In Light of the Election: Live the Gospel

Hours before the election results began coming in last night, I had a conversation with a fellow biblical counselor. We discussed biblical counseling and the next generation.

We both agreed that we need to share the message that the Gospel is the answer for souls and society. Christ is our hope individually and corporately.

That message rings even more clearly in light of the election results. For far too long, Evangelicals have hitched our wagon to right-wing political issues. Politics never could save the world. Jesus died to do that.

Jesus for the Soul 

What message does the country/the world in general and younger people in particular need to hear? Jesus is the answer.

Jesus is the answer to your sin.

Jesus is the answer in your suffering.

Jesus is the answer to your brokenness.

Jesus is the answer in your confusion.

God’s Word is relevant for life in a broken world.

In my ministry, I’ve found that the greatest “apologetic,” the most powerful defense of the faith, is demonstrating the difference the Gospel makes in a soul. People listen to the message of Christ when I first listen to their story and demonstrate the power of Christ’s Gospel of grace to bring meaning, healing, forgiveness, and hope into their story, into their soul.

I’ve often said that we can’t simply talk about the sufficiency of Scripture without also demonstrating the relevancy of Scripture—for real life in a broken world.

We also can’t simply talk about the authority of Christ without also demonstrating the relevance of Christ’s grace—for broken people in a broken world.

People need to know how Christ, how the Gospel, how the Bible relates to them individually—the soul, and to our world corporately—our society.

Scripture, soul, and society.

They need to see the Gospel alive and at work in our lives.

They need us to help them to see how the Gospel applies to their lives—their broken lives. Their suffering and their sin and their shame and their emptiness.

This younger generation will never respond if we refuse to engage them about real life and real problems.

Jesus for Society

Our world, our nation, our younger generation also need to hear us and see us demonstrating how Jesus is the answer for our world.

It’s not enough to campaign about what we are against.

We need to show what we are for and how the Gospel makes a difference in society.

Yes, we are against abortion. More so, we are for life. Even more so, we will provide foster care for the young. We will care for the elderly and infirmed. We will adopt. We will provide for unwed mothers.

Yes, we are against the government as the nanny state—the government as a god. But more than that, we are for the disadvantaged.

We will stand up for those who are trapped in sexual exploitation.

We will stand up with those who have been sexually assaulted and sexually abused.

We will stand up for those who are impoverished and do more than tell them to wait for the trickle down. That’s easy for someone who has a job and resources. But for someone without, we need to show the compassion of Christ. In crisis, by taking care of their basic needs. But then over time by empowering them not by enabling them. That empowerment has to be practical. Our helping has to be practical.

If we don’t think the state is the answer, then let’s show how Christ and the church is the answer. And let’s show it practically.

Like Wilberforce of old, let’s make a difference in society by standing up for and standing with those who are trampled upon by the powerful.

Scripture, soul, and society.

I Gave Up on Politics Long Ago

When I was young and Reagan was elected, I thought that was the answer.

I gave up on politics as the answer long ago.

Jesus is the answer—for the soul and for society.

And the church is His polis—His people.

We take His message, not simply with words, but with our lives and our actions, into the world and make an eternal difference.

Today I’m recommitting to living the Gospel. To helping anyone who wants help to see how Jesus is the answer—for each soul individually and for society corporately.

Ephesians 4:15 commands us not simply to speak the truth in love. In context, it is an exhortation for God’s people to equip and empower one another to live out Gospel truth with Christlike love so that we can all grow up in Christ who is our only hope.

Join the Conversation 

In light of the election, I’m living the Gospel. How about you?

RPM Ministries: Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth