8.5.24
Hey, Calvary Chapel –
Climate Change (the Christian version of this is Creation Care) is a Gospel Issue.
No, it’s not – it’s a Biblical Issue.
Social Justice is a Gospel Issue.
No, it’s not – it’s a Biblical Issue.
Racial Justice is a Gospel Issue.
No, it’s not – it’s a Biblical Issue.
Etc.
What is a Gospel Issue?
Your sin and separation from God is a Gospel Issue. Salvation is a Gospel Issue. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 tells us that the Gospel is the message that Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. And then He was buried. And then He was raised from the dead, according to the Scriptures. And then He made appearances to people – inviting them to believe and follow Him. This is the Gospel.
Tim, are you saying that personal salvation is more important than Creation Care and Social Justice and Racial Justice? That’s exactly what I’m saying. And that’s exactly what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:3 – “I DELIVERED TO YOU AS OF FIRST IMPORTANCE…” Believing the Gospel makes a person right with God – that’s what is of First Importance. Fighting to right all the inequities in the world doesn’t make you right with God. Fighting to right all the wrongs in the world is a virtuous undertaking, but it doesn’t make you right with God.
You can dig 100 wells in water-impoverished India and still go to hell.
You can craft legislation insuring equal pay for equal work for both genders and still go to hell.
You can reconcile the races in your community and still go to hell.
How is that possible? Because digging wells and salary equity and racial reconciliation are not Gospel Issues – they are Bible Issues. They will not cleanse you from your sin and cause you to be born again. Everywhere the apostles went in the Book of Acts they preached Jesus crucified and risen from the dead. Repenting and believing the Gospel is the road to eternal salvation. The apostles did not preach Creation Care, Social Justice, and Racial Justice to non-Christian crowds. They preached the Gospel. Sinners are called to the Gospel. Saints are called to Biblical Justice. The Gospel tells us how to be saved. The rest of the Bible tells us how to live saved. Coming to faith in Christ is a Gospel Issue. Living in faith in Christ is a Bible Issue.
I think that those Christian teachers and preachers who make everything a Gospel Issue do so to correct the underemphasis of these things in the life of the Church. They are saying that we can’t ignore Issues of Justice and be the Church. I agree. Yet their correction results in an over-correction where everything becomes the Gospel, everything becomes what is of First Importance. This might supply the necessary correction to underscore the importance of all the “Justice” issues of the Bible, yet at the same time it dilutes the true Gospel. Living as the Bible tells you to live will not save you. Believing what the Gospel tells you to believe will save you. This is what is of First Importance.
Someone may well say that the right to bear arms is a First Amendment Issue. No, it’s not – it’s a Constitutional Issue, but not a First Amendment Issue. Someone can say that a Free Press is a First Amendment Issue. No, it’s not – it’s a Constitutional Issue, but not a First Amendment Issue. There is only one First. All Amendments are not First Amendments, and all Bible Issues are not Gospel Issues. The Gospel is of First Importance.
It is important where you stand and what you work for as it concerns Biblical Justice. It is of First Importance where you stand with God.
Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
On fire lately.