by
Tom Wacaster
Occasionally
I will hear someone make the comment that those who are adamant regarding
issues that face the Lord's church are "issue oriented." Funk
and Wagnalls defines "issue" as "a matter of importance to be
resolved." Webster says it is "the point or matter depending in
a suit on which two parties join and put their cause to trial."
Oriented means "the determining of one's position with reference to
circumstances, ideals, etc" (Funk and Wagnalls). Hence, to be
"issue oriented" is to "determine one's position and put that
cause to trial or to the test." Since the Christian has
the obligation to "prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1
Thessalonians 5:21), it stands to reason that there will always be
"issues" facing the Lord's church. And, since we have the
obligation to "sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always
to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that
is in you" (1 Peter 3:15), that we are therefore "oriented" in
giving a defense for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
While it is possible to become so imbalanced that we are cynical about the
Lord's church and its future, we must face the fact that so long as the church
exists that we are going to have to face the issues that come our way. To
do otherwise is to abdicate our responsibility. A negative
connotation has been attached to the words "issue oriented."
This "label" is used by critics to hush the mouths of those who still
love the truth while making the unsuspecting believe that there is something
inherently evil in dealing with issues. None would be so bold as to
suggest that all issues should be ignored, since even the most liberal change agent
will take us to task on the issue of being issue oriented. The question
arises, then, as to when our dealing with issues becomes imbalanced.
I suggest to you that any issue, and every issue that comes down the pike is an
issue that cannot be ignored and must be dealt with forthrightly.
If the truth is at stake we cannot and will not remain silent. The
only alternative is to ignore the issues and allow the church to be swept into
apostasy. It is my studied conviction that at least one reason why
the Lord's church is so troubled today is that too many brethren have simply
grown weary of fighting the battle. Consequently false teachers have
crossed the threshold, and are in the midst of the flock having a heyday.
Meanwhile too many elderships and preachers sit back and do nothing for fear
that they might be perceived as being "issue oriented." Yes, it
is possible to become so consumed with the issues that face the Lord's church
that we become cynical and never hold out any hope to God's people. But
the desire to provide hope and peace cannot drive us to ignore the issues that
would in fact rob us of that hope and peace by leading us into error.