5 Reasons Why the Church Should Address Social Issues

After surveying 1,000 churchgoers Lifeway research found that 80% wanted their pastor to address social issues. - Clint Decker

“Pastor, as you preach each week, I’ve noticed you have never addressed abortion from the pulpit. How come?” “Pastor, during the message this morning you labeled homosexuals as sinners, which is why my gay grandson won’t come to church here.” A pastor gets hit from both sides. One, because they are not preaching on social issues, and two, because they are. After surveying 1,000 churchgoers Lifeway research found that 80% wanted their pastor to address social issues. What is a pastor to do, and beyond the Sunday morning pulpit, what is a church to do? The answer starts with asking the right question. What does the Bible say about the church addressing social issues? (Image by unsplash)

First, what are “social issues”? In the 19th century the term was “societal problem.” They are moral societal problems that are having a negative impact upon people, including Christians, and culture. They can take the form of widespread immoral behaviors as well as widely accepted sets of unbiblical beliefs or ideologies. Should the church address those?

1. According to the gospel? YES. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15) The good news of the gospel is that Jesus came to die and rise again that people might be forgiven from their sin. This indicates how we are commanded by God to address sinful (also evil and unjust) social issues, as part of the gospel message, that people might turn from them and to Christ.

2. According to the responsibilities of pastors and lay leaders? YES. “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you.” (Acts. 20:28-29) To “pay attention” is not just to be observant, but also to defend. The church is commanded by God to defend its flock against dangerous social issues that creep in among their unsuspecting church members.

3. According to biblical examples? YES. Jesus publicly called out the religious and political leaders of His day, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15) The example these leaders were providing and the false teaching they were giving was a social issue, that Jesus directly addressed. This example is repeated among the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament Apostles.

4. According to church history? YES. The Roman gladiator games were a ruthless blood sport that would fill the Roman Coliseum with 50,000 spectators. They would watch enslaved gladiators sometimes fight to the death. Tertullian was born in 210 A.D. and became one of Church history’s early theologians. He publicly wrote against the social issue of these evil games, “Gladiators never charged with a crime are offered in sale for the games so that they may become the victim of public pleasure.”

5. According to common sense? YES. Immoral social issues have a dangerous impact on individuals and the larger society. Why would not a pastor and church want to speak up about things that are hurting people? It is just good common sense.

It is clear, pastors and church lay leaders have a divine mandate and moral obligation, as part of their overall teaching plan, to address serious social issues from a biblical perspective and with a discipleship strategy.

There are always big risks when we do the right thing. But whose are we, and whom are we ultimately serving? Let us preach, teach and serve for an audience of One.

A prayer for you – Lord God, help me to see clearly on a confusing and divisive subject. Give me wisdom to understand your Scriptures, and concern for the harmful sins, beliefs and ideologies that have such a hold on those whom I love. Use me to help set them free and turn them to Christ. In His’ name. Amen.