The Church should speak to the important issues of our society in our communities, in our state, and in our nation. The Church should function as a conscience to those who are directly involved in making decisions regarding the direction our society is taking. Certainly, Old Testament prophets such as Nathan, Elijah, and Jeremiah repeatedly warned leaders about sinful behaviors and its consequences. John the Baptist is an excellent New Testament example in how he spoke to Herod (Mark 6:18-20). The Church should be the “pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
The Church should speak to all issues. Each individual pastor and local church may not be able to do that, but when you tap into the Church as an institution, God has gifted congregations in different areas (1 Corinthians 12). When the Church comes together, the full counsel of God can be given to the “king.” As a result, not only will biblical justice be advocated, but the “king” will also see that God cares personally about each individual issue – not just the hot-button topics – the government wrestles with. And then, perhaps, the “king” will also see how personal God is and be drawn into a closer relationship with Him.
The Church’s voice is not to be a voice from this kingdom, but a voice for God’s kingdom. It must not be Republican or Democrat, nor conservative or liberal. There are issues that are God’s issues, that can be supported by either side of the political spectrum. Most importantly, at the center of this Christian witness, the Church as an institution must be a voice independent of worldly factions and allegiances. The Church’s voice is not to be a voice from this kingdom, but a voice for God’s kingdom. It must be clear that its allegiance is to another kingdom alone. The Church is the ambassador of God who created the heavens and the earth, and it stands for the same truths it always has. It must never be shaken, and it must never change.
The Church must be a leader in speaking to the culture, encouraging when “the king” has it right and correcting when “the king” has it wrong. Society may not listen to what the Church has to say, just as individuals do not listen to their own conscience at times. Still, the Church should speak out anyway so that when false ideologies show themselves for what they are, people who are looking can see the Church as part of a solution to societal problems.