We have seen increasing interest in bringing attention to the plight of perceived injustices in America. The Christian worldview is inherently sensitive and compassionate to these issues. James reminds us that pure and undefiled religion is visiting the orphans and the widows in their affliction (James 1:24). Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, pronounces blessings on the poor in spirit (Matt 5:3), those who mourn (v4), and the meek (v5). Jesus continues by pronouncing blessings on the merciful (v7) and the peacemakers (v9). Christians have always understood their role in the world to include being merciful peacemakers for righteousness’ sake (v10).
The way Christians accomplish this is what is up for debate. At Hickory Grove Baptist Church & School we recognize every American and believer’s right to engage in peaceful protest. At the same time, we encourage believers in Christ to avoid kneeling during the National Anthem. Here is why.
1. Your message will be easily skewed
Believers think differently and therefore act differently. As a distinctly Christian school, we work to preserve the centrality of our message, the gospel. This does not invalidate the legitimacy of other messages. In fact, our message has a profound impact on how we understand various social issues, most particularly, racial ones (see Eph 2:11-22 & Gal 3:8). The Christian worldview, however, disagrees with the secular diagnosis of the issue. Any diagnosis that does not include the reality of human sinfulness is an inaccurate diagnosis. Given this fundamental disagreement, we encourage believers to avoid joining a protest that has a theologically different diagnosis of the problem. We must work to present an alternative diagnosis–a diagnosis informed by scripture and a Christian worldview. Kneeling during the national anthem silently affirms a secular diagnosis of a clearly spiritual problem.
2. Christians have a different solution
Our culture seeks to find the solution to human problems primarily through education and legislation. However, the Bible teaches that the root of these problems is found in the biblical teaching about human sinfulness. As such, neither legislation nor education will solve these issues; only the renewing of the heart and mind brought about by the new birth can produce real and lasting change. Our society expresses grief because they have no hope in the “broken system” to correct these injustices. As Christians, we have hope in a God who created human beings in his image with inherent dignity and value. Our God is grieved by human suffering to the degree that he embraced the full weight of it on the cross. We have a responsibility to be agents of reconciliation, armed with the good news of Jesus Christ and the insight of scripture. Our faith does not rest in a system but in a God who has taken on flesh to model how to love the poor, feed the hungry and love the broken. As believers in Christ, we will continually address these social issues through a gospel lens, while offering alternative explanations and biblical solutions.
