The Church's Social Responsibility

The primary purpose of the local church is to make disciples through the proclamation of the gospel, the ministry of the Word, the administration of the ordinances, and prayer. But to the extent that the local church fulfills this call to make disciples, social transformation will take place. This can be seen in various ways over the course of history (the abolition of slavery in England by Christians led by William Wilberforce comes to mind). This social and cultural change occurs indirectly through Christians whose lives are transformed and who come to engage in society in ways that bring positive change. Christians bring about social change through charitable giving, feeding the poor, voting, serving in community leadership positions, helping with disaster relief, and in many other ways.

In addition, the church’s ministry of prayer is a means through which God extends both common and special grace in ways that have a social effect (“common grace” refers to the ways that God extends grace to all people, “special grace” refers to the ways that God extends grace to His people). For example, in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul calls us to “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings…for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions.” So as an example, God may answer the prayers of His people by enabling government leaders to lead wisely. As a result, society is positively affected.

9 Marks Ministries has asked a roundtable of pastors and theologians, "Does Scripture call the local church (by which we mean the local church as the local church, not as individual Christians) to the work of cultural transformation? For example, is a failing school system the responsibility of the local church?" Click here to read answers from Thabiti Anyabwile, John Frame, Michael Horton, Tony Payne, Phillip Ryken, and others.