psycheives
Puritan Board Freshman
Lutheran Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote, "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."
View 1: Quotes like this seem to suggest that all humans who are able and aware are under a command of God to act in some way (even if it be as quick as re-Tweeting anti-abortion posts or praying) and that those who do not act in any way are guilty, responsible and in sin. In such a case, it seems that Christians who are completely passive would be considered to be "in sin" and possibly be subject to church discipline. By "Completely passive," I mean someone who doesn't pray, speak on the issue to others, retweet, etc. This view would say that Christians who are completely inactive are "part of the problem" and their inaction shows that they aren't actually anti-abortion because they don't put their "fingers/feet where their mouth is." Then you will eventually get into the gray area of how much action is required? Is simply spreading information enough?
This view would hold the Germans who stood by and did nothing to stop the Nazi massacres were guilty of sin, as Bonhoeffer suggests above.
This group might not judge individual Christians for lack of activity but say in general "Local Christians don't care about abortion" because only 10 out of 5,000 showed up to protest the local Planned Parenthood. They might say this in order to spur on renewed efforts to reach Christians with information but is this sort of dialogue ever harmful?
I believe this view would fall along the lines of those who say Christians are under a moral responsibility to be politically involved in making changes for the good and to vote. I seem to recall our writings saying this somewhere? That Christians are obligated to be politically active/vote?
View 2: Christians who believe complete passivity is not sin would contend that just their Christian lives are effecting a change in the world that subtly and indirectly influences others toward a better world. They may be completely inactive on the abortion issue but share the gospel with a neighbor who ends up being very active. This view would suggest there are way too many gray areas to declare complete inactivity a sin. The person may be busy elsewhere and just not very passionate about the issue. They may not feel like watching the 7 abortion views because of their grotesque nature. Or perhaps they are more passionate about missions and don't bother acting against abortion. Such a view seems to lead to many Christians who will be inactive in living out their faith in very tangible ways, saying, "I am anti-abortion, I just am busy, tired or don't care to act." Some might take this view to an extreme to say that Christians aren't obligated to protect the aborted babies. Or people living in other countries. Or in other states. Or in the next town. Or down the street. Or the house next door. Where do we draw lines considering the scriptures below?
This view would hold the Germans who stood by and did nothing to stop the Nazi massacres were not in sin.
Will you please consider these views and lay out your thoughts as to what is Biblical?
Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (Proverbs 24:11–12)
"Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Ps 82:4
When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. Job 29:11-12
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. - Matthew 7:12
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. - Isaiah 1:17
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
View 1: Quotes like this seem to suggest that all humans who are able and aware are under a command of God to act in some way (even if it be as quick as re-Tweeting anti-abortion posts or praying) and that those who do not act in any way are guilty, responsible and in sin. In such a case, it seems that Christians who are completely passive would be considered to be "in sin" and possibly be subject to church discipline. By "Completely passive," I mean someone who doesn't pray, speak on the issue to others, retweet, etc. This view would say that Christians who are completely inactive are "part of the problem" and their inaction shows that they aren't actually anti-abortion because they don't put their "fingers/feet where their mouth is." Then you will eventually get into the gray area of how much action is required? Is simply spreading information enough?
This view would hold the Germans who stood by and did nothing to stop the Nazi massacres were guilty of sin, as Bonhoeffer suggests above.
This group might not judge individual Christians for lack of activity but say in general "Local Christians don't care about abortion" because only 10 out of 5,000 showed up to protest the local Planned Parenthood. They might say this in order to spur on renewed efforts to reach Christians with information but is this sort of dialogue ever harmful?
I believe this view would fall along the lines of those who say Christians are under a moral responsibility to be politically involved in making changes for the good and to vote. I seem to recall our writings saying this somewhere? That Christians are obligated to be politically active/vote?
View 2: Christians who believe complete passivity is not sin would contend that just their Christian lives are effecting a change in the world that subtly and indirectly influences others toward a better world. They may be completely inactive on the abortion issue but share the gospel with a neighbor who ends up being very active. This view would suggest there are way too many gray areas to declare complete inactivity a sin. The person may be busy elsewhere and just not very passionate about the issue. They may not feel like watching the 7 abortion views because of their grotesque nature. Or perhaps they are more passionate about missions and don't bother acting against abortion. Such a view seems to lead to many Christians who will be inactive in living out their faith in very tangible ways, saying, "I am anti-abortion, I just am busy, tired or don't care to act." Some might take this view to an extreme to say that Christians aren't obligated to protect the aborted babies. Or people living in other countries. Or in other states. Or in the next town. Or down the street. Or the house next door. Where do we draw lines considering the scriptures below?
This view would hold the Germans who stood by and did nothing to stop the Nazi massacres were not in sin.
Will you please consider these views and lay out your thoughts as to what is Biblical?
Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (Proverbs 24:11–12)
"Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Ps 82:4
When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. Job 29:11-12
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. - Matthew 7:12
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. - Isaiah 1:17
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
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