“White Christians” Discuss Social Justice – Part 2

Part 2 is a continuation of a dialog that I (John) began with a Christian friend that I have named, “Robin.” Recently, this friend posted on social media a quote by Dr. Robert P. Jones, founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).  Part 1 of this series began with my reply to Robin’s post, and Robin subsequently replied.  [To read, please click HERE.].  Part 2 represents my effort to understand “social justice” from a Judeo-Christian viewpoint.

Just “Social Justice”
I base my understanding of this popular phrase upon the meaning of the adjective, “social,” and the noun, “justice.”  The English word, “social” derives from the Latin, meaning “companion.”  The word also speaks of living in community with an accompanying communal responsibility.  My primary social responsibilities begin within my marriage and family.  Then, they extend to each of the personal relationships and interactions within which I am called to be a responsible member.

“Justice,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary, means “maintenance of what is just or right by the exercise of authority or power.” Distributive justice is “the fair and equitable distribution of resources and burdens throughout a society;” while retributive justice involves “assignment of deserved reward or punishment.”  “Justice” so defined implies the need for a consistent and benevolent authority and an ethical standard for judging what is fair and equitable.

Robin, I believe we would agree that the LORD God, Jehovah, is the only perfect and benevolent Authority, and His Word in the inspired Scriptures reveals His ethical standard for judging in fairness, or equity (See Psalm 96: 10 and 98: 9).  This claim is true because God is Holy (i.e. uniquely and morally perfect and infinitely pure); and therefore, He is the Author of absolute righteousness and justice (see Psalm 99: 2-5 on left). 

Scott Hoezee of Calvin Theological Seminary noted that the Greek words for “righteousness” (dikaiosune) and “justice” (dikaios) have the same root word.  Robin, you have already noted in your response that we can agree on God’s grace.  Therefore, as fellow believers in Jesus Christ, having been united with Him in His death and raised in the likeness of His resurrection, we have received the righteousness of Christ imputed to our accounts.  The Apostle Paul wrote:  …to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness (Romans 4: 5).  It follows that when we yield to God’s Spirit and allow His righteousness to produce fruit (Galatians 5: 22-23), we will sow seeds of God’s justice.  As Hoezee has written, “God’s righteousness translates into our lives as justice when we follow what we see now in Jesus, the perfect righteous One.”  Notice that in order to know, love, and demonstrate God’s righteousness, we must be wholehearted followers of Christ.  But we have a problem, don’t we?

As “new creations in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5: 17), we are delivered from the penalty of sin but not from the influence of our flesh that bears the “fallen DNA” inherited from our human father, Adam.  Our inherited “fallen DNA” manifests in selfish behavior beginning in our childhood.  I recognize from personal experience as I’m sure you also do, Robin, that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not (Romans 7: 18).  Even as redeemed Christ-followers, we are not naturally bent toward righteousness and justice in either our thoughts or actions.  But, when we are “born again” in the Spirit, we gain His power to choose to deny our self, take up our cross daily and follow in the example of Christ (Luke 9: 23).  Genuine Christians are Christ-followers who submit to His righteousness which “translates into our lives as justice.”

Justice in My Heart
Robin, based on the logic above, we ought to agree that “social justice” must begin with a wholehearted, personal submission to Christ.  Scott Hoezee writes emphatically, “we are not going to know what justice is supposed to look like in our lives, in the Church, and in the societies where we live… if we don’t know what God’s righteousness looks like; because biblically there is a tight, tight link between God’s righteousness and justice on this earth.” 

My takeaway from this truth is that God’s gift of righteousness through faith ought to lead to justice in my social dealings with my wife and family, and my church, community, government, and other organizations.  To me, every thought and intention of social justice must begin in my heart which must be completely devoted to Jesus Christ and empowered by His sacrificial love, grace, and truth.

So, I ask myself, what can I do, what must I do (in Paul’s words (v. 24), “wretched man that I am!”  Paul’s answer to me is to “work out [my] salvation with reverence and trembling…for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2: 12-13).”  As God’s Spirit, our Helper works in us, like any disciple (willing student follower), we must be “disciplined” to do our part.  The "Scripture card" below resulted from my meditations on the spiritual disciplines I want to practice as a means of submitting to God’s righteousness and allowing the character of Christ to flow out in my just treatment of others.



Social Justice in the Home
My personal practice of social justice is most often tested and refined in relationship to my wife, and toward my family.  Next to God, they know me best.  Wisely, our Creator has ordained marriage and family as the “little social worlds” within which we are to be nurtured physically, socially, and spiritually in preparation for the world at large. We must take seriously God’s moral commands which include husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5: 25) and the godly wife ought to see to it that she respects her husband (v. 33). 

In turn, godly marriages can foster homes which can become “little social worlds” in which children witness mom and dad modelling the two Great Commandments—i.e. love God with all your heart…and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22: 36-40).  Children also learn to obey the commandment to honor your father and your mother.  In so doing, they begin to understand submission to authority.

Homes that teach and model the righteousness of God ought to produce individuals who grow into ethical members who can contribute to the social justice of their community.  However, we are naïve if we ignore the reality of the satanic, spiritual forces of darkness that are “anti-social justice.”  Satan and his minions work through our own sin natures to undermine the institutions of marriage and family because these “proving grounds” are central to God’s plan for nurturing His image bearers.  Therefore, it seems logical that supporters of biblical social justice as I have defined it, ought to support the following:
1)  Utmost priority: being witnesses of the transforming power of the Gospel in word and by lifestyle.
2)  Sanctity of marriage must be upheld as a God-ordained union of man and woman.
3)  Sanctity of human life must be upheld through compassionate love and support of pregnant women and fathers at risk.
3)  Nurturing of children must be accomplished with an awareness of God’s design and a sound understanding and support during neurological/emotional development, gender identity, preferences, etc.   See my personal reflections on my own childhood [Click HERE.] and my current view on gender identity [Click HERE.]
4)  Protection of parental rights to make decisions that they deem best for their children.
5)  Uphold the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly.
8)  Uphold the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, right to bear arms; important for most Americans who cannot afford to hire security to protect home and property.  [See HERE.]

Role of Church and Community
When I enrolled in first grade (without kindergarten), my teacher had to apply “coarse sandpaper” to my many rough edges.  My Sunday School teachers also “sanded and polished.”  Back then, we began the school day with the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag and sometimes walked in single file to our nearby church for special recognition of the spiritual significance of Easter and Christmas.  Ethnic diversity in our rural school was limited to an Amish student minority and I became friends with students like Andy, Solomon, Norman, and Fanny [See my 8th Grade class below; click on photo to enlarge].  Home, church, school, and community festivals and parades provided a nearly seamless educational experience in which I could observe my parents, teachers, and community leaders participate honorably in respectful recognition of God, country, and one another.



During my junior high years, I also learned the importance of civil laws, police, and first responders; and, I participated in drills that were designed to prepare us in the event of a nuclear attack from a country called the USSR.  While I felt a twinge of fear at the thought of these things, I learned to be thankful for authorities who “were not a terror to good conduct” (Romans 13: 3). 

The engagement of Christ-followers with civil authorities and civic organizations can inject the aroma of “Christ’s kingdom living” into a community and make it more hospitable to biblical social justice.  Here are some specific activities and roles of the local church in the community:
1)  Teaching and preaching of God’s Word must have top priority within our local churches, purposely tailored for every age group, aimed at salvation and discipleship of individuals, couples, and families.  Christ-followers so engaged can become winsome evangelists.
2)  The early church offers a guide for church members who agree to participate in a disciplined, prayerful study of  Acts 4: 31-35 and other Scriptures that reveal the spirit of the early Christians and their passion for reaching the lost, the imprisoned, the blind, and the oppressed, both physically and spiritually.  
3)  Enlist caring and compassionate members to invite and lead the brethren in meeting the needs of widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.  The local church that is in love with Jesus is an unbeatable agency for a ministry of biblical social justice.  We use in-home small groups here in our church in Wooster not only to encourage deeper understanding of the Bible but also as a means to apply biblical teaching to our daily lives, and to serve one another and those in need with the love of the first century church.
4)  Encourage community leaders to cooperate with pastors of local churches in hiring or in enlistment of volunteers, thus providing opportunities for people of faith to participate in social service organizations, nonprofits, advocacy and legal aid organizations, health and rehabilitation organizations, and other avenues through which Christ-followers can provide loving assistance and the truth of the Gospel to those in need. 
5)  The local church as a “lighthouse:”  The only visual display of the Kingdom of God on Earth is the local Body of Christ.  The Apostle Paul’s challenge is of prime importance:  Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life… (Philippians 2: 14-16a).

Role in Government
My first serious introduction into national politics came during my teens in the turbulent 1960’s.  I witnessed the Kennedy-Nixon debates, the dangerous Bay of Pigs confrontation, the debates on civil rights, and the tragic assassinations of John and Bobby Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.  My adolescent mind wondered if the world was going to fall apart.  Fortunately, my home, church, school, and community had each contributed toward my mental and emotional stability.  I was less aware of how much I benefited from living under a stable and enduring federal government; one that I would later realize is a constitutional republic.

According to the Preamble of our U.S. Constitution, this document was written as a means “to form a more perfect Union.  Specifically, the Constitution would function to “establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”  The Constitution allows considerable latitude for the three branches of the federal government to legislate, execute, and determine the legality of laws and other orders while also allowing for separation of powers to avoid a tyrannical government under a king or dictator.

Fast-forward to today, listed below are a few of the current political and legal issues that exist in our constitutional republic which relate to social justice and our well-being as American citizens:
1)  National sovereignty of the United States is enforced through government policies with the backing of our military.  Whether our country has historical justification for even existing, let alone deserving of our respect, is debated by many in the context of social justice.  While this is a discussion for another time, the notion that the United States is unjust from its founding serves to influence many of the issues listed below.

 2)  Upholding freedom of religion and expression, although it has never been accomplished perfectly, has been a prominent part of governance in the United States.  The Founding Fathers wrote in the Preamble, “In order to form a more perfect Union…,” with the understanding that they were giving birth to an “experiment” in progress.  Those who professed faith in God realized their own proneness to selfishness and lust for power. It would not be easy for these imperfect men to devise an effective and lasting constitution.  But they did and the Judeo-Christian ethic played a fundamental role in the formation of our federal government [Read more, HERE.] 
3)  Limited Government with a separation of powers into three separate branches was intended to oppose tyrannical rule by one or a few.   In recent years, in the name of a perverted justice, this constitutional separation has been threatened by such efforts (real or alleged) as listed below.

3)  National borders and immigration policy are a current focus of contention that tends to follow political party lines.  Those who favor upholding existing immigration laws and the requirement of a legal path to American citizenship argue (as I do) that enforcement of immigration laws provides the following important roles:

4)  Law enforcement, due process of law, and sentencing has been a fundamental requirement for the dispensing of justice.    When those responsible for capturing lawbreakers, those who conduct due process of the law, and those who sentence the guilty act irresponsibly as in the name of a perverted social justice, the result is lawlessness in our streets, businesses are destroyed, and lives are lost or forever changed.  This threat to social justice is compounded by the lack of enforcement of immigration laws in the previous administration.  Christians who favor biblical social justice will heed the Apostle Paul’s admonition that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2: 1-2).

Concluding Thoughts
Robin, if you’re still there, thank you and others for reading my lengthy blog inspired by your social media post.  I’m sure we won’t agree on all points.  However, we are both “white Christians,” and I hope neither of us are “white supremacists.”  I have tried to outline my current understanding of social justice from a Christian perspective which includes the spheres of authority in which my view of this concept is being shaped.  I have also reasoned that, from a biblical perspective, efforts to promote social justice will not depend on identifying and reforming “white supremacists,” especially by preaching to crowds or using social media posts.  Rather, if we agree that all humans are fallen, depraved beings, then we are all “human supremacists” who, whether Christian or not, we struggle daily against a disposition of supremacy toward Almighty God and toward our neighbor regardless of his or her skin color or socioeconomic status.  If this is true, then “supremacy branding” becomes an off-target distraction from the only solution to the problem of humankind-- our need of redemption in Christ.

Meanwhile, we still have wars, assassinations or attempted ones, political corruption within and between parties, an increasing number of emotionally disturbed individuals, and mistrust and even hatred of elected and appointed officials.  Although these problems are not new, there seems to be a trend toward increasing harshness and disrespect at every one of the levels I have described from the home to school and into our communities; and, into our government and foreign affairs.  The Apostle Paul described to young Timothy the conditions he foresaw for the “last days” leading to the return of Christ:  But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, and on it goes (2 Timothy 3: 1-3a).  Thankfully, Christ offers hope through His salvation and the work of His Spirit in His followers living, growing, and serving as light and salt in a needy world.  There ought to be no law against living by the two Great Commandments and the exercise of biblical social justice.

Finally, Robin, I am looking forward to your response by “Comment” below or by whatever means and degree of anonymity you prefer. Hopefully, it will lead to more fruitful dialog between us and with other readers.

Related Articles & Videos
We invite readers to use the “Comment” link below to post your responses and questions.  Those who would like to know more about the Christian faith and how it ought to be lived out through “biblical social justice” may wish to go to the following websites:
1)  Brief explanation of how to take “Steps to Peace with God.”
2)  Video Clip:  God’s Authority, Our Responsibility - Pastor Zach Swift  [Click HERE.]

Related Articles & Videos
Readers, you can subscribe (free) and receive your first issue of our monthly Oikonomia e-mail package of additional articles and videos related to this topic along with other resources of interest in science, faith, and culture.  Just scroll to the top and, in the right column, find Subscribe to Mailing List.  Enter your e-mail address and first name to subscribe FREE.  To view past monthly issues and Subscribe free, just go HERE. 

“White Christians” Discuss Social Justice - Part 1

This blog arose from my (John's) comments in response to social media post.  A Christian friend whom I will call "Robin" posted a quote by Dr. Robert P. Jones, founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).  We begin with my response (below, somewhat abbreviated), followed by Robin's Social Media Response, followed by my reply entitled, "John's Reply."

Thank you,“Robin," for the Jones quote.   
[CLICK on quote below to enlarge.]  You've driven me to revisit my thinking about where my focus should be between "individual sin" (and thus, disciplining my own heart in the light of my being "clothed with Christ") as opposed to focusing on social/cultural/institutional sin (inherent "within white Christian DNA?").

From my study of Galatians 3: 22-29, I understand that I should be living as one who is not under law to provide my righteousness; but instead, joined by spiritual baptism into Christ in whom, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free man, male nor female... all believers are one in Christ, joint-heirs with His righteous DNA.  As a result, my DNA ought to reflect true "Christian DNA." And, Galatians 5: 13-15 describes the fruit that ought to result from our union with Christ; namely, that we "love and serve one another," and not "bite and devour one another." Therefore, my focus should be on my own commitment to live by these principles; and therefore, contribute to the coming of the kingdom of God on Earth for which we ought to pray: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done," beginning in my heart and spreading outward through my love of God and love for my brethren within the church and for my neighbor, regardless of ethnic group, gender, etc. In other words, can we agree that "social justice" must begin with "individual, internal justice" based upon God’s righteousness which is nurtured in worship and service of our churches and then flows outward into our social interactions within the secular world?

Robin’s Social Media Response
John, thanks for your comments here.  We agree on so much--God's grace, yes.  In my studies over the last thirty years, I've come to realize that the Gospel is as much about working to liberate those who are oppressed by racist systems as it is about working to liberate folks enchained in their sin.  As Miroslav Volf has wisely pointed out, after the early 20th century's schism between modernists and fundamentalists in the church, both sides were left with "thin" gospels.  Modernists overemphasized the earthly justice part, but fundamentalism under which I grew up and was educated by at Cedarville--overemphasized the spiritual part a la a heritage of quasi-Manicheanism that asserted only that which was “spiritual” mattered.  I have a far deeper, richer understanding of the Scriptures now that I understand the hundreds of commands requiring us to help the poor, the widows, the orphans, the strangers, a.k.a., immigrants, in our midst.  For example, Isaiah 1: 17 captures the commands from many other passages in Scripture:
Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.

And this one in Zechariah 7:10:
Do not oppress widows, orphans,
foreigners, and the poor.
And do not scheme against each other.

Our Lord Jesus says it best:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. –Luke 4:18-19

I could keep quoting verses here, John. Jesus is God who came to us in flesh and blood. The physical matters to him. The plight of the poor and oppressed matter to him.

Sadly, as many historians, especially Christian historians and political scientists like Jones and Jemar Tisby, have clearly shown the American Church's complicity with white supremacy.  I encourage you to read their work!

John's Reply
Dear Robin,
Thank you for responding to my post.  Please allow me to be more specific in addressing your concerns.  First, if I accept Robert P. Jones’s assertions as true, then I must deal with the possibility that I am a “white supremacist.”  According to Dr.  Jones’s logic:

A)  I am a “white Christian;” and therefore,
B)  I have “white Christian DNA” which means that
C)  I am susceptible if not already infected by the “white supremacy ‘virus.’”  Dr. Jones also suggests that, as a “white Christian,” and based on results of the 2024 presidential election in which white Christians favored Donald Trump:
D) I may be more susceptible to the “white supremacy virus” than those who voted for Kamala Harris.  It follows that Dr. Jones predicts that
E)  I voted for Donald Trump because, the “white supremacy virus” triggered my “white Christian DNA” and caused me to vote in favor of the presidential candidate who would most likely prevent “the loss of white Christian dominance amid a rapidly changing environment.”
[Please feel free to challenge my interpretation at any point.] 

If I understand Dr. Jones’s claim in regard to white evangelical Christians, I will admit there is some truth in his statement.  Here is my testimony based upon each of the above points:

A)  I was born “white.” As a young man, God’s Spirit through His Word convicted me about my sinful nature (i.e. my sin-infected flesh, including my DNA).  Based upon my personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ’s atoning blood which He shed on His Cross, I have been baptized into His death and raised a “new creation” in Christ.

B)  Based upon my profession of faith in Christ, I confess that I have “Christian DNA” which I have “inherited” as part of my new spiritual genealogy in Christ.  I am a “new creation” in which “the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5: 17).  However, as to the inference that I have “white Christian DNA,” I disagree, at least in proclamation because there is no distinction in either the life blood or the “color of the DNA” among human beings, least of all among Christians.  I have been joined by spiritual baptism into Christ in whose Body, the Church, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for [we] are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3: 28),” and joint-heirs, sharing in His “righteous DNA” (Romans 8: 17).  

C)  In regard to Dr. Jones’s claim that l am susceptible if not already infected by the “white supremacy virus,” I will admit to thinking and acting at times in ways that may resemble what he considers “white supremacist” behavior.  Therefore, while I deny being a “white supremacist” in my proclamation, I will confess my weakness in demonstration of the biblical truth of Galatians 3 in thought and action.  For example, having grown up in rural America as part of a “white family” in a largely “white community,” I have not experienced life in a “black family” in an urban community.  These differences in ethnicity and cultural exposure are undeniable and they have hampered my sensitivity, tactfulness, and expression, but I do not believe they are intentional or caused by any sense of racial superiority on my part.  We ought not to judge one another’s behavior as relates to either our ethnic diversity or our cultural background.

D)  I also disagree with Dr. Jones’s inference that, because I voted for Donald Trump, I am more susceptible to the “white supremacy virus” than those who voted for Kamala Harris.  It seems to me that Dr. Jones’s practice of classifying each individual created in God’s image as a member of a group is inconsistent with his opposition to racism and racial profiling.                                                  
               
E)  Finally, I wonder on what grounds Dr. Jones can claim that I voted for Donald Trump because I am a “white supremacist” who wants to prevent the loss of “white Christian dominance.”  For reasons I have presented above, I do not believe he is justified in making that claim.  Instead, I believe Dr. Jones’s assertions should remind us that, regardless of our views on politics and culture, we are all prone to assume we know one another’s motives, blame one another, and assign people into social and political classes.  In so doing we may be undermining many well intended efforts to promote social justice and unity.

I'll stop there, Robin, and invite you to “Comment” on this blog.  I value your participation and hope to better understand and learn from your perspective.  I also invite interested readers to comment as well. Meanwhile, I am following up with a "Part 2" in order to express my current thoughts on what I’ll call “biblical social justice.”  [To read Part 2, click HERE.]   

Related Articles & Videos
Readers, subscribe (free) and receive your first issue of our monthly Oikonomia e-mail package of additional articles and videos related to this topic.  Each issue includes other resources of interest in science, faith, and culture.  Just scroll to the top and, in the right column, find Subscribe to Mailing List.  Enter your e-mail address and first name to subscribe FREE.  To view past monthly issues and Subscribe free, just go HERE. 

Winsome Witness 4. Overcoming Hate with Love

On September 10, the disunity within the United States of America was highlighted once again by the assassination of Charlie Kirk.  The life of this young husband, father, and founder of Turning Point, USA was taken by an assassin’s bullet while Charlie was engaging in public dialog with college students at Utah Valley University.  Since that day, many who knew Charlie have been honoring him with praise for his bold witness for Jesus Christ and his love for America, and especially for the youth on our college campuses.

When we began this series of blogs on a “Winsome Witness” in July, we discussed our calling as “the salt of the earth” [Part 1 HERE.] and in August, “Being Salt in Controversy” [Part 2 HERE.].  Little did we know that we would be remembering the life and “winsome witness” of Dwayne Frank who went home to Heaven on September 7 [Part 3 HERE.].  And then, three days later, we mourned the assassination of God’s witness for the Gospel, Charlie Kirk.  So, in Part 4, we will consider how the love of God inspires Christ-followers to be “winsome witnesses” of the love of Christ in the face of hate and death.

The Gospel: 
Harsh Truth?
Charlie Kirk was a lover of God, His Word, and everyone he tried to reach with Truth.  Still, many are criticizing Kirk’s approach as having been too harsh and disrespectful.  Granted,  Charlie repeatedly made clear that his primary intention was to present his witness for Christ and the Gospel (“good news”) of salvation in a genuine and encouraging way.  However, his application of the Gospel message to various moral and social issues was not always favorably received by everyone across the diverse political and ethnic landscape of America.   

Charlie would have been the first to admit he was not perfect.  One can find recordings in which, during the heat of the moment, his words appeared inappropriate and may have hurt some of his listeners.  Add to these the snippets of Charlies speeches, often taken out of context and propagated in social media.  Regardless, it is easy to resort to fault-finding to evade a convicting message.  We believe that most of Charlie’s critics who judged his words as “hate speech” did so, not because they have reason to reject Charlie, but because they have not found justification and peace in their relationship to God.  To them in their broken spiritual and emotional state, even loving words of moral truth can appear hurtful and hateful. 

“Good News,
“Hate Speech?”
How can we account for the fact that what Almighty God and His children intend to be a witness for “Good News” is labeled by some as “hate speech?” The history of Christianity according to the Bible account helps us answer this perplexing question.  For example, the Apostle Peter who just days earlier had denied Christ and had run away in fear, suddenly began to boldly proclaim the Gospel of the Cross to the Jews and people of different nations and ethnic groups (Book of Acts, Ch. 2).  Some considered Peter's message as "hate speech." However, about three thousand in the crowd repented of their sin and were saved! 

It is no surprise that the Gospel is considered by many as hate speech.  The Apostle Paul who was hated, persecuted, and eventually martyred for his faith wrote, For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1: 18).  And, within hours of His crucifixion, Jesus prepared His followers with these words (John 15:18-19):  If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.

Had Charlie simply preached a more “user-friendly Gospel” that “God is love, and God wants us to be happy in what we choose to do for ourselves,” few would have heard and responded in hate and violence.  But Charlie’s message was like the message of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7).  According to Acts 7: 54, when Stephen’s audience heard him say they were disobedient to God, they were enraged and they gnashed their teeth at him. Then, they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him (v. 57).  Finally, they drove Stephen out of the city and stoned him to death. 

Like Stephen, Charlie boldly confronted his listeners and urged them to evaluate their personal beliefs in light of God’s Word.  As we noted in Part 2 of this series [Click HERE to read.], when Christ-followers take a firm stand against immoral or unethical claims or actions, they are acting as the "salt" that preserves our culture against decay.  However, they also risk being misunderstood and even under threat of violence and death.

Murder of God’s Messengers
Ultimately, like so many historic Christian martyrs, and like many more around the world today, Charlie was hated because of the Gospel message he presented.  His message was that God came in human flesh as Jesus Christ to reconcile rebellious, sinful mankind regardless of their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religion, or political party (John 3: 14-21).  This Jesus lived a sinless life, died in our place as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners, and rose again from the dead in victory over sin and death.  All who accept Jesus’s death and resurrection by faith and reason as payment for their sin can be saved from eternal separation from God (Romans 10: 8-13).  When a person submits to God in this way and is enlightened by God’s Word through His Spirit, he or she begins to put off the old person and lifestyle.  The Bible describes this transformation in mind, body, and spirit in Galatians 5: 19-23:

Now the deeds of the flesh [the old, sinful nature] are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,  envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the [new life in the] Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Hatred Is Rooted in Our Hearts
Charlie Kirk recognized that he was engaged in a war, …not against flesh and blood, but against… the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6: 12).”  The weapons, or “flaming darts,” of spiritual darkness include hate, lies, deception, accusation, isolation, doubt, distraction, masquerade, pleasure, unforgiveness, and fear.  If we allow these weapons of Satan to penetrate the spiritual armor God provides and commands us to put on (Ephesians 6: 10-18), our minds become confused about who we really are and who our enemy really is.  Then, we mistakenly turn against others—our brother or sister in Christ, our spouse, our neighbor, our pastor, or our president and other leaders.  Sound familiar?  Sound close to home?

Let’s be honest!  (I’ll admit, I am speaking from experience.)  The inner attitudes and thoughts that I battle are the seeds that could grow into actions that make the daily news—hateful rhetoric, riots, and murder.  James 1: 14-15 describes a progression that occurs when we are “carried away” by our passions which, when they have conceived, give birth to sin which leads to death.  In Matthew 5: 22, we read Jesus’s claim: whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  Notice that Jesus takes the sixth commandment, “Thou shall not murder,” and goes to the source within the human heart where the underlying sins of pride, hate, and envy are rooted.  Sin within the heart if unchecked leads to hateful speech and even murder.  To this we should cry, “God help us!”  And He will.

Choosing Better Weapons
But God through Christ and His Gospel pleads with us:
“Please don’t think that way.
Turn from your selfish, sinful ways.
They will destroy you. 
I have something better and
I want you to have it because I love you.”

In our culture where hateful hearts, violent rhetoric, guns, knives, and bombs are subjects of our daily news, true Christ-followers have access to three more powerful “weapons”—thankfulness, repentance, and forgiveness.  Each of these “weapons” are necessary if we are to gain victory against our fleshly passions and the flaming darts of spiritual wickedness hurled at us.

Thankfulness is our weapon or prescription against our tendency toward discontent, envy, boasting, and covetousness.  Thankfulness for what God has already provided frees our minds to realize the blessings of freedom and material provisions we have in Christ and in our country; and, for those both living and dead who have made these blessings possible.

Repentance is our second weapon.  When a disposition of fear, envy, or covetousness threatens our outlook, we need to be quick to repent—i.e. to confess (say what God says about) our lack of faith and any sin, and turn from it toward faith in our loving God.  Not easy, but in every circumstance, by prayer …[we are to let our requests] be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 7).

Forgiveness and a forgiving spirit may be the most powerful weapon of all.  It is the pure expression of God’s love, spoken through His Son while nailed to a Roman cross when He said, Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23: 34).  Charlie’s wife, Erika, chose to forgive Tyler Robinson who shot and killed her beloved husband.  Her statement of forgiveness is a powerful testimony and “winsome witness” of God’s love.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination on September 10 escorted him into the presence of an estimated 70 million Christians believed to have been martyred for their faith since the death of Stephen.

Charlie is quoted as saying, “What God wants from me is a life fighting for truth.  I want to be remembered for courage for my faith.”  He certainly fought hard for truth, and we fondly remember him for his outstanding courage and “winsome witness” right up to the moment God took him home to Heaven.

Further Encouragement:
The month of September has seen many challenging events, both encouraging and disheartening.  Thankfully, when our souls become frustrated and fearful, God stands ready with a three-part prescription from His Word.  During a similar time of turmoil in 2019, I shared my basic “three R’s” as an encouragement—not “Readin’, ‘Ritin’, and ‘Rithmetic;” but instead, REPENT, REJOICE, and RECONCILE.   [Read more HERE.]

Winsome Witness 3. Celebrating the Life of Dwayne Frank

I feel like I’m on the front porch of heaven.
I feel that way today.  – Rev. David Graham

Yesterday, I worshiped at Grace Baptist Church, Cedarville, Ohio, our home church for 33 years, until we moved to Wooster, OH, in 2012.  The occasion was the celebration of the life of Dwayne Frank, a dear brother in Christ, and former colleague at Cedarville University.  Dwayne entered heaven and into the embrace of his Savior on September 7, 2025.  As we honored Dwayne’s life so dedicated to His Lord Jesus; indeed, it seemed we were sitting “on the front porch of heaven.”

I first met Dwayne Frank in 1979 when I joined the faculty of (then) Cedarville College.  Dwayne had arrived in Cedarville nearly 20 years earlier, having come as a student in 1956 and then as faculty member in our Education Department, in 1968.  I was privileged at first to work with Dwayne while I taught our science-math education methods course.  My students learned principles of classroom and laboratory teaching through me (I hoped); and then, Dwayne and colleagues guided them in their classroom student teaching experience.

One of Dwayne’s education students, John Hart, named “gentleness” as a fruit of the Spirit that best described his mentor.  John said yesterday, “I caught more than I was taught.”  During his times in Dwayne’s classroom, or traveling with Dwayne on mission in China, or during many times in Dwayne and wife JoAnne’s home, John said by observing Dwayne’s life, he caught how it looks to be a loving husband, father, and servant of others outside his home. 

As a college professor, Dwayne was a gentle servant to his colleagues.  I was privileged to serve on academic committees with Dwayne, and I learned from his wise and soft-spoken service.  Dwayne also loved our local church, and we were blessed by his Spirit-filled leadership of singing in our worship services.  He was a godly example to me and other deacons as a man who loved every opportunity to serve our pastoral staff and our members as a caring deacon.

My friend Dwayne, was a winsome witness through his gentle service in his home, his church, and on campus because he respected and feared his God.  Dwayne’s “fear of God” was a fear of  grieving others by his behavior, and ultimately, grieve the Holy Spirit of God.   His life showed us the meaning of Psalm 128: 1-4:

How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
            Who walks in His ways.
When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands,
            You will be happy and it will be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
            Within your house,
            Your children like olive plants
            Around your table.
Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
            Who fears the LORD. 

Our LORD has honored Dwayne’s longtime reverent obedience to Him by blessing his and JoAnn’s parenting of their three daughters, Stephanie, Sandra, and Shelly, and making their home a godly haven to all who visited.  During years past and in recent years, Abby and I have enjoyed several refreshing times of fellowship and prayer in Dwayne and JoAnn’s home in Lakeland, FL.  I will never forget the many phone conversations between Dwayne and I which always left me encouraged in my spirit—indeed, as if we had been conversing “on the front porch of Heaven.”  Dwayne had trusted Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross and His resurrection victory over sin and death, and he was long-ready to meet His Savior.

Yesterday, we heard from multiple generations of Dwayne and JoAnn’s family representing six grandchildren and ten grandchildren.  Representatives of each generation shared how Dwayne and JoAnn had shown the aroma of Christ through selfless love for them; and it has been their desire to have godly homes for their families.  Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.

Although we have tried, it is impossible for us to give a deserving tribute to my friend Dwayne.  So, I include a few links for those who wish to hear the Celebration of the Life of Dwayne Frank.
We will close with the promise of our prayers for JoAnn and family, and a prayerful psalm that we hope will be a fitting comfort to each of them:

O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness,
            That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us,
            And the years we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants
            And Your majesty to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;
            And confirm for us the work of our hands;
            Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

Links to the Celebration of Dwayne Frank’s Life:

Full Service Online:  Click HERE.
David Carr, son-in-law:  Click HERE.
Greg Frank, nephew:   Click HERE.
Stephanie, daughter:  Click HERE.
John Hart, former student:  Click HERE.
Melvin Frank, brother:  Click HERE.
Paul Jackson, Dwayne’s pastor (1975-1992): Click HERE.
Granddaughters, Jenn & Jessie:  Click HERE.
Dave Carr, representing sons-in-law:  Click HERE.
Bob Beikert & Jeff Beste, leading in worship:   Click HERE.
David Graham, Dwayne’s pastor (1992-2004): Click HERE.

Obituary:  Click HERE.

Dedication:
This blog is dedicated to all its readers who have been reminded of the sting of their own loss, perhaps of a dear husband, wife, child, or a beloved friend.  We hope you have found comfort in the words and songs in honor of Dwayne and for the comfort of his family.  We welcome you to use "Comment" link below for any words of comfort or questions you might have as to how it is that a memorial service can be a "celebration of life" for those who know Christ who takes the sting out of death and the grave (1 Corinthians 15: 55-58).

Read More on "A Winsome Witness"
See Part 4.  "Overcoming Hate with Love," click HERE.

Winsome Witness 2. Being Salt in Controversy

In honor of  Charlie Kirk, we are reposting this blog in which, just days ago, we asked,  “How can a Christ-follower be a pleasant savor in his or her culture while also providing a moral conscience that preserves our culture against moral decline?”  Charlie was the salt and a "pleasant savor" even in the midst of controversy.  We pray for his family and all others who grieve.

You are the salt of the earth;
but if the salt has become tasteless,
how will it be made salty again?
It is good for nothing anymore,
except to be thrown out and trampled
underfoot by men. - Matthew 5: 13

Jesus calls His committed followers “the salt of the Earth.”  He wants His followers to be distinctive and pleasant in conversation and behavior like well-seasoned food is to our taste.  On the other hand, “salting” of meat by adding excess salt preserves the meat by killing the microbes that would otherwise cause spoiling.  When Christ-followers take a firm stand against immoral or unethical claims or actions, they are acting to preserve our culture against decay.

Jesus’s pronouncement also comes with a stern warning.  Christ-followers who allow their faith to be compromised and become lukewarm will become tasteless and their preserving witness in the culture will be dulled.  Like salt that is contaminated with impurities, a compromised Christian’s witness is “good for nothing anymore.”  It has become tasteless and of no value in preservation against cultural decline.

We discussed these principles in Christ’s teaching on “Salt” in Part 1 of “Winsome Witness.”  [Click HERE to read.]  But the question remains, “How can a Christ-follower be a pleasant savor in his or her culture while also providing a moral conscience that preserves our culture against moral decline?”

Using Too Much Salt
According to unconfirmed sources, after the Romans conquered Carthage during the Third Punic War (149–146 BCE), they plowed excess salt into the fields of Carthage to curse their soils and prevent future settlement.  (Excess salt disrupts the ability of most plants to absorb water.) The very substance that can add a pleasant savor can also be a destructive agent, even a curse, to human dialog and relationships when we become careless with our words and behavior.  And, there are plenty of issues in our culture that can cause us to be defensive and divided.

Listed below are a few of the major issues over which America is currently divided.  One glance at this list and you may agree that any one of these issues is ripe for disagreement and debate.  Admittedly, we have been guilty on several occasions of responding to others carelessly or even harshly in disagreements.  We were “over-salting the soil” which otherwise might have produced a crop of good will and understanding for the glory of God.  If we can agree that it is virtuous to avoid conflict in favor of respectful dialog, how can we acquire this virtue?

Salting Sparingly
In our culture, it is virtually impossible to develop and sustain a close relationship with anyone without encountering differences of opinion.  So, how can we avoid alienating others with whom we disagree, especially when we believe our position is the right one?  

What follows are considerations we are trying to implement in conversations involving controversial issues.  We welcome reader insights [See "Comment" link below.]  To illustrate, suppose you and a friend have just received news of a tragic murder in Kentucky allegedly committed by an illegal migrant.  [See brief summary below, and read more HERE.] 

After reading the report of this murder, what thoughts and emotions does it stir in you?  How would you need to discipline yourself to foster a rational and polite discussion with a friend or colleague who might have a different social and political viewpoint?  Here are some considerations which are rooted in the foundation we presented in “Winsome Witness,” Part 1 [Click HERE.]:

1.  Guard Your Heart:  Before speaking, we should ask ourselves, “What is my purpose in entering into a conversation that will be charged with moral and political implications?  Is it my goal simply to win a debate and gain power or prestige?  Or, instead, will I aim for understanding and peace, led by the Spirit of Christ, the Prince of Peace?

2.  Watch Your Tongue; Open Your Ears:  If our spirit and our intentions are aligned with God’s Spirit, then our tongues will follow; for our mouth speaks from that which fills the heart (Luke 6: 45). 

It is easy to unleash a sharp tongue or rapidly tap out a text message on social media.  But James, the half-brother of Jesus challenges us to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1: 19b-20).  James suggests that we learn to listen politely before we speak—wise counsel!

3.  Establish Mutual Respect:  Mutual respect is essential for all enduring relationships.  As mutual respect grows, we can be less restrained in dealing with potentially controversial topics.  Once a respectful dialog is established, it is likely that a thoughtful analysis of the issue will follow.  There is a good chance of either reaching agreement; or if necessary, politely agreeing to disagree.

4.  Recognize Differences in Worldview:  Disagreements often point to differences in our worldview.  Our worldview is an internally coherent and consistent framework or lens through which we can view, understand, and relate to the world around us.  [Read more HERE.]  If our worldviews differ, we may each be reasoning logically, but because our “lenses” through which we view the world differ, we are each reasoning from a very different starting point.  Here again, we may need to agree to disagree based on mutual respect.

5.  Analyze the Issue Carefully:  Different worldviews may cause each of us to react differently to an event like the murder of 15-year-old Luis Lopez.  Then, there may be differences in how the news media report the event.  Some news sources may not emphasize the fact that this teen was murdered while defending his mother from an assault by an illegal migrant.  Also, differences in personality can influence how we respond to this news.  Some of us will be influenced more emotionally, while others will take a more analytical approach.  Then, we must factor in our past experiences, political affiliation, philosophy of governance, and views on the importance of the nuclear family, moral upbringing, law and order, and due process of law.  A calm, rational dialog will be necessary to identify these variables and consider their importance in a respectful manner. 

Given the potentially controversial nature of the issues surrounding the murder of Luis Lopez, we hope this case can illustrate how we might apply the above five considerations to establish a polite and constructive conversation.  Table 2 below offers conversation points we might use to discuss issues relating to this murder case in the context of “Immigration Policy and Citizenship” noted in Table 1.  We hope this table will also apply in discussion of other potentially divisive issues.

Salt, Mediators, and Peacemakers
We began this blog by asking how a Christ-follower can be a pleasant savor in his or her culture while also providing a moral conscience in the midst of cultural decline.  We believe the answer to both is to radiate the sweetness of character and winsome behavior of Christ.  This means that rather than simply winning arguments we must aim toward winning souls for Christ.  Jesus came as God in human form and became a servant even to the point of death on a Roman cross.  Then, He rose again to sit at the right hand of God and now serves as our Savior and Mediator between a Holy God and sinful humankind.  When we confess our sin and surrender our lives to Christ, He serves as our Mediator and settles the debt caused by our sins against God.  We become one in Him when we are baptized into Him as Romans 6: 3-4 states.

Being made one with Christ and being Spirit-filled ought to inspire us to be mediators and peacemakers.  Michael Zeytoonian, Director of the Dispute Resolution Counsel, relates conflict resolution to the role of Christ as our Mediator when he writes:

“There is this ‘place of one’ in every dispute and it offers the most complete resolution. It is different for each team of rivals and each situation.  In order to fulfill the law, the Mediator’s higher purpose is to transform the minds of the two sides, so that they can go beyond just settling, to find, or perhaps rediscover, their “place of one.”  [Read more HERE.]

All of this sounds good.  But is it possible in our divided nation and world?  The Scriptures do not gloss over the difficulty we will face.  Jesus said, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5: 9-10).  Just a few verses after this statement (v. 13), Jesus said to His followers, “you are the salt of the Earth.  He made both claims in the context of a troubled world about which He later said, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16: 33).”

Yielding for a Greater Gain
It is clear from the teachings of Jesus that although we are to be “salt” that produces a pleasant savor in conversations with others, we will not always expect a kind response.  The most respectful words and Christ-like witness may be met with rejection and even outright persecution as was experienced by the prophets (Matthew 5: 11-12).  Our human reaction is often to press beyond respectful limits to “prove our point” or “settle accounts” or “level the playing field.” We are tempted to act as if the equity sought by many in our culture is within our grasp.  But it is better to “lose” a debate and radiate the character of Christ who while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously… (1 Peter 2: 23).  Jesus entrusted Himself to His Father because He remembered, according to Psalm 96: 10, The LORD reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.

Today, many Christ-followers, some of whom we know, are suffering dearly for their faith.  Our prayer as we close is that our persecuted brethren and all of us who love Jesus Christ will find comfort in the balanced teaching of the Apostle Peter:

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.  For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; -- 1 Peter 3: 13-18

Questions for Readers:
What are we missing?  Or misunderstanding?
What do you find most difficult when you are having a conversation that approaches a controversial topic? 
What advice can you offer based on your experience?
Please use the "Comment" link below or e-mail to silviusj@gmail.com

Read More on "A Winsome Witness"
Read Part 3, "Celebrating the Life of Dwayne Frank," click HERE.