlike the world, we are not to slander our rulers in any way.

Michael E.B. Maher

The Church and the State

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