Followers of Yeshua
The credibility of the leaders of the Body of Believers to speak on social and political issues is greatly compromised if they do not demonstrate the passion of Yeshua in identification and ministry with the poor and marginalized in society.
Yeshua began his ministry quoting from Isaiah saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
This text anticipates the emphasis of the ministry of Yeshua and is in accord with the emphasis of the prophets. When this is rightly our emphasis, we can expect the greatest manifestations of the Spirit in signs and wonders confirming the Gospel. Roland and Heidi Baker in Mozambique is one of our greatest examples of this today.
Some, however, seem to say that Yeshua’s followers should not speak out on other social issues but that demonstrating love is the only legitimate endeavor. However, as I argued in my book Social Justice, we are to seek justice motivated by love. I defined love as, “Passionate identification that seeks the good of others guided by the Law of God.” The good of others is defined as the fulfillment of their good destiny which is God’s will for their lives. Justice in a society is joined to love as an order of righteousness where the greatest number can fulfill their God-intended destiny.
Speaking out on social and political issues and acting to influence policy is to be motivated by love as well. We seek to see a policy that is in accord with the Law of God rightly applied. This does not mean imposing our will on a majority of unwilling people but over time by evangelism and dialogue, the public will be persuaded toward the Law of God as the most loving and just order for human beings. Here are some examples of our day.
- We need to respond to the LGBTQ movement and transgenderism. This does not mean that we present ourselves against LGBTQ people who are free as adults to choose the life they prefer. We should not position ourselves to be against the people but must project love for them. However, it is not loving to allow our children to be in schools that indoctrinate them though pro-LGBTQ lessons in elementary school (or other grades as well), or to have drag queen story hours to influence children toward lifestyles that will injure them. And it is wrong to take children from parents who do not affirm their gender confusion. A loving and just order will not be fostering such lifestyles in our education system.
- Following #1, we need to prevent the dangers of drugs and surgery for minors for gender change which can leave them maimed for live. We do not know what they will desire as adults. This can irreversibly ruin their lives. The scientific evidence is against this practice. It is loving and just to prevent the transitioning of children in this way.
- We need to foster school choice and finance it since it is not loving to keep children in failing school and especially poor children. This is the loving and just thing to do. The great thinker and Dutch Prime Minister, Abraham Kuyper over 100 years ago, argued that it is not just to have children educated in a context that was contrary to the world view of the parents.
- We should seek to foster policy that ends the teaching of and fostering of the neo-Marxist diversity, equality and inclusion programs based in Critical Race Theory. It is contrary to the dignity of all people created in God’s image. This includes training for all ages where white people have to condemn themselves for white privilege. This is contrary to the equal worth of all human beings. It fosters false guilt. However, we need to foster a DEI based on biblical values where we work to see every ethnic and social group advance by committing to education, tutoring and financing so all can get ahead and qualify by merit and but not quotas. In this we must oppose all racism. This is the loving and just thing to do.
- We need to stop drug and human trafficking. This means controlling the borders of a nation and vetting who comes in. It means going strongly after criminals, cartels and countries that send drugs and the ingredients to make fentanyl. This is killing many people, especially young people. This is loving and just.
- We need to see violent criminals taken off the streets and find ways to rehabilitate non violent criminals. We should not think that prison is the answer for non violent criminals. This is the standard of Torah. It is loving and just, for we are to see that we foster policies that protects people.
- We need to witness against abortion. Proverbs says to “Rescue those being led away to death.” Does this apply to the unborn? Yes. It is bad for the mother and a terrible injustice. It is the loving thing to do, to witness, teach, proclaim and to persuade the public so there is a change of heart.
- We should stand with Israel and against Islamic Fascism. that seeks to destroy Israel. Israel is a key to world redemption and elect of God. We must stand against this version of antisemitism. We are clearly told of Israel’s destiny in the Bible and for the sake of the whole world, blessing Israel is very important. We are to stand with Israel against her enemies and right now that is Iran and its proxies. It may someday be Turkey. In this we are to stand against the pro Hamas protest in universities and cities. This is the loving and just thing to do.
- For the sake of all people we must oppose Islamic Fascism that seeks to impose the Islamic dictatorship on all people with its consequent loss of the dignity of people. This violent movement now spreads all over the world and for loves sake it must be opposed.
Most Christians have voted for Donald Trump because on some or most of these policies, they believed he was the only choice for these policies that the U. S. political system offered. There were credible prophecies on his election years before he was even being though of as a candidate. Then so called prophets jumped on the band wagon. I know that some struggle with his behavioral patterns. But in the light of these 9 issues, was there an alternative if we would foster love and justice. Some thought it was the most loving and just thing that could be done under the circumstances. Now we find that our government agencies in the past administration implemented policies internationally against all 8 of these example. Yes, I like to see character, personality and policy match, but when the issues are life and death as they are, I go for whoever will advance the policies.