Reclaiming Faith: Returning to Christ’s Call for Compassion and Justice
Introduction: A Crisis of Faith
Have you ever felt consumed by a zeal for the house of God? For years, I hadn’t. My faith journey was steady but rarely shaken—until an encounter with my Evangelical prayer group forced me to confront a harsh truth.
For six years, I had faithfully prayed alongside an elderly woman in her 70s. She was devoted to her faith, endlessly praying for Israel and, curiously, for Donald Trump. One day, I raised the heartbreaking story of a young woman who had died due to complications from a six-month pregnancy, unable to access the medical care she desperately needed because of abortion bans. I hoped to spark understanding, to challenge the teachings of the TV channels she so fervently trusted. Instead, she dismissed me, choosing her television-fed narratives over the bond we had built through years of prayer.
That moment of dismissal wasn’t just about a disagreement—it was a revelation. It revealed a deep fracture in how many modern Christians interpret their faith. And it left me asking, "When did we, as believers, lose sight of Christ’s teachings of love and compassion?"
Biblical Context: Ezra’s Warning
In the Book of Ezra, we find a powerful cautionary tale. Ezra, a priest descended from Aaron, led a group of exiled Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of God. This temple, once a symbol of divine presence, had been destroyed due to the disobedience of Israel’s kings, who had intermarried with unbelievers and turned to worship idols.
Upon returning, Ezra discovered that even those who had come back to rebuild the temple had fallen into the same pattern—they had intermarried with the surrounding peoples and abandoned God’s commands. In despair, Ezra tore his clothes, pulled out his hair, and prayed:
"I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens." (Ezra 9:6)
This wasn’t just about physical marriage; it symbolized a deeper betrayal—a union of minds and hearts with those who led them away from God. Ezra recognized that this wasn’t merely disobedience; it was a fundamental departure from the faithfulness God required.
Modern Parallels: A Church Divided
Like the Israelites of Ezra’s time, many modern Christians have formed troubling alliances—not with foreign peoples, but with ideologies and agendas that stray from biblical teachings. Today’s "intermarriage" isn’t about weddings but about aligning with movements that promote division, misinformation, and self-interest under the guise of faith.
For example, many Evangelicals have become entangled in political battles over abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration. They defend these positions with zeal, believing they are fighting a holy war for God. But the Bible does not call us to wage cultural wars—it calls us to love our neighbors, care for the vulnerable, and seek justice. As Jesus said:
"I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in." (Matthew 25:42)
How, then, do we justify turning away immigrants at our borders, condemning the LGBTQ+ community, or refusing to address systemic injustice? In aligning with political agendas that promise power, have we, like the Israelites, abandoned the God who calls us to humility and compassion?
Conclusion: Returning to Christ
Ezra’s warning is as relevant today as it was centuries ago. When we allow worldly alliances to guide our faith, we risk losing sight of God’s purpose. Jesus did not call us to fight for power or control. He called us to love, to deny ourselves, and to follow Him.
The question we must ask is this: Are we truly seeking God’s will, or are we being led astray by voices that promise influence and status? The Bible remains our guide, urging us to remain faithful to Christ’s teachings of compassion, humility, and justice. If we are to be a light to the world, we must reject the divisive battles of our time and return to the heart of the gospel.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
Let us focus not on fighting holy wars, but on living as Christ called us to live—bringing life, love, and light into a divided world.
This is prophetic. You hear, you speak. Thank you
“There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."