Question: [I received a copy of a letter addressed to James Dobson, objecting to what I had to say ...

Question: [I received a copy of a letter addressed to James Dobson, objecting to what I had to say in the July Berean Call concerning social and political action, and too lengthy to present here. The following response addresses the main points raised.]

Response: Thank you for the courtesy of sending me a copy of your letter to James Dobson re my July article in The Berean Call. Your arguments are well formed and thoughtfully presented and I appreciated the opportunity to read what you had to say. The subject of social and political activism is a difficult and controversial one among Christians who truly want to do the Lord’s will; and I do not suggest that those who disagree with me desire to obey the Lord any less than I do. I appreciate your treating my views with respect.

You make a good point that the Roman Empire was not a democracy and therefore its citizens did not have the opportunities to exercise a Christian influence in it, which we have today in the United States. That would not, however, have prevented Christ and the Apostles from actively working toward improved morality and social justice. That they faced the wrath of the government and even death did not deter them from preaching the gospel, which was vigorously opposed by both religious and political leaders, so it would hardly have inhibited them from at least social activism—yet they never engaged in it. Furthermore, there are Bible examples of those who had the opportunity to exercise great moral influence over whole societies (Noah, Joseph, Naaman, Daniel, et al.), yet the Bible contains no hint that they even attempted to do so. That fact weighs heavily upon me. Perhaps you have an answer for it.

I, like you, desire to be obedient to God’s Word. I cannot escape the fact that I find nothing in Scripture to support social and political activism on the part of the church. I’m not trying to argue, but ask sincerely that you (or Dr. Dobson, to whom I am sending a copy of this letter) explain why Christ said explicitly that He did not pray for the world (Jn:17:9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
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We have great detail in Acts concerning the activities of Paul, but never do we find him engaging in social action. Surely the fact that the Roman Empire was not a democracy would not have prevented him from organizing Christians to work for improved morals and justice in their cities and neighborhoods. Yet we find none of this. That fact, again, weighs heavily upon me.

Of even greater concern is the fact that today’s church leaders who have dedicated themselves to opposing the immorality in secular society have so little to say in opposition to apostasy and rampant false doctrine in the church.