Christians live in a world that is full of challenges owing to numerous social problems that plague modern society. Christians just like other individuals have to grapple with inequalities, crime, racial discrimination, poverty, environmental degradation, disability among other issues (Eitzen, Zinn & Smith 2018). While there seems to be a pattern of responding to social problems, Christians have a unique way of responding to these challenges. The profession of their faith in Jesus means that Christians can adopt a spiritual strategy for responding to social issues. The inclusion of Christ in believer’s choices provides a spiritual framework for conceptualizing and dealing with the issues. Christians do not perceive social problems as having social causes and impacts only but they interpret them as having spiritual causes and impacts as well.
How Christ-Followers Respond to Social Problems
Christ-followers rely on the scriptures to respond to social problems, something that makes them unique. While the world focuses on finding scientific and social explanations for the prevailing social problems, Christians believe the problems have spiritual explanations. Christians understand that they live in a fallen world owing to the sin of Adam and Eve, which alienated man from God. Pillay (2017) asserts that alienation paved the way for a broken world, which is characterized by sin and evil. Sin, which refers to the forgoing of God's commandments, gives birth to despair, death, and destruction, which is evidenced by numerous social problems. The individuals who allow sin to rule their lives or those that do not fear God engage in all kinds of evils. These people will engage in criminal activities, fornication, corruption, and other forms of evils without considering the effect they will have on others.
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The world relies upon legal frameworks to punish evildoers in a bid to promote morality and in turn reduce the adverse effects of their evil acts. Governments across the world pass laws to contain social problems that plague modern society. The legislation revolves around inequality, gun possession, abortion, environmental conservation, drug abuse among other problems. Eitzen, Zinn and Smith (2018) note that the reason why these problems persist has to do with inconsistency in these frameworks. The authors provide the example of drugs, which were considered unsafe at one point, but now they are considered safe something that compounds the problem of substance abuse. In as much as there are legal efforts to deal with these issues, they do not seem to respond to these approaches. Crime, inequality, sexual perversion, corruption, substance abuse, terrorism, and divorce continue to define societies. This turn of events then necessitates the need for a different approach to responding to these issues.
Christians respond to the social problems in a spiritual approach since they consider them as having spiritual causes. In this case, Christians believe that Jesus is the only solution through which these problems could be reversed. Christians understand that they must participate in bringing change to the worldly systems through prayer and evangelism. Abortion features as one of the most prominent social problems that Christians respond to from a spiritual outlook. Dozier et al. (2020) establish that the remedy for abortion could be found when the gospel transforms the individuals who conduct or support abortion. Christians respond to social problems by condemning evil acts as well as supporting legislation that is aimed at eradicating these issues. They understand that in as much as they are called to a heavenly kingdom they have a civic duty to improve their earthly kingdom. Their actions are guided by the scriptures, which provide consistent wisdom and principles for responding to issues.
How Solutions Differ When we Include Christ in our Choices
Christians turn to Christ for guidance in dealing with the social problems that define modern societies. The solutions to social problems are largely scientific and philosophical with experts establishing the need to view these challenges as inherent to the world. Christians, however, believe that there are spiritual explanations and solutions, which can only be manifested by including Christ in their choices. Silva (2017) asserts that the inclusion of Christ in one's everyday life brings a complete transformation. Individuals who include Christ in their lives are rid of earthly desires which area associated with sin and despair. Christ satisfies individuals’ desires through his word and grace meaning that one only yearns to please God in as much as there temptations. The inclusion of Christ in one’s life means that one gives up the sinful nature and allows Christ to take charge. The sinful and worldly desire is defeated and it is occupied by the desire to glorify God and promote positive change.
The Holy Spirit influences choices that Christians make regarding the social problems that are prevalent in society. The Holy Spirit helps Christians to grow in understanding when addressing the social challenges and dilemmas they face in everyday life. Bae (2017) notes that in as much as it is not always clear what Christians should do in these dilemmas the Holy Spirit influences their choice. The Holy Spirit who is active in Christians convicts them when they do not align with the desires of God an aspect that allows them to do the right thing. When Christians are facing difficult challenges, the Holy Spirit empowers them through prayer and reading the Bible. In the same way, the Holy Spirit is associated with spiritual discernment, which guides Christians’ actions to ensure that they align with God’s desires. Eitzen, Zinn and Smith (2017) assert that all citizens have an obligation to their neighbors no matter the differences that exist between them. The spiritual discernment then allows for corporate prayers where Christians come together to understand the will of God regarding social problems. The coming together of believers paves the way for the revelation of what God is doing and some new insights into social problems.
References
Bae, B. B. (2017). Believing selves and cognitive dissonance: connecting individual and society via “belief” religions 2016, 7(7), 86-99. doi: 10.3390/rel7070086
Dozier, J. L, Hennink, M., Mosley, E., Narasimhan, S., Pringle, J., Clarke, L., Blevins, J., James-Portis, L., Keithan, R., Hall, K. S., & Rice, W. S. (2020) Abortion attitudes, religious and moral beliefs, and pastoral care among Protestant religious leaders in Georgia. PLoS ONE, 15 (7): e0235971. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235971
Eitzen, D. S., Zinn &, M. B., & Smith, K. E. (2018). Social problems. Pearson Education Inc.
Pillay, J. (2017). The church as a transformation and change agent. HTS Theological Studies, 73 (3),1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4352.
Silva, F. C. (2017). Views on the contemporary challenges to Christianity. Lusophone Journal of Science of Religions, 20 , 407-422.
