On a regular basis I am asked the question, ‘What can I do?’ This usually comes up after I have spoken or written about some issue in the pro-faith, pro-family and pro-life struggles. People are rightly bothered by what they have just heard or read, but then are left somewhat overwhelmed, wondering how to turn things around.
Thus the question arises as to what can be done. Since I am asked that so often, it might be best to offer a detailed reply here so that I can refer others to it as well, and not have to keep answering over and over again. And the short answer is this: the sky is the limit.
There are probably as many things that can be done as there are people wondering what can be done. There are plenty of things that can be done, and each individual may have his own unique abilities, talents and callings to draw upon. There really are no limits to what might be done.
But let me offer some proposals, starting with the bigger picture of political involvement. Many of the evils and problems I speak and write about are those which are being promoted in the political and legal arenas. Politicians are often pushing lousy agendas, and bad laws are often being passed.
So these are some key areas to get involved in. Start thinking big here. Why not consider running for office yourself? We certainly need more biblical Christians who will stand up and be counted in the political arena. You can run for one of the main parties, for some of the smaller Christian and family parties, or run as an independent.
If becoming a political candidate is not your thing, you can still become a member of a political party, or actively support a party which reflects your values and beliefs. There is so much which can be done simply on a political level. And speaking of the big movers and shakers, what about the other major areas?
The media, academia, the arts, the courts, popular culture, and so on, are just some of the arenas in which so much of the wars against faith, family and life are taking place. We desperately need godly academics, Christian media people, righteous lawyers, spiritual legislators, biblical artists, and sanctified writers, to name but a few.
Maybe you like journalism. If so, get the required qualifications and degrees, and get involved in the mainstream media and be some salt and light there. We also certainly need Christian philosophy professors, sociology lecturers and psychology teachers, among others in academia.
The universities are just one of many key arenas where we need a strong Christian presence found. So whatever your leaning or talent or calling, use it for the glory of God, and to make an impact for Christ. A spiritual calling is not just to be a pastor or a missionary. It is to be in any profession that God has called you to be in.
There are so many areas one can head into. One might work with AIDS patients, or help out cancer victims, or work with the homeless or the disenfranchised. Consider just one important issue: abortion. What can be done about this? Heaps!
Again, one can get involved in the political process to seek to work for pro-life legislation and overturn pro-death laws. One can volunteer at a pregnancy crisis centre. One can protest outside of an abortion mill. One can write letters to the editor of newspapers, or get on talk-back radio.
One can alert others as to pro-life issues in your area. One can do very practical things, such as setting up emergency accommodation at one’s church or parish for scared, young pregnant girls. Indeed, what happens if a pregnant 15-year-old comes to your church, scared out of her wits because she is without support or help?
Her boyfriend may have ditched her, and her parents may have threatened to disown her unless she gets an abortion. What will you do to help her? It is not enough to simply tell her that abortion is wrong. She needs some real live alternatives – and desperately.
Why not help set up a crisis accommodation centre at your church where girls like this can be brought into, looked after, and ministered to? She certainly needs food, clothing and shelter during this period. And when the baby is born options can be discussed, such as adoption, or keeping the child.
There are just so many things one can do in so many areas. There are various groups already fighting the good fight. There are pro-family groups out there, and pro-life groups, and pro-faith organisations. Most are understaffed, underfunded, and keenly in need of any help – volunteer help, financial help, and so on.
Why not get involved in some of these groups? Indeed, simply becoming informed yourself about the issues is the first step. Then letting others know is the next obvious step. Groups like CultureWatch exist to inform you, equip you, mobilise you and activate you to make a difference in our world. There are many other such groups as well.
I usually just tell my students when asked this question: find out what God wants you to do, and then do it with all your heart. Of course finding out exactly what God is calling you to do may not always be easy, but keep praying, keep seeking him, keep being open to be used of him.
Maybe your gifting is in medical care or nursing. We certainly need Christian doctors, or biblically-based bioethicists. Maybe your skills are in writing. We very much need godly writers, journalists and media people. Maybe you have a great mind. Why not get a few more degrees, and use the university and academic world to take on the likes of a Richard Dawkins?
As I say, there really is no shortage of things people can do who are concerned about so many of these issues. But perhaps a few basic things are absolutely crucial. One, we really do need to be informed about what is going on. Ignorance is not bliss here – it is suicide.
Two, we really must care about what is going on. If you read about all these wretched things going on, but it really does not bother you all that much, well, simply tell God that. Ask him to break your heart with what breaks his heart. If the slaughter of 100,000 unborn babies every year in Australia does not break your heart, then ask God to break it for you.
Third, we must be willing to get involved. As mentioned, there are millions of different ways to get involved and make a difference. But you first must be willing to stand up and be counted. You must be willing to act, even if you have to pay a price for it.
And believe me, in these culture wars, you will certainly pay a price if you dare to stand up and speak for truth, for life, for righteousness, and for your Lord. But that is the price we must pay if we are really serious about turning things around and making a difference.
Do you want to turn things around or not? That is the real question. What you can do to turn things around is really just a secondary question really. What matters most is that you care and you want to get involved. Once you have that attitude, the rest will eventually take care of itself.
“But the people who know their God will display strength and take action” (Daniel 11:32).
So off to battle!
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