The gospel has always informed Christians in the way they interact with society.
One of history’s landmark achievements in social action was the decision of the British Parliament to end the slave trade. This was largely thanks to the work of William Wilberforce, a keen evangelical Christian.
In Australia, Lancelot Threlkeld from the London Missionary society, who worked with Aborigines around Lake Macquarie, spoke out against their harsh treatment by white settlers. Wilberforce and Threlkeld, because of their understanding that all humans are made in the image of God, defended the humanity of those who were being exploited.
God’s love shown in Christ motivates Christians to love people around us. One way this love for our community is seen is the Church’s involvement in the political process. When the Israelites were in exile in Babylon, God instructed them to ‘seek the welfare of the city’ (Jeremiah 29:7). Likewise, Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1-7 exhorts us to pray for our rulers as the government sets the conditions under which gospel proclamation can proceed. This issue is of real concern for Australian Christians today as anti-discrimination and religious tolerance laws are increasingly scrutinised.
Church lobby organisations such as the Diocese’s Social Issues Executive, as well as individuals, have the role of encouraging our leaders in their difficult job of administering justice and offering advice based on our biblical understanding of the world and how God has ordered it.
But increasingly, Christians need to urge their leaders to make decisions in line with the values upheld in the Bible.
Our society is drifting from its roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The result for Christians is that we increasingly find ourselves on the defensive. Values and protections that have always been upheld in law – such as the uniqueness of marriage and the protection of the vulnerable – are being challenged.
This was made clear in the recent debate over the lowering of the age of consent for homosexual males. There was a clear disagreement over the good that was to be achieved by the reform. Those who wanted the law to remain as it was argued that the most important value at stake was the protection of children in society. Those who argued for change did so on the basis that equality was the most important value that needed to be established.
The battle was about the role of the law. Does it exist to protect the weak and vulnerable, or to establish equality?
While equality is important, Isaiah 1:17 suggests that when the protection of the weak and vulnerable will be compromised by the establishment of equality, protection should be the priority.
Equality won out when the NSW Parliament passed an Act that makes it legal for a 40-year-old male to have sex with a 16-year-old boy.
Christians must continue to articulate a biblical position on these issues, precisely because we love our community and believe that God’s way of life is the best way of life. We also speak out of our obedience to God as he calls us to be salt and light in this world.
Amy Butler
Social Issues Executive
