Some thoughts on the events in Toronto during the G20 summit meetings here. Simply some thoughts from a Christian regarding some Christian principles and thinking about how they were reflected this past weekend.
1. If not for the fall there would be no poverty to eradicate, no injustice to protest, no violence to protest it with, no police required to ‘serve and protect’. The impact of that first act of disobedience cannot be overstated.
2. All of us are created in the image of God and the desire, by some of the legitimate protesters shows it. One does not have to be a believer in Jesus Christ to want an end to injustice. Every believer should passionately desire social justice.
3. Depravity is real. This is reflected in some of the things that were protested and it was reflected in the intent by others to do nothing but wreak havoc. The callous lack of concern for others is the natural product of a sinful heart. Some will say in response to this that the leaders of the world show a callous lack of concern for others too. OK. Of course they do. That is why our hopes for a world devoid of injustice will not be ultimately found in political leaders. The apparently Christian group that simply prayed on the street was accomplishing more than anything else that happened this past weekend, inside or outside of the meeting places.
4. Christians should stand for the truth and not take sides to the point that they defend wrong. They should not begin by assuming that those they are more sympathetic to will be right. Take sides by all means but do not excuse the mindless violence because of the rightness of the cause. Do not defend police action if it was beyond what was right and just. Do not defend those meeting as political leaders if their decisions and conclusions are not a reflection of biblical justice and the true benefit of those they are elected or chosen to help. Aligning oneself with a particular side, or political view point or method, will inevitably lead to a compromise of biblical truth.
5. People need something big to believe in and God can handle the job.
6. People need to believe that what they are involved in matters. The Gospel can stand that test as well.
7. The greatest violence done this past weekend was the violence to the two greatest commandments, both on the streets and in the meetings.
8. The Roman Empire, not exactly a bastion of justice and civil rights, was turned upside down by the faithfulness of the fledgling church that never protested, never had much significant influence in the corridors of power beyond their testimony to the Gospel, and never sought for its leaders to do what God had called believers to do.
9. Many of the “basic human rights” that people scream for were brought to be considered basic due to the influence of the Gospel in the world. Whether they believe it or not, the protesters and the politicians are quite often speaking about Christian principles that have become the warp and woof of the world through the faithful witness of believers throughout history.
10. The Gospel is the power of God to them that believe, and in a world so torn by sin and devastated by sin’s consequences we need to be charged up with the power that the Gospel is because we have a world that sorely needs it. Watching the news this weekend should make every true believer more committed to declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Recent Comments