Dr. Franklin Pyles: The need for justice arises in all of our relationships as people, and in our relationship with God. It is that fact that we have not behaved in just ways that creates our need for a Saviour. People all over the world, throughout history, have suffered from injustice and it is the duty of the church to speak to the world the Word of God and the demand of God that all people behave in a just manner.

FP: Compassion is part of justice, for it is unjust to ignore the need of another person. However, the needs of the world for food, clothing, clean water and health are so great that this area of action deserves to be treated by itself. We stand in a tradition of caring for people, of offering a cup of cold water in Jesus' name, a tradition that includes Dorcas who sewed clothes for the poor and Paul who collected an offering. Compassion is part of our calling as an Alliance.

FP: As I just stated compassion is really part of justice. That is, if I see someone naked and hungry, as the Apostle James (see James 2:15, 16) says, and say to that person 'be warmed and filled' but do not actually give them food and clothing, is the love of God in me? And, because this is clear to us now from the Bible, not to care for this person is an injustice. Likewise, when people are oppressed, as are tens of thousands of children who are sex slaves, not to care about the injustice is also a lack of justice.

FP: The easy thing to say would be that this is a way to attract people to Christ. But I would say this is part of Christ's work for people, and that when we do acts of justice and compassion we are truly worshiping God. This is what the LORD said to Isaiah in chapter 58 when he called caring for the poor a true fast.

FP: It is always important and has always been addressed by God's people. What a heritage we have as Christians! The early Christians denounced the Roman circus, Christians picked up the poor and needy and cared for them in monasteries in the Middle Ages, William Wilberforce fought against slavery, Amy Carmichael against child prostitution, and A. B. Simpson's heart was broken when he saw the body of a baby girl floating down the Yangtze River at Wuhan and he asked 'does no one care?' and was told that - if it was a boy they would care.

FP: We existed in a hiatus as evangelicals because we lived in fear of the social gospel. But the social gospel was an attempt to reinterpret the gospel as only meaning justice and compassion for the people of the world, and the naive belief that it could be achieved through the work of the church, thus attaining the Kingdom of God.

The rejection of this false teaching was absolutely correct, but the rejection of the mandate to care for the poor was wrong. But now this is being recovered and health is returning to our churches.

FP: Justice and compassion is the focus of the young generation for several reasons. First, the high level of communication has brought world needs before everyone through television. Now we see the multiplication of this communication.

Children are taught about many justice and compassion issues at school. Rock stars and movie stars take up specific causes and sometimes hold benefit concerts. Politicians run for office referencing the world?s need. And, terrorists claim that they in turn are justified in their brutality because of injustice. So, who wants to be left out? Not many.

  

We must teach the true, Biblical mandate for caring for people and our world

But our mandate must be different. We must teach the true, Biblical mandate for caring for people and our world. This is a reason for engagement that will survive the fleeting interest of media and stars.

(Cont'd - page 2)