The brokenness of our world runs deep, and the external condition only seems to further expose the internal condition of our broken humanity, which is profoundly marred by sin.

As a follower of Jesus, it’s hard to know how to respond. 

We are called to be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9), but how do we do that practically in this cultural moment? We are told to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), but what does that actually look like when everyone is on edge and so easily offended? How do we maintain the Biblical tension between being subject to governing authorities (Rom. 13:1) and living at peace with everyone (Rom. 12:18) while simultaneously taking our stand with the apostles when they said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)? 

While this year may have given us a global unanimity of experiences and even a certain level of camaraderie as we face the brokenness of this world together, there is so much division and destruction oozing from every direction. This reality may give us reason to pause, but it mustn’t keep us from engaging. As ambassadors of Christ and His coming Kingdom, we don’t have the option of sitting idly by and passively observing from the sidelines. We weren’t saved so we could be spectators, but so that we might bring glory to God in every sphere of life as His stewards. And if anyone is equipped for the controversial conversations our world is facing right now about the depths of depravity and the seemingly unending pain and injustice, it is those who follow Jesus. 

Why? 

Because of the gospel -- the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done. 

As people who believe we have been fully justified through the shed blood of Jesus, we can boldly lead the way in confessing specific sin and repenting from wrongdoing. There is no need to grovel, to try sweeping our sins under the rug, to attempt justifying ourselves in the sight of God. In Jesus, we have an Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1) and can therefore come boldly into His presence for mercy and help (Heb. 4:16). We also need not shy away from grieving the pain, lamenting the injustices, and mourning the loss of life. Jesus wept, even in His perfect understanding of the renewed life that He would give to Lazarus (John 11:35). 

As people who affirm that “all truth is God’s truth”, we can rest in the fact that we don’t have to have all of the answers and neither does our denomination or preferred political party. Jesus Christ is the sole proprietor of truth, and we need not look to any one earthly source to hold all truth. We can heed the words of James to the believers in the early church who were scattered throughout the pagan world: “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (Jam 1:19).

As followers of Jesus, we can’t not respond.

Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.