How the Church Changes Social Conditions

Is the church called to address social problems? Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues that the church isn't, but Christians are. The greatest change comes through Christians who apply the gospel in every area of their lives, which then affects society:

It is not the task of the church to deal directly with these problems. The tragedy today is that while the church is talking about these particular problems and dealing directly with politics and economics and social conditions, no Christians are being produced, and the conditions are worsening and the problems mounting. It is as the church produces Christians that she changes the conditions; but always indirectly...

The church cannot change conditions; and she is not meant to change conditions. And the moment she tries to do so she is in various ways shutting the door of evangelistic opportunity...My concern as a preacher of the Gospel is with the souls of men, my business is to produce Christians; and the larger the number of Christians the greater will be the volume of Christian thinking. It is the business of individual Christians to enter Parliament, as Wilberforce did, or to speak in the House of Lords as did the Earl of Shaftesbury, or to seek election to a local Council, and in general to act as good citizens. You are still citizens—act accordingly. (Life In The Spirit In Marriage Home And Work)

Comments

[Rev. Mike]

Amen, and amen! This has to be the most intelligent thing said about this subject I've ever read or heard, my thesis notwithstanding. ;)Seriously, for a journal called First Things, for one example, not to be talking about this as the starting point for cultural engagement and transformation really misses the point. Fulfill the Great Commission, and then all these things will be added to you. The easy equating of the Church with the Kingdom is our greatest problem here. We've let the question become one of a center of authority competing against other centers of authority. Jesus said that the rulers of the Gentiles love to lord it over people, but it shall not be so with us. Somehow, I think he actually meant it.

[Art]

"It is as the church produces Christians that she changes the conditions; but always indirectly…"The church, - small "c", - produces Christians. The Christians make up The Church, - large "C", - and thus The Church changes conditions. "The greatest change comes through Christians who apply the gospel in every area of their lives, which then affects society:"I am so glad I am a member of The Church!

[How the Church Changes Social]

[...] me thinking about this issue. I’m still wrestling through it, but it caused me to think of this quote by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: It is not the task of the church to deal directly with these problems. [...]