RELEVANT Magazine

We seem to be cyclical in the Church, swinging from evangelism to social justice, and each generation thinks, 'You know what's wrong with the Church? We aren't justice-minded. So we get on the social justice wagon. The next generation says, 'You know what's wrong with the Church? We aren't evangelism-minded. The justice wagon gets pulled over, and evangelism rolls into town. What we need is both because that's what Jesus tells us to do, and sometimes justice is evangelism and evangelism is justice.

-Jonathan / Nampa, Idaho

Evangelism is social justice, and social justice is evangelism. Evangelism is not only a direct call for justice through the blood of Jesus, but will indirectly bring more people's attention to issues of social justice as they follow Christ. Social justice is evangelism to those who are saved from oppression, hunger, disease, etc.

-Travis / Des Moines, Wa.

You can't preach the love of Christ without showing it through your actions. Meeting someone's physical needs alone does not provide salvation for their soul. I think that evangelism and social justice go hand in hand, but are not always meant to be mixed. You shouldn't help someone with the sole purpose of evangelizing them, you should help them because it's what Jesus would do.

-Christopher / Livonia, Mich.

The issue of homosexuality is a cultural minefield, and Christians seem to be jogging through it carelessly. The reality is that it is sin, but the more emphasis we put on it as being a sin above other sins, the greater the chasm between the world and Christ.

-Matt / Newbury Park, Calif.

Websters gives two definitions for the term "homosexuality":

• 1.The quality or state of being homosexual
• 2. Erotic activity with another of the same sex

I believe that a Christian should address each of those two definitions differently. I believe that someone can be a Christian and fall under the first definition of homosexuality (where being homosexual is characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire to another of the same sex). I know this is true because I speak from experience of my own life. I've had this struggle since I was a teenager and NEVER wanted it-in fact, it wasn't until recently that I sought help from the torment of being caught in sinful behavior.However, I do not believe that a Christian should support or condone the second definition given by Webster. I believe that the Bible is clear that erotic activity with another of the same sex is wrong (and sin).I don't believe that the sin is any more wrong than any other sin, though.The reason I was so afraid to talk about my struggle with homosexuality for so long is because the Church has acted as though homosexualitywere the "unforgivable sin"... and that if one were to admit a personal struggle he or she would be shunned from the Church. Many churches truly don't know how do deal with the issue! I would wish that a Christian in American society would address the issue of homosexuality in love ... and in a similar way as he or she would just about any other issue of a person struggling with sinful behavior.

-Todd / St. Louis, Mo.

The simple answer is: with love and humility. The hard answer is that the Bible has some very clear things to say against homosexual behavior. I fear that so much damage has been done in this area, though, that a real, honest conversation is hard to have without hurting people. Christians seem to go to one extreme or the other, either slamming people with the Bible in an unbiblical way, or avoiding the issue and hoping it will go away. Both of those approaches refuse to truly recognize the homosexual person. More than being told that they are homosexual (they've probably noticed), they need to know that Jesus loves them. Following that, they must hear that there is a way God calls us to live, and that to follow Jesus requires a sacrifice of our own desires and ways and an alignment with His way instead. That alignment encompasses, but is not exclusive to, our sexuality.

-Jonathan / Nampa, Idaho

Don't shun and don't be hateful. Eat dinner with these people, but don't be afraid to share the Good News.

-Scott / Amarillo, Texas

With love. First and foremost we need to address this issue with love. A person who is heterosexual is no less a sinner than one who is a homosexual. God does not love a homosexual any less than a heterosexual. Inside or outside of the Church, we should be showing love to homosexuals. The question of the role of homosexuals within the Church, however, is a difficult one. Should practicing homosexuals be allowed in the church? Definitely yes. I believe no one should ever be turned away from the Church. Should a practicing homosexual be allowed to lead the Church? I honestly don't know. I suppose it is a similar idea to an alcoholic being a church leader. Should an alcoholic, or someone who is unfaithful to their spouse, or a prostitute, lead the church? I don't think so. I think anyone recovering from these situations could certainly be a valuable leader in the Church. The key word is practicing. Could a person who struggles with homosexual thoughts be a church leader, if they do not give in to those thoughts and temptations? Definitely yes. Temptation is not a sin. Jesus was tempted.

-Chase / Azusa, Calif.

The Church is in danger of losing its relevance. When the Body of Christ loses its focus on being hands and feet to the world, and instead spends its time and resources on building modern-day cathedrals-when those who have been charged to 'go and make disciples use their voices to preach the gospel of prosperity, instead of The Gospel-then any true relevance that the Church ever had has been lost.

-Robert / Greenville, S.C.

The connection between the age gaps. Young can learn from old, and old can learn from young. The point is this: We young ones need to learn from those who have been around the block a time or two, learning what it takes to survive and what obstacles we will come to face. At the same time, we can show the elders what the block is going to look like in the next 20 or so years.

-Scott / Amarillo, Texas

I think one of the biggest problems facing the Church today is a hesitation to talk openly about one's faith, especially outside the church community. It has nearly become taboo to be religious, and many people keep their faith hidden outside of their church peer group due to embarrassment or fear of offending others. Christians need toadopt a nonjudgmental attitude about others' beliefs, but also not be afraid to admit their own.

-Karen / Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

To borrow a quote from Brennan Manning, "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and deny him with their lifestyle.That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." I believe the biggest problem facing the Church today is a generation of people who know of Christ but don't actually know what it means to be a disciple of Christ. So many have a twisted view of Christianity because of poor teaching, bad modeling, lack of discipleship, etc. It's not that most Americans don't know who Jesus is ... it's that Jesus is so much more than who they believe Him to be.How do we overcome it?We must become a people, a church,authentic Christians who admit their weaknesses and admit we're sinners in need of God's grace on a daily basis. Maybe then people would actually feel welcome and a have an interest in attending and getting involved in church.

-Todd / St. Louis, Mo.

There's a huge distrust of the Church and Christians. We used to be mocked for being the goody-two-shoes, but now we're not trusted because the truth of our own frailty came out and people quickly jump on the hypocrisy trail so that they can safely ignore the Church again. What this means is we have a huge opportunity to convey grace-that God loves us, even us sinning Christians, even the strippers, druggies and gangsters. The image we've portrayed of God as a ticked-off overseer, just waiting to see how we're going to screw up, needs to be gotten rid of. And our actions need to speak of a loving, forgiving, hope-filled God who will invest in people and develop them. We need to interact with the people of the world who need Jesus, and not cut ourselves off in our own subcultures.

-Jonathan / Nampa, Idaho

I don't think it's necessary to align with one party.When presented with choices in voting, we have to use our judgment of our values and vote accordingly-otherwise, we need to trust those whom the people have chosen. The one thing we can do to affect public policy outside of running for office, voting or writing our representativesis to live out the values we find important. If enough people consistently live counter-culturally, public policy will follow (for better or for worse). For example, if we want abortion to end, we need to make it obsolete. We can't just make it illegal, we need to make it unnecessary by making adoption more attractive and promoting adoption in our churches, donating money for ultrasound equipment and caring for teen and single mothers-to-be.

-Travis / Des Moines, Wa.

[We should] stay away from politics altogether. The way of the Kingdom is not the way of this world; the Kingdom cannot be established by any kind of political power of this world. We are supposed to be an alternative, a much better one. Instead of holding [posters] stating what we believe is right, we should live it to the ultimate consequences. Christians should not be organizing petitions and collecting signatures against abortion. That is silly because legally or illegally, abortion still will happen. They should be organizing a network of care and supporting young girls who have to face this terrible possibility, and taking care of the orphans.

-Alex / Shrewsbury, Mass.

I am always concerned when someone espouses a certain politician from a public platform. As Christians, this is not about our own well-being, but rather the good of others and the work of our Father. To tell people who to vote for removes the thing that is so precious about being a Christian-following Jesus. I don't know that there is ever a perfect candidate, but I know that God has a plan and we should seek out His plan in prayer and act accordingly.

-Jonathan / Nampa, Idaho

Vote your beliefs. Someone who wants to be like Christ can't compromise and go with 'the lesser of two evils, and they cannot ignore their responsibility to cast a vote. If there isn't a candidate in the two major parties that represents your beliefs, then make sure your voice is heard by supporting someone who does (or by running yourself).

-Robert / Greenville, S.C.

God can be found in all things.There are definitely [things] Christians would be better off leaving alone, such as pornography, but seeing a secular movie or listening to secular music is non un-Christian. Christianity is not about isolating ourselves from the world, but sharing Christ's love with them.

-Christopher / Livonia, Mich.

This is a highly subjective area that requires much accountability. Since God created all things, some of His work is likely to show up in our creations, even in those who don't recognize it. But accountability is the key. Don't watch movies, read books or listen to music that tempts you into destructive habits. Don't spend hours of your life absorbed in something that does not bring any glory to God. Be a discerning consumer.

-Jonathan / Nampa, Idaho

Holiness does not come through what we do or don't do. Holiness comes by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. In following Jesus, He may call us to abstain from 'secular entertainment or any number of worldly pleasures; or, He might not. He might call us to live amongst the world as an example of holiness amidst sin (grace given holiness of a person despite their own sin).

-Travis / Des Moines, Wa.

I think it depends on the personand the entertainment. There are lots of types of entertainment that won't hurt your holiness or faith, but there are some movies, TV shows or books that will. So just be vigilant and wise about your decisions.

-Jonathan, Melbourne / Victoria, Australia

This is an extremely difficult question is such a capitalist world. In a world where money is god, how do we follow the theology of Jesus, saying to sell everything we have and follow Him? I don't think I personally know anyone who has seriously taken this scripture to heart. The vast majority of Christians, at least in the United States, do not take this verse literally-or if they do, they do not act accordingly.

-Chase / Azusa, Calif.

It's a matter of developing and growing our consciousness and awareness of what is important to us. Jesus had rich disciples among His followers, and He did not confront them about their wealth. In my path IÔve never encountered anyone who experienced a deep change in their life through guilt-I've only found ones changed through love.

-Alex / Shrewsbury, Mass.

Money itself is not "the root of all evil"; love of money is. It is not a sin to have possessions, but it is how you use your resources which matters most.Society todayisextremely materialistic.This can not only can lead people to spend on themselves rather than give to the Church or direct some resourcesto those in need, but also cause us to consume at a greater rate, which negatively effects our stewardship of the environment. We are called to be stewards, not consumers. Money, work and possessions can easily become false idols if they become our primary focus.

-Karen / Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

We need to give stuff away. This is obviously difficult.The more we need the "stuff" and the status and the comfort we live with, the harder it is to focus on Jesus.The more we see our stuff as Jesus' stuff, the easier it is to give it away to follow Him.

-Travis / Des Moines, Wa.

We should see being rich (as most of us are, by the world's standards) as a way we can help people. A way we can help usher in God's Kingdom. I guess that as Christians we should not be materialistic, surrendering that to God when we are struggling with it. Use being wealthy as way to become friends with people who we can share the Kingdomwith, as Jesus talks about. That sounds sort of devious, but it makes sense,doesn't it? Give moneyawayas we need to, to missions to the Church, to the poor.We should use our money to benefit others and not ourselves.We can use money to show God's love, as we show that we only have money because Godhas entrustedus with it.

-Jonathan / Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Our own personal gain must not prevent us from following Jesus where He calls us. Money can be redeemed; wealth can be redeemed-it is the spirit of greed and entitlement that we must stand against. I love the work of the Junky Car Club-to reduce our personal cost, stand against the symbol status of a shiny new car and take that financial savings and sow it into the lives of other people. Or Buy Shoes Save Lives-I still buy the product, but I buy it from a company who is investing that money in other people, not themselves. Spend what you are given wisely, with conscience, and never let possession or fear of losing possessions prevent you from complete abandonment to Jesus' way.

-Jonathan / Nampa, Idaho

Personally, I do not support war, but I live in a nation where many (especially those in power) do. I understand that war is a multifaceted event with multiple causes. I know too that often what keeps a war going is different that what started it. If ever a war seemed just, would it not be when Peter used a sword on Malchus and was rebuked by Jesus? Does my government have any more right to tell me to kill than it does to order me to rape or steal? If a Christian in a foreign country is a soldier, should we serve each other communion and then fire at each other?If complete pacifism, what about police? When an assassin shoots randomly at college students, does 'tough love say 'I'm willing to be anathema in order to kill the assassin and save multiple lives of students?

-Todd / St. Louis, Mo.

By being individuals: Christ never taught us to follow the crowd. So, if you believe that the war is just, and can square that with your identity as a follower of Christ, then support it. However, if you believe that Jesus meant what He said, when He said to turn the other cheek, then you have to find a way to peacefully protest, regardless of what the majority says.

-Robert / Greenville, S.C.

Many people would say that "just war" is a way of bringing about peace; however, I would disagree. I think the choice between a "just war-or any war, for that matter-and peace is a really a choice between worldly success (just war) and faithfulness to the word of God (peace). Christians who support war are, in essence, choosing an anti-biblical theology that makes life choices based upon what they believe will work in our broken world, as opposed to life choices based upon how faithful they will be to the Scriptures. Many would say that a pacifist view on war is a naive way of thinking, and that a pacifist America would be annihilated by other militaristic countries. This view saddens me, however, because I see a lack of trust in the power of Christ to heal and bring peace. There are an incredible amount of scriptures supporting peace, and forbidding violence-for example, 2 Corinthians 10:3Ð5, John 18:36, Deuteronomy 32:35, Ephesians 6:12Ð15, Luke 6:27Ð35, Romans 12:17Ð21. Honestly, reconciling Jesus' message of peace and a nation in which Christians support war is a difficult thing for me to grasp. I think an incredibly important question to ask is, "Is it ethical for our country to go to war-and if so, is it ethical for a Christian to support or participate in a war?" I think it would be unethical for a Christian to expect the rest of the nation to believe that war is unethical. Wars and other large national issues should be solved through what the majority believes. This does not, however, make it ethical for a Christian to engage in war. I don't know how to reconcile these two things. I think we first need to be understanding of each other. However, I believe the Bible does not allow for Christians to believe that war, or violence in general, is ever the right choice. My best guess would be that in order to reconcile these two things [we need] to have more open discussions in the Church.

-Chase / Azusa, Calif.

The first thing that comes to mind is what Donald Miller calls "pre-emptive peace." We as a nation should be spending more money on issues like world hunger, debt relief and health care in developing countries. Not only do we have a duty to people who do not have the resources to take care of themselves, but it is an enormous investment for the future of the nation and the world. How much different would the world's view of the United States be if wespent less onour military and providing of weapons to other countries than we do on aid to the world's poor and needy? As for current/inevitable wars, I think the Catholic Church has a fairly good list of criteria that constitute a just war, and I think there is a process of cost/benefit analysis when it comes to wars, both economically and for the sake of people's lives, that can be followed.

-Travis / Des Moines, Wa.

War is such a tricky subject.Throughout the Bible, God supports and instructs people and countries to go to war for different causes. At the same time, Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek when we come face to face with evil. But Jesus also told the story of the good Samaritan who helped others in need.War is a horrible thing that has led to some wonderful things.We ended the genocide of the Jews through war.We emancipated ourselves from Great Britain through war.So I guess the purpose of the war is what needs to be looked at.I think that war for the sake of freeing innocent people from a murderous tyrant is pretty justified.

-Christopher / Livonia, Mich.