Christian thought leader Gabe Lyons has a message for Christians who are fearful about what’s to come on election day, reminding fellow believers that the early church flourished, despite living in a hostile and unpalatable environment.
When asked what he would say to Christians who might be concerned about eroding rights under a Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump administration, Lyons, founder of Q Commons, urged people to consider past history, as Deseret News reported.
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“Let’s just remember that the New Testament was actually written to a minority living in the midst of an empire,” Lyons told “The Church Boys” podcast, noting that the Bible’s intended audience didn’t have much clout or social power. “The church actually grew magnificently and … the church actually does really well under that kind of pressure.”
Lyons said no one wants to see their rights eroded, but that Christians “can look forward to hope” based on how we’ve seen the Christian faith grow and progress, even among the most pervasive and dire past circumstances.
Based on recent research, Lyons also said there’s evidence that many evangelicals — a Christian cohort that has come out more fervently in support of Trump than they have Clinton — have made political choices based, in part, on fear.
“The driver was a fear of their rights being lost and they were just looking for somebody to stop what felt like a steamrolling effect,” Lyons said of some measured Trump support.
But even if cultural challenges do emerge, he believes there could be a silver lining. Lyons added, “If this forces us to get back to the basics, then maybe this is the best thing that could happen for the church.”
He also encouraged white Christians to consider the joy that African American believers have maintained throughout the decades, even amidst what he called “oppression and…suffering.”
Listen to Lyons discuss these issues below:
Lyons also spoke about Q Commons, an organization he founded that serves as a “learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society,” as well as his quest to inspire faithful conversation.
Unfortunately, he believes civility has worsened in recent years, with people increasingly feeling lost and disenchanted.
“People are feeling at a loss, they have angst, they have fear and concerns,” Lyons said of the current state of the culture. “They really don’t know where to place hope anymore.”
That’s where Lyons said Christians can come in to offer hope for the future — a confidence based on their belief in God and absolute moral truth. He’s hoping believers will continue to dialogue and come together to address these issues head-on.
“There’s going to continue to be a sense of hopelessness about it,” Lyons added. “We have a real role to play in healing and bringing people together.”
Find out more about Lyons’ 2017 Q Commons event here.
(H/T: Deseret News)
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