Darkness is pervasive and wickedly resilient in today’s society and culture. News outlets void of a tragedy, natural disaster, genocide, or adulterous scandal simply do not exist. We are plagued by the horrid stench of sin that engulfs our very senses. For the Christian, this stench can be both nauseating and fragrant—nauseating to the spirit, and at times fragrant to the flesh. We live in a world in which we yearn to escape, yet cannot. 

Thankfully, we are not hopeless orphans without a means of defense. We are not weak soldiers commissioned for an impossible mission. We are good news light in bad news darkness. We are heralds, adorned with beautiful feet, equipped with a gospel that is sufficient to save and keep, penetrate and deliver. We are children of the masterful Creator who initiated and completed an elaborate plan for redemption and never once allowed sin to have the last word. We serve a God who is victorious!

Clearly, this gospel is the reason for the believer’s hope. Yet it seems, in an effort to combat sin and make Christ known, believers in this day and age have two drastically different approaches when confronting issues of social justice that run rampant.

A Holistic Gospel

Some believers choose to fight this battle exclusively on their knees. No protesting or advocating necessary, they will solely pray to the Father to intercede for a dying world. Other believers prefer to fight this battle on their feet. Doing the work that is necessary to implement social change and advocate for the needs of the marginalized and oppressed, they might bring a glimmer of hope to a dying world by physically catering to the needs of the people.  

Prayer without action sometimes breeds calloused Christians who would prefer to put off the world around them instead of engaging with it. Action without gospel proclamation can sometimes produce good-hearted advocates who get caught up in ‘woke’ missions and forget about the ultimate mission of the gospel. The true gospel requires a holistic understanding, so that we may be beacons of light and justice in the world around us—effectively meeting the needs of the people in a very tangible way, yet concurrently pointing them to our God. The right gospel requires us to be like Jesus.

Life and Doctrine are Both Essential

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.—1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)

In this verse, Paul explicitly instructs his son in the faith, Timothy, to watch his life and doctrine closely. In previous chapters, Paul had already expressed his disdain against teachers who were leading people astray with false doctrine, myths, and endless genealogies (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul goes on to lay out structural elements that the church ought to have, as well as godly expectations for men, women, overseers, deacons, teachers, and widows (essentially the entire church). The common denominator for all those mentioned is fundamentally this: Know the gospel and make sure your life lines up with that same gospel. This is especially critical for teachers and preachers because without sound teaching, they can be greatly influenced by the deceptive influences of Satan.

Paul encourages Timothy here to persevere in watching his life and doctrine closely, that he may save both himself and his hearers. Authentic salvation is in jeopardy when there’s an absence of sound teaching. Likewise, authentic salvation is on the line when there’s an absence of sound living that reflects the sound teaching initially given. It is not enough to be a “solid” believer doctrinally without caring for the marginalized and oppressed (James 1:26-27; 2:14-26). It is also insufficient to be a “good works” type of believer if one’s faith is out of step with the truths of the gospel.

In a dark, pervasive, and wickedly resilient world, let’s dedicate ourselves to being the light of Christ. May we watch both our life and doctrine closely.

This post was first featured on the Arise City Summit website. You can access the original post + more great content here.