Page 23 - Cedarville Magazine Spring 2013 Volume 1 Issue 1

Cedarville Magazine | 23
Evangelism and social action are inseparable, but they are not
identical. Working for economic development in poor communities
or working to change structural injustice to end systemic oppression
is not the same as inviting people to embrace Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior. If we only do social action and never say we’re doing it
because of Jesus, our good deeds only point to ourselves.
Sin is both personal and social. By personal, I mean lying,
committing adultery, etc. By social, I mean participating in unfair
structures. Social brokenness, including poverty, results both
from bad personal choices and unjust systems. If we only work
at half the problem, we only produce half a solution. People need
both personal faith in Christ, which transforms their values and
very life, and material, structural transformation that brings new
socioeconomic opportunities. That is why holistic community
development programs that combine evangelism and social action
are more effective.
People do need material things, but they are made for far more
than a good life here on earth. Every person is invited to live forever
with God. Jesus died so whoever believes in Himmay have a better
life now and for all eternity.
Two other biblical truths are crucial. Jesus is the only way to
salvation, and those who reject Christ depart eternally from the
living God. I know my generation has sometimes said those things
in harsh, insensitive ways. Too often we have failed to say with the
Bible that God does not want anyone to perish (2 Pet. 3:9).
But if the Bible is our authority, we dare not neglect its teaching
that people are lost without Christ. Jesus, who is certainly the most
amazing teacher of love the world has ever known, says more about
eternal separation from God than anything else . Surely, if Jesus is
true God as well as true man, we cannot
act as if Jesus did not know what He was
talking about. Instead, we should embrace
His claim that He is the way, the truth, and
the life, and that no one comes to the Father
except through Him (John 14:6).
So, gently but clearly, I ask you to
wrestle with this question: Do you care
as much about lovingly inviting people
to embrace the Savior as you do about
empowering the poor? Will this generation
of evangelical social activists repeat the
one-sidedness of the old “social gospel”
and neglect evangelism? Will you spend as
much time, money, and effort praying and
strategizing about how to winsomely invite
non-Christians to Jesus as you do working
for social justice?
Dr. Ron Sider is the author of many books
including Fixing the Moral Deficit and Rich
Christians in an Age of Hunger, recognized
by Christianity Today as one of the 100 most
influential religious books of the 20th century.
Dr. Sider was a keynote speaker for the American
Dream Conference. You may view a video of his
remarks at cedarville.edu/americandream.
by Ron Sider
Does Your Social Action
Neglect Evangelism?
C h a p e l N o t e s
The following is an excerpt from Ron Sider’s chapel message on October
25, 2012. He is the President of Evangelicals for Social Action andDirector of
the Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy at Palmer Theological Seminary.
Listen to his full remarks at cedarville.edu/siderchapel.
Watch or listen online at cedarville.edu/chapel to hear these engaging speakers:
1/15 Scott Lehr ‘00
Lead Pastor of Southbridge Fellowship
Raleigh, North Carolina
1/17 Leslie Leyland Fields ‘79
Author, Speaker, and Christianity Today Columnist
Kodiak, Alaska
2/21 Russell Moore
Dean of the School of Theology,
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky
3/14 Eric Metaxas
Co-host of BreakPoint Radio and Best-selling Author
NewYork, NewYork