The recent Supreme Court decision on gay marriage has overwhelmed Christian conversation lately. While some Christians are questioning their beliefs on gay marriage, and some are rejoicing, others are encouraging their Christian brothers and sisters to continue resisting the policy so that all of America can honor the original design of marriage.
I, however, suggest a different approach—one that might not be preferable to some, but is what I believe to be on par with what it means to live like Jesus.
Here’s the thing about living like Jesus: He didn’t necessarily go through the public arena of confronting Roman laws in order to gain a healthy following. He instead served the people around Him, which is why people took Him seriously when He told others to do the same. Because He was doing something about the condition of the world rather than aiming straight for the long process of political reform, people obeyed Him.
We can’t expect people to follow our way of living if we are not doing something to solve the deep insufficiencies of the world.
If we were as concerned about poverty as we were about gay marriage, then maybe our view on gay marriage would have more weight to it. If we were doing something significant to solve for the loss of children around the world, then maybe people would see the legitimacy in our worldview.
I’m not saying it’s wrong to seek Christian change in the political arena. I’m just asking us to shift our way of thinking a bit.
What will make people Christians is how they see our beliefs tackle causes around the world, in our neighborhoods, and in our homes—not how our beliefs are honored in the legal system.
So instead of waiting on our culture to change, let’s go and be the change.
If we are first people of change, then I believe society would be more prone to listen to us when it comes to Christianity being honored and treasured in society.
But of course, this means we must shift our topic of discussion from gay marriage to other topics of importance. Here are the battles we should be fighting right now if we want to be making a difference as Christians:
1. Poverty
Half of the world (3 billion people) live on less than $2.50 a day. Meanwhile, Americans spend $1.2 trillion dollars a year on nonessential goods. In America, we have the resources and the worldview to do something about the problem. But instead, we’re only giving 1.9% of our income to charitable causes, and focusing on other matters with our energy.
Of course, not everyone is like this. Many families go to great lengths to solve issues of poverty around the world. But what would happen if we as the Church would talk about our contribution to this problem? What if we spent our time and energy working to solely solve this problem in the world?
Let’s gather our friends and our church together to talk more in-depth about how to seek reform with this issue.
2. Racial Injustice
In just the past few days, 8 black churches burned to the ground, while it is still unclear which are arson. It’s clear—especially in the past few months—that racism is still heavy in America.
Many people don’t know how to talk about racism in our country, but that’s no excuse to not talk about it. If we talk more about the racial injustice inflicted on our brothers and sisters, then we’ll adopt a we-understanding—that we are with our black brothers and sisters in the thicket of this issue. But the more we avoid it and talk about safer issues, the more we feed the problem.
3. Persecution
100 million Christians around the world are facing dire circumstances for their faith. We might feel detached from this issue because we are not persecuted ourselves. But there are practical ways we can fight this problem, and it doesn’t involve saying comments like “bomb ISIS” on social media. Let’s work with each other in the church, and make this cause our mantle instead of gay marriage.
4. Your Neighbor’s Needs
It’s easy talking about issues you are removed from, but what if the issues you were called to face were right next door? Well, they are. Jesus guides us to care and serve for the people we come in contact with, which means, if we are looking for a problem to solve, all we have to do is walk out our front door.
If we want to take action in the world, sometimes it’s as simple as listening to the needs of those around us.
Don’t fall victim to the idea that to make a difference, you must be solving big issues like poverty and world hunger. Do something in your own neighborhood.
5. Your Own Marriage
And finally, if you want people to take you seriously on Christianity’s idea of marriage, then maybe you should work to make your marriage something of value. Our household is our first ministry, so what does is look like if the place we are called to serve first is in disarray? Not only does it trample on the legitimacy of our worldview, but it also leads us away from God’s vision for our marriage.
To make a difference in the world, make a difference in your home first.
Before culture can believe in our worldview, they must see it in action, and seeing it in action means living like Jesus—not so much fighting in the political arena. Let’s work to talk about these issues above, and maybe, we’ll see society change for the better.
Photography by Todd Bennett (AP)
If you liked this article, check out:
Christians, We Need to Be Better At Responding to Culture
5 Practical Ways to Help Persecuted Christians
9 Reasons Christians Look Less Like Jesus Today