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SOCIAL OBLIGATION
It should be our objective to fulfill our
obligations to society by being good citizens, by
correcting social injustices, and by protecting the
sanctity of life.
Being Good
Citizens
As Christians we are members of the kingdom of God
as well as a social order of this world. Obedience
to God requires us to act in a responsible manner as
citizens of our country (Mark 12:13-17; Romans
13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17). Therefore, we should
support civil law and order; hold our leaders in
respect and pray for them; participate in school,
community and governmental activities; exercise our
voting rights; and speak out on clear-cut moral
issues. God's law is supreme, but we are to obey the
laws of our country insofar as they are not in
conflict with obedience to God (Acts 5:29). When it
becomes necessary to disagree with practices and
requirements of government, we should do so out of a
concern for the promotion of righteousness and not
out of delight in discord and controversy.
Correcting
Social Injustices
Love for others and the recognition of the equal
worth of all men in the sight of God (Acts 10:34;
17:26) should compel us to take steps to improve the
situation of those who are underprivileged,
neglected, hungry, homeless and victimized by
prejudice, persecution and oppression (Matthew
22:39; Romans 13:8-10; 1 John 3:17). In all of our
dealings, we must be sensitive to human needs (Luke
10:30-37; James 1:17) and guard against racial and
economic discrimination. Every person should have
freedom to worship and participate in the life of
the church regardless of race, color, sex, social
class or nationality.
Protecting the
Sanctity of Life
God alone confers life (Genesis
1:1-31); therefore, we are responsible to God to
care for our physical life and that of others. If
the circumstances require, we must be prepared to
risk our life in the service of our neighbor (John
15:13); but the general rule is that we must respect
our physical life and employ every worthy means to
maintain it. Since God alone confers life, God alone
must decide when it is to be ended (Psalm 31:14,
15). Because a human fetus is sacred and blessed of
God, we believe that we have the responsibility to
protect the life of the unborn (Jeremiah 1:5; Luke
1:41). It is our firm conviction that abortion and
euthanasia of aged, mentally incompetent, terminally
ill and otherwise handicapped, for reasons of
personal convenience, social adjustment or economic
advantage, are morally wrong. Furthermore, we
believe it is our Christian responsibility to care
for the earth and its resources. In the beginning
God gave man dominion over the earth (Genesis
1:26-30). This does not, however, give us license to
pollute our natural environment or to waste the
resources of the earth. |
