In our day of religious tolerance, we often hear that we as Christians would be satisfied with just a place at the table of cultural discussions.  However an examination of scripture clearly shows, I believe, a different aim for Christians. In the Old and New Testaments, Christianity is shown as going victoriously into all the world. God’s word is also shown as speaking to every issue in life. While this article cannot begin to reference every verse on these subjects, the few referenced will, I hope, whet your appetite for further study of these verses and other passages.  

In Psalm 2:7-8 we have this statement of the Father to Jesus Christ: “You are my Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.” The Father says, “I will give You nations for Your inheritance”. Not a few people, but multitudes of people in nations throughout the world. What a prayer to lift up to the Father. Do we expect this prayer to be answered? Can we expect any less than a “yes” answer when the Father tells the Son to pray this prayer to Him?

In the New Testament, Christ prior to His ascension, tells His disciples to go into all the nations and make disciples of them (Mt. 28:18-20). The book of Acts traces the beginning of the Gospel going out from Jerusalem, into Judea and Samaria and to all the earth. (Acts 1:8) Christians are instruments for the worldwide spread of the Gospel. Again we see from these verses that we should expect the Gospel to savingly impact multitudes.

During Christ’s ministry, Matthew records Christ telling His disciples that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Gospel (Mt. 16:18). This passage does not mean that inhabitants of hell are later saved. Christ is speaking of sinners under Satan’s rule brought out from under His rule into the light of the Gospel through Christ’s atoning work being applied to their lives.

The Gospels give clear and plentiful evidence of Satan’s rage against Christ during His earthly ministry. These same Gospels provide manifold accounts of Christ victoriously confronting Satan and His plans time and again.

The inspired Paul writes to a problem-filled church and reminds them of the triumph of the Gospel in these words: “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” (1 Cor. 15:25, 26). The ascended Christ will return on the Last Day. There will be no more death from that time on. (See 1 Thes. 4:15-17) Prior to that, the Gospel will go out into the world with such cultural impact that enemies in all realms of life will be defeated.  It’s interesting to me that in days of great attack on Christ and the small first century church, Christ and the inspired Paul spoke of the dominion of the Gospel through out the world. No doubt Christians then, like us today, were tempted to think that few in history could be saved. On earth evil would enjoy a great triumph. Scripture repeatedly teaches that such thinking is errant. Christians must look at the big picture, not just what is going on currently in a particular culture.  The New Testament teaches that even churches can grow cold in their love for the Lord but that does not mean that the command to disciple nations in history has failed.

Secondly, the word of God speaks to all areas of life (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). It is truth (John 17:17). It is authored by Him Who is Truth – the triune God. Thus we cannot compartmentalize biblical teaching to the space between our ears or the Sunday morning worship time frame. It speaks to marriage, cultural issues, child rearing, time management, motivational endeavors, and a host of other issues.

We as Christians do not bring just another voice to the table of cultural discussion. We bring the truth of God’s word as long as we speak in terms of scriptural teaching. We cannot expect just our faithful teaching of scripture to defeat the opposition. After all, the same Paul, who was quoted above was also inspired to write that the message of the Gospel is foolishness to those who are dead in their sins. The Christian must enter discussions prayerfully and in dependence in the Holy Spirit.

This is major reason why we as Christians cannot expect cultural change just by Christians having a voice at the table. The opposition is opposed to Christ and His word (Gen. 3:15). The enemy rages against the truth of scripture and its all-encompassing claims for life. Change comes in others’ lives even as it did in ours through the Holy Spirit giving individuals an understanding that Christ is the only Savior of sinners and His word is truth. That is why we must seek the advance of the Gospel prayerfully, humbly and dependent on the Spirit’s work in the lives of others.

Review ©2008 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia