You ask Elim experts the questions. This month, it’s Pastor Andrew Fadoju of Elim Christian Fellowship, Worthing.
Should Christians be ‘woke’?
Like all labels, the term ‘woke’ divides opinions and ultimately leaves people entrenched in their camps, creating false enemies to be knocked down.
Originally to be ‘woke’ was to be aware of and alert to injustice. In its original slang use I will subscribe to being ‘woke’ and so should followers of Jesus. Sadly, when a word becomes politicised it starts to lose its meaning and can soon become toxic. That is why I personally avoid using labels to describe myself or others.
So how should we respond to ‘wokeness’? I think we need to understand its use for cultural and political gain and avoid that, and also understand those who attack it so they can destroy its original intention. We then need to understand the heart of the word and apply what is true about it in our interaction with others.
Why should Christians avoid ‘quarrelling about words’ (2 Timothy 2:14)?
There is a world of difference between studying God’s Word so we can grow in our faith and be more effective in our mission, and simply arguing about words to determine who is right or wrong.
Arguing over words can lead to entrenched worldviews, with each of us defending our corner resulting in the breaking of fellowship and even a halt in mission. It is this that Paul was warning Timothy about.
Paul wanted Timothy to continue to teach the truth about the Good News of Jesus Christ, his saving grace and his resurrection from the dead and how those truths should impact our lives and mission. He was aware that there are those who would love to get the church debating holiness rather than being holy, or discussing mission rather than doing it . It is this that Paul warned Timothy to avoid.
There is nothing wrong with discussions we can learn from, but we need to discern when arguing over words is just a red herring. That is why Paul urges Timothy, and us, to see the dangers of quarrelling over meaningless words and to avoid it.
Why do some people suffer much more than others?
In his Gospel, John narrates a conversation between Jesus and his disciples. The disciples asked a curious question about a blind man: “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” Jesus’ answer is challenging and thought-provoking. He states: “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins. This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”
“Why do people suffer?” is an age-old question that will still be asked a thousand years from now until Jesus returns. Even though Jesus’ response to his disciples can cause some consternation, I think the wisdom in that answer shows that we live in a broken, fallen and damaged world where so many factors can produce untold suffering in people’s lives.
Also, sometimes suffering can be about perspectives and we need to make sure we are not reading our own views into another person’s situation. The redeeming aspect of Jesus’ answer to the question of suffering is that God wants to help us if we are willing to engage with him. In the Gospel, Jesus brought restoration to the blind man.
