The Church is Responsible for So Much Injustice

In this chapter, Keller addresses the issue of the Christians — both individually and corporately — who have called the faith into question in the minds of non-Christians by their actions. In doing so, Keller draws out three issues: character flaws, war and violence and fanaticism.

The question that forms the foundation for the discussion of character flaws is this: “If Christianity is all it claims to be shouldn’t Christians on the whole be much better people than everyone else?” Keller notes that the very reason anyone can do any good is through common grace; that is, every good act is empowered by God. In addition, Christian theology teaches that our own moral efforts can’t earn salvation. We are seriously flawed human beings who, solely through the grace of God, are maturing and growing in character even as we grow in Christ.

As to violence, Keller acknowledges that there have been horrific episodes in history which grew out of religion whether that religion be Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism or any other world religion. Yet, there have also ben horrific episodes in history that grew out of active rejection of religious principles. The conclusion? While Christianity must own up to the violence that has been committed in its name, the reality of war and violence in society is not an argument against religious.

Finally, Keller turns to the issue of fanaticism, calling it the “biggest deterrent to Christianity for the average person today.” Generally, this argument is based on supposing Christianity to be a series of moral regulations designed for self-improvement. The antidote, then, would be to rightly see the essence of Christianity as salvation by grace.

When confronted with these challenges to the faith, the answer is not to abandon the faith, but to turn to Biblical models as a means of course correction. For example, Christianity was the dominant religion in the nations involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade yet it was absolutely essential in the movement to halt that trade.

YM Focus:

Grace. If we aren’t helping our students to grasp the concept of grace, we will leave them with a weakened faith, susceptible to the challenges that will come their way at college or in the workplace. We are messed-up human beings. Our students are messed-up human beings. Everyone they meet is a messed-up human being. The only common factor is that God’s grace is available to all.

Let’s not forget to teach our students about the role Christianity has played in such historical episodes as the abolition of the slave trade, the  fall of Communism and the civil rights movement. We can’t assume that such foundational faith is being communicated in the average classroom. Maybe through periodic biographical studies in our youth groups our students can find what one of my favorite teachers called “a dead mentor”; that is, a role model of faith that the student can follow.