The Arc

The stated or implied objective of many organizations and Christian ministries is “to change the world.” But ambitious plans for global transformation must reckon with the fundamental truth that the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. While certain projects and initiatives may help in one way or another to alleviate human suffering—and the aim to alleviate human suffering is not in and of itself a bad thing—any initiative that bypasses the human heart and the problem of personal sin will only be temporary and transitory. 

A careful study of church history shows that even those places in the world that have experienced seasons of revival and spiritual awakening, and along with them a modicum of moral and cultural uplift in broader society, have with time eventually returned to a deeply embedded pattern of ungodliness and in many cases surpassed pre-revival levels of societal sin. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the Mediterranean Basin, Europe, Great Britain, North America, and to a large extent today Latin America, Africa, and Asia—each of them have had, or are having, their day in the sun, so to speak. But in spite of the many souls saved, disciples made, churches planted, and worthwhile ministry endeavors undertaken, sin still runs rampant in broader society in all these places today. 

In essence, the same crowds that shouted “Crucify him!” when Jesus was being tried by Pilate are still with us today. In the spiritual realm, the same Roman Empire that washed its hands from the crucifixion of our Lord is still with us today. The same religious authorities that wanted to protect their power base and their national pride are still with us today. Indeed, in many ways, after 2,000 years of gospel ministry, the world has not been transformed.

What are we to glean from this observation? Unitarian theologian and minister Theodore Parker penned the following words:

“I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.” 

These same words served as an inspiration to Martin Luther King, Jr., who on several different occasions said something along the lines of, “The arc of the moral universe may be long, but it bends towards justice.” But as time moves on, is the world really becoming a better place? 

While we may well see progress here and there, I find it hard to say that the world is truly better now than it used to be at any other time in history. Thank God, chattel slavery is now deemed unconstitutional in the United States. But human trafficking still runs rampant in many places around the world, including right here at home. If reports are true, Roe v. Wade may be on the verge of being overturned by the Supreme Court. But according to recent polls, support for the freedom to choose abortion appears to be expanding, both in the States and around the world as well. In a lot of ways, as far as the moral and cultural transformation of society at large is concerned, it looks to me like the general pattern is two steps forward, three steps back.

As Christians, it is true, we may be certain that the day is coming when God’s justice will be done on earth as it is heaven. And as Christians, we are indeed called to be bold and faithful advocates for justice and goodness right here and now. But my understanding of biblical eschatology and the vision it presents for our expectations as Christians down through human history does not lead me to be overly optimistic with regard to the gradual and ultimate triumph of truth and righteousness up until the end of the age.

Jesus shared several parables that appear to speak to this question, and that may be interpreted—and have been interpreted—in different ways. Some interpreters interpret the parable of the leaven as referring to the power of the gospel to gradually transform the whole world just like leaven little by little spreads throughout a whole loaf of bread while it is baking. Others, however, have pointed out that leaven is almost always a symbol of evil or corruption in the Bible, and claim that the parable of the leaven speaks to the spread of false doctrine and corruption within historic Christendom over the centuries. In a similar way, the parable of the mustard seed is viewed by some as an illustration of the power of the gospel to accomplish great, world-changing things, even though its beginnings may be small like the mustard seed. Others point to the reference of the birds that roost in the branches of the tree that sprouts from the implanted mustard seed as another reference to the spread of evil and corruption that generally coincides with the growth of the church.

I am not dogmatic on my interpretation of either of these two parables. But my reading of the broad, underlying message of the Bible is that the gospel will indeed be proclaimed throughout all the earth, and the church will indeed be successful in its mission of making disciples of all nations. Some, however, have interpreted this discipling of all nations as transforming the cultures of all the nations of the earth or Christianizing the world. Indeed, the Greek term is literally “discipling the nations.” I think it is important to note, however, that the two activities that make up the disciple-making process—baptizing and teaching—are directed toward individuals, not structures or institutions. In other words, you don’t baptize or teach structures and institutions; you baptize and teach individuals.

All in all, I don’t think the Bible leads us to expect a Christianized world when Jesus returns. In Jesus’ day the gate was narrow and the road that led to life was hard, and there were few who found it. And as I read it, there is nothing in the Bible that leads us to expect that situation is to drastically change as time goes on.

If anything, the Bible tells us that “in the last days there will come times of difficulty” and that in that time “people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1–5). The power of the Anti-Christ will arise in the last days. Deception will be rampant. The kings of the earth and the merchants of the earth will join in league together against the Rider on the White Horse (Revelation 18–19). And the Bible doesn’t say anything about Christian kings, Christian merchants, or Christian nations as over against “the kings of the earth” and “the merchants of the earth.” A plain reading of the text leads us to suppose that “the kings of the earth” pretty much includes all the kings of the earth.

This leads us to ask, “What about our work for the advance of the gospel? Is it all in vain, then?” 

The Bible clearly gives us the answer to this question in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” So our efforts for the progress of the gospel are not in vain. Could it be, however, that we’ve gotten a bit confused regarding our ultimate objective? I think that may indeed be the case. 

I don’t think that the Bible teaches that we are actually called to transform the world. It says, rather, that we are to preach the gospel and make disciples from among all the different nations (or people groups) of the world. And as we live out our calling, we can rest assured that some will obey the gospel, and others will choose to disobey. Revelation 7:9–10 does lead us to expect, though, that when it’s all said and done, there will be at least a remnant from every nation, tribe, people, and language who will embrace the gospel and become authentic worshipers of Jesus.

In the meantime, I believe we are called to set up outposts of the Kingdom of God among all the nations and to be light-posts of love, mercy, and righteous living in the various places we presently live as pilgrims and exiles on this earth. Indeed, our good deeds, neighborly love, and advocacy for peace and justice all will be richly rewarded in this age and in the age to come. I also believe that the principles behind the Lord’s admonition to the Judahite exiles in Babylon by way of His prophet Jeremiah apply to us as well: “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7). And as our Lord Jesus said, “Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (Matthew‬ ‭10:42‬). 

So, be encouraged. Even though it may seem like truth and righteousness are not progressing in our nation and around the world as we hoped they would, God’s agenda is not failing. The establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth is on it’s way. Indeed, it is right on schedule. And as my father, Adrian Rogers, used to say, “Praise the Lord, it’s getting gloriously dark!”