Our Unique Justice Responsibility
Compassion, humanitarian and justice issues often dominate missions discussions and dollars. These issues definitely matter to God, and they must matter to His Church. The Church, however, must never forget its unique responsibility to the world.
As Christians we can work side by side with non-believers to address suffering and injustices in our neighborhoods and around the world. We can collaborate with our secular co-workers to develop cures for cancers and other diseases. We can work with Muslims to address hunger in East Africa. We can partner with Hindus to care for Indian street dogs. We can partner with Buddhists in addressing environmental concerns, and we can ask our Jewish friends to help us fight racism & anti-semitism.
It is hard, though, to recruit non-believers to join us in fighting the injustice of not having access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hindus will not partner with us in proclaiming the uniqueness of Christ. Muslims will not proclaim Christ’s death and resurrection to their community with us. Non-Messianic Jews will not share the good news of Messiah’s redemption with others.
Jesus gave His Church the great commission, and this commission is our unique justice responsibility. While we can address many justice issues by partnering with non-believers, making disciples of Jesus is a responsibility unique to Christ’s Body.
About 40% of the world still lives without access to the Good News. That means, 3.1 billion people breathing air today are isolated from the hope we have in Christ.
We cannot outsource the Great Commission. No other God gave His life for every tongue and tribe on this planet, and no other people than the Church have the responsibility of sharing His love and His Good News. The Church alone can complete the job Jesus gave.
God’s people must cross cultural boundaries so that the over 7,000 unreached people groups around the world may have a chance to respond to Christ’s love.
God’s people must give their best, their sons and daughters, and their time and treasure because the unreached of the world are still waiting, and they will continue to wait until God’s people are obedient.
John Piper once said, “God cares about all suffering, especially eternal suffering.” If we do not care about suffering, we have a defective heart. If we do not care about eternal suffering, we not only have a defective heart but also a defective view of hell and the reality of eternity.
As God’s people, our unique role is proclaiming Christ, both to those near us and to the 3.1 billion who are waiting for our obedience to Christ’s commission. Jesus paid for every nation. It is unjust for His Church to keep Him to themselves.
