Is it the job of the Christian to make the world a better place? Is it our job to fix it? You may be surprised to know that this is a key philosophy of many mainstream churches and Christians today. They believe we are here to improve the world. Many believe that Jesus won’t return until we do this. That somehow we have to prepare the world for His return.
Now you may be able to get that from a few verses that are twisted and pulled way out of context, but this is not the actual message of scripture.
If you look at both the Gospels and the Epistles, we see an acceptance of the world the way it is and instructions for living in it (I Corinthians 12:13 and Ephesians 5&6). More importantly, we see that the Christian is not to focus on this world but on eternal things (Colossians 3). And, most importantly, we read throughout the entire New Testament that the only way for true and lasting change in both the individual and in the culture is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are also told in scripture that the world will get worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:1-9; Jude). We should not expect to live in a fixed earth for there will be no such thing until Jesus returns.
This past week in Sunday School, our teacher pointed out a verse in Daniel 9 that I never noticed before–
O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
As I read and then re-read that verse, it hit me! The main problem with the social justice/fix the world movement is PRIDE. Man actually thinks he has the power to fix the world. Think about that for a moment.
Now–keep in mind that I am not saying we aren’t to do good things. Scripture makes it abundantly clear that we are. And I am not implying that cultures won’t be better sometimes because of Christians. I think those of us in America did have that experience (particularly if we are older).
But we have to recognize that without Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5). That any good that we accomplish is through God alone. And God does graciously choose to use us in this world to accomplish His purposes. He has clearly set out good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10) and we are to faithfully going about His business.
But to think we can fix the world is rather presumptuous, don’t you think?
Read that verse again. Do you see what Daniel said? He is asking for God to hear Him –not because of their righteous deeds but because of His great mercies.
Not because of their righteous deeds. It seems like this group of “Christians” are very much counting on their righteous deeds to ready the world for Christ. Ironically, this movement has little to do with the genuine Gospel in their efforts to attain utopia here on earth.
And don’t miss two facts about that this movement to bring in a better world–
First, this is the same old, same old that Satan has been trying to accomplish since the beginning of time. Man can be like God and bring in a utopian society. Sure, there are a few more Christian terms covering up the true agenda, but if you dig a little, you will see little reliance on God in this movement and much reliance on self.
Second, please note how this movement will play right into the system of the antichrist. These people who are crying out for a perfect world will be ripe to fall into the worship of the antichrist, as he promises to join them in fixing the world. This is not just a “movement” but a very intentional direction that Satan is taking the church.
Now, I want to be clear about one thing before I close today: I am sure there are many Christians who have been deceived in this area of making the world a better place. Just as we are all deceived about one thing or another.
We must pray diligently that the Lord will keep us from deception, for it is everywhere now. EVERYWHERE. We must persevere in finding out the truth in all areas of life or we will leave ourselves open to great deception. Trust NO MAN OR WOMAN more than you trust the Word of God.
If God said it and the true Church has believed it for over 2000 years then it is true–no matter what new-fangled way someone has of interpreting a verse or passage.
This is why church history is so important. It gives context and a firm foundation of the true Christian Faith (this is the true Christian faith–and does not include the Catholic church, which is not a true Christian church and never has been.) Sorry, I got a little off of topic there, but I do believe that church history is critically important. Actually, history is critically important. We see many things happening today because people do not know history. Or they believe a faulty history. And so it repeats itself. Over and over again. But I digress.
Dear readers, we are not here to fix the world. Anyone who reads and studies their Bible must come to that conclusion, for there is no other conclusion to be drawn. We are here to share the Gospel and to make the Lord known in a rebellious and dark world. Most will turn away from the Gospel. but God, in His Providence, will lead us to some who are seeking after Him and longing to be part of His family. And so we continue to share the Gospel and to contend for the faith in the midst of the great apostasy that is taking place today.
My thoughts exactly,thanks for your words. They are always on point.
Thank you, Margaret!
I agree totally! Deception is everywhere. And everyone I talk to has their own interpretation of what is going on in the world and what to do about it. Great post filled with good things to ponder and search out. Thank you, Leslie!
Thank you, Angie!
AMEN AMEN AMEN…
Leslie, I love you and everything you write because you know and speak THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH is all I want to hear and IT never fails to make my heart sing❤️
Thank you so very much❤️
Thank you, Betty! 🥰
Dear Leslie,
Amen! Thank you for another great reminder that we Christians are not here for anything other than sharing the gospel and living for Christ.
Thank you!
Bringing people to Christ, people repenting and living differently thereafter due to a relationship with Christ, changes their lives. What was achieved at the Cross is achieved, it is done. Yet so many seem to have forgotten and/or diminished the power of the Cross and what it is about. A change of heart, a change of mind, a change of allegiance to that of an allegiance to Christ, in combination with deeds and words, contributes to transforming lives and the world. To love Christ is to also share His love and concern for the world and its people. Reliance totally and utterly on Christ transforms people and therefore potentially also the world. Sadly, too few who claim to be Christians really seem truly willing to allow Christ to transform them and their lives going forward in entirety, and therefore transformation of the world, through Christ and His vessels, remains unachieved.
Yes, only Christ can change the world. And He will when He returns as King! Until then, it will get worse and worse. Just as scripture has told us. Our job is to keep sharing about Jesus who both saves and transforms us with those we come in contact with every day. We aren’t responsible for fixing the world but we are responsible for sharing the Gospel. :)
Excuse me?! Didn’t Jesus help people, one by one, to overcome their suffering? Didn’t he tell his followers to spread the good news – that He brought a new covenant? Don’t Christians have only 2 commandments: “Love God” and “Love each other”? And “They’ll know we are Christians by our love”?
If we are working for love, the hands and feet of the Lord, then we’ve got to get out there in the world and help people! What are you guys smoking, to think Jesus taught impotence and passivity. He was a revolutionary, ministering to the “least of these”.
I always find it interesting that there is such venom that comes from people like you who disagree. So you believe Jesus commands us to love but there are conditions on who receives that love? People who disagree with you aren’t worthy of that love you are so passionate about? Your response is very telling.
And your comment would imply that I don’t agree with you on helping others. Of course, we are to be a light in this world, helping others along the way. But Jesus’s purpose was far, far deeper than just helping people physically. And the verses you just happened NOT to mention make that abundantly clear. God cares more about the eternal than about the temporal. We see this over and over again in scripture. So, yes, we help where we can, but most important is the Gospel and eternal souls. It also says that the world will get worse and worse in the Bible. We aren’t going to fix the world. To think we even can is so prideful. So, yes, I agree, we must love and help others as we are given opportunity. But that can’t be our “be all end all” goal. Not if we are believers who are dedicated to all of what God’s Word says and not only the parts that we like.