In his column on Signs of the Times, Bro. Al MacDougall refers to current activism regarding environmental issues. He strikes just the right note regarding our position on the matter. The believer will act responsibly in not adding to the problem, but he will not panic over it because he knows the situation will be alleviated in the kingdom age.
Many social issues
Ecological concerns are part of a whole array of social problems crying for attention today. Abused women, homeless people, famine in Ethiopia, drug and alcohol abuse, family breakdown and the never-ending incidence of sickness and poverty are all current issues.
We are good people, concerned about others. What is our responsibility in regard to the temporal problems of the world? Should we join the activist organizations working for change in the system? Should we quietly devote the resources of Christadelphia to funding some causes? Should we seek out cases of wife or child abuse and try to help? Or should we ignore the physical and emotional problems of those around us and concentrate on preaching the Gospel? Is there a balanced approach of some preaching and some social Christianity that we should be pursuing?
The answer is found in the New Testament attitude toward slavery.
Slavery
Slavery was widespread in the Roman empire. In some areas, 90% of the inhabitants were slaves (Everyday Life in New Testament Times). From the history of the United States, all of us know enough about the situation to realize the abuses that would exist. Yet no word is spoken about organizing protests against abusive masters or the system itself. “Were you a slave when called? Never mind. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity” (I Cor. 7:21 RSV). “Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God” (I Pet. 2:19-20 NIV). As with all trials, the believer is to trust that God “will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (I Cor. 10:13 NIV).
One might argue that early Christians were too few in number to influence the policy of Rome or the conduct of people in their communities. One may think the early believers worried about bringing the wrath of the establishment down on their heads. In reality, the believers may have been a relatively small community but they were known as those who turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Small groups can have great impact. Even today, smallness in numbers does not silence zealots for a cause. And as to fearing Rome or the local community turning on them, while early believers did not relish martrydom, thousands suffered it rather than betray their convictions (Rev. 2:10; 6:10). Silence regarding slavery did not come from fear!
Slavery in the brotherhood
The decisive point is to note that nothing was done about the institution when both slave and slave-owner were in the brotherhood. “Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor…those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brethren” (I Tim. 6:1-2 RSV). Brethren who were slave owners were not told to release their slaves but to “forbear threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him” (Eph. 6:9 RSV).
All comments on the matter are on a personal and spiritual level. No attempt is made to change the institution or churn up public outcry. This is typical of the apostolic approach to all temporal and social causes.
Spiritual and eternal
The believers were to be aggressive in preaching the word. They were to be activists in seeking the eternal salvation of their wives, children, fellow believers and any who would listen. In their personal relationships, they were to be kind, forgiving, honest, generous and compassionate people. But they were not to be involved in seeking changes on a political or social level.
In our day, we are to be honest, compassionate, generous people. In the course of our normal routine, we will associate with those in the world who are abused, disadvantaged or sick. That will give us opportunity to be kind to sick neighbors, generous to fellow-workers in need, compassionate in providing care for an abused person. Let us offer practical help on a personal level when the opportunity directly presents itself. But it is not our responsibility to be looking for such cases or to be involved in social activism now. The time will come when we will transform the world, if found worthy by Christ, but that time is not now.
The family of God
We do have an obligation to minister to the temporal and material needs of our family, particularly to those related to us in Christ. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren…but whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (I John 3:14-18). Such love in the brotherhood is not limited to our immediate ecclesia but is to extend worldwide as evidenced by the collection taken up in Greece for the poor saints in Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25-26).
In many sections of the ecclesial world, there is great need for material help. As the truth spreads into third world countries, we are faced with the material needs of our new brethren and sisters which must be prudently met. Furthermore, our financial support of missionary activities and of preaching the word in general falls short cf other communities who do not know the true gospel of Jesus Christ. If we extended ourselves generously in this regard, there is enough need to absorb all of our available money.
In our own North American ecclesias, some have to learn to counsel cases of domestic violence, of alcoholism and of virtually every other problem that besets the surrounding society. While these problems will not be as extensive in the brotherhood as in the world, they do exist. Those who have an aptitude in this direction have full scope to exercise their skills as they strive to help their brethren and sisters through difficult problems on their way to the kingdom.
A waste of resources
However, if we become involved in the social activism of the world, we are wasting our resources. What would we say of a research doctor who was coming close to a cure for leukemia? Would we recommend he stop spending his time and funding on that goal and help care for routine illness among the population as a whole?
We would not! Let the rest of the medical world worry about the general problems; let him pursue the work of doing a great good for a few people.
We don’t know the cure for cancer; we know the cure for death! We waste our resources if we dedicate our time, energy and money to temporary, social good. Let the world work on the world’s problems. Let us concentrate on the eternal welfare of the few who will respond to the word of truth.
The danger of involvement
There is actually a danger in becoming engrossed in trying to solve the world’s temporal problems. Progress in such areas is tangible; it can be readily seen and appreciated. A grassland area can be saved from a housing development; some civil rights abuses can be stopped; housing can be made available in the suburbs for low-income families; people can be retrained for better jobs. Involvement can bring observable short-term results. This contrasts with progress in spiritual areas which is much harder to perceive and where the real outcome will not be known until Christ comes.
Brethren and sisters working in the medical field run into such a conflict all the time. They can see the immediate benefits of their day-to-day work and the temptation is great to become wholly absorbed in the short-term good that can be done now. The result can be that we lose our zest and enthusiasm for the work of the truth where results are not so apparent
Let us keep our gaze fixed on the eternal good we have been called to do. We have a tremendous opportunity to help a few people gain immortality. Let us use our unique opportunity; let us be spiritual activists.
But let us not be hypocrites in this matter. Some would use the foregoing points to avoid charitable work while at the same time they are ecclesially inactive, are disinterested in preaching and will not minister to the temporal needs of the household. That is a pattern of conduct to reject
Let us be true spiritual activists, devoting our energy, love, time and money to the great eternal matters to which we have been called and to the family of God to which we belong.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One