Nancy Pearcey on Why Christians Need to Address Cultural and Moral Issues

 

As we work through controversial moral issues, it is crucial to bear in mind the main goal.  It is not first of all to persuade people to change their behavior.  It is to tear down barriers to becoming Christian.  No matter who we are addressing, or what moral issue the person is struggling with, their first need is to hear the gospel and experience the love of God.  The most important question of their life is whether they will have a relationship with the living God that lasts into eternity. (p. 260)

 

The main reason to address moral issues is that they have become a barrier to even hearing the message of salvation.  People are inundated with rhetoric telling them that the Bible is hateful and hurtful, narrow and negative.  While it's crucial to be clear about the biblical teaching on sin, the context must be an overall positive message: that Christianity alone gives the basis for a high view of the value and meaning of the body as a good gift from God.  In our communication with people struggling with moral issues, we need to reach out with a life-giving, life-affirming message.  We should work to draw people in by the beauty of the biblical vision of life.

As one Christian psychologist puts it, the goal is "more rescue mission than culture war."  (p. 261)