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Originally Posted by BobVigneault  Kim, I agree we must renew our minds but how do we take the battle into the public arena? Or do we? The majority of churches just want to be liked. What practical steps can be taken that satisfy Paul's exhortation to 'overcome evil with good'? |
Ahhhhh. I see the question. I'm not sure of a good answer, though.
Do we see a biblical precedent for churches taking the battle over specific sins to the public? I seem to remember that when the Apostles were given opportunities to speak, they proclaimed the salvation of God from sin, not a specific condemnation over one sin they found particularly offensive.
For me, I don't have any large public influence. But in my relationships with people around me, I have an obligation to speak the good news of Christ. And if I must confront a specific sin, then may God give me grace to love Him more than I "want to be liked" by a sinner.
If the Lord gave me the opportunity to appear on a major talk show or news station to discuss the homosexual debate, for example, I don't know how much I would dwell on the homosexual debate, aside from quoting God's Word on the issue. I think I would use the opportunity to preach (okay, speak--I'm a woman) Christ. He can woo sinners to love Him and to abandon their sexual sins. I cannot.
I'm still mulling over the reference to overcoming evil with good. I always took that verse in its context to be referring to specific enemies you may encounter. Though they may expect vengeance from you, the Lord says we are to love and feed our enemies, which heaps coals of fire on their heads. In this way we are overcoming evil with our good deeds toward our enemies. Perhaps I should broaden the context of this exhortation?