I-5 Questions Part 2

What about helping people versus the victim mentality so prevalent today?

Ultimately helping people must involve a relationship with someone who can showcase the grace and goodness of King Jesus. In Jesus we begin to understand that we are not victims, but victors. This must be our ultimate goal in helping people because then and only then are people truly free and able to experience the joy made available in Christ.

Practically, this means the following:

1. Some acts of service are necessary to alleviate the immediate problem. Hungry kids need to be fed; homeless people need shelter.
2. At some point, service ought to become relational and an investment in the long-term well-being of the one being served. This helps break the chain and cycle of poverty and the victim mentality by giving people real hope.
3. Some people will reject the offer of long-term, liberating service; we must still serve and not be discouraged.
4. Ultimately, we serve because Jesus served us; not to get a certain response from the one served or to have our expectations met.

What about the nation of Israel and the recent Gaza war? What should our position be?

First, we recognize any nation has the right to defend itself against attack and to protect its citizens. That is the starting point for viewing the recent Gaza war. But we must also mourn the loss of life and hopefully war can be waged in such a way that the loss of life is minimized. We recognize that war is a reality of life after the Fall and anticipate a day when war will no longer occur.

There is great diversity of viewpoints regarding Israel and the Jewish people today. In the Scriptures, we see that the Gospel has opened up the possibility for non-Jews to become God’s “chosen people” (Romans 1:16; Colossians 1:27; Ephesians 1:3-4). The offer of salvation in Christ is for all people and as Christians we pray and labor for the salvation of Jews. We must not understand the “Jews as God’s chosen people” in a way that causes us to neglect evangelizing them. We must understand that salvation comes to all (Jew and non-Jew) the same way. The Jews in Paul’s day were saved by faith in Jesus Christ; the same is true in ours as well.

However, we do see that God intends a future salvation harvest among the Jews (Romans 11:25-26; Zechariah 12:10). The Scripture indicates this will apply to Israel as a nation and not necessarily to every individual Jew.

The terrorist threat of ISIL.

Our response as Christians is first and foremost to plead for the souls of those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. In Him, we see how the evil in the human heart can be cured and humanity restored to goodness by the God’s power and the Spirit’s presence. This leads us to send missionaries and pray for those who live in this troubled region of the world.

We also must pray for our president and our nation’s leadership. The decision to engage in war is not to be taken lightly but is within the government’s biblical responsibility to protect our nation’s citizens and vital interests. Therefore, the members of the armed forces who engage in combat are not guilty of murder and we pray for them and thank God for their service and sacrifices.

Why doesn’t God do something to stop ISIL and other acts of evil in the world?

First, we must understand that only the Christian worldview offers an explanation for why evil exists in the world (because evil exists in the human heart which has rejected God).

Not only does Christianity offer an explanation for evil, but also a solution for evil in Christ and His gospel which changes human hearts.

We must understand that God has chosen from the beginning of time to work through human beings to accomplish His will. This pattern remain unchanged after the Fall in Genesis 3 as God began to work through Abram and then Israel. Even Jesus as the Son of God, referred to Himself as the “Son of Man.”

Scripture also indicates that God may be currently holding back and restraining evil until a final battle occurs (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

Lastly, we also see that throughout history God’s people are frequently not spared from acts of evil or suffering or persecution. In His providence and sovereignty God uses what was meant for evil for good (Genesis 50:20). This is our ultimate hope and what our faith in God teaches us.