“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
(Proverbs 31:9)
“The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.”
(Proverbs 29:7)
Now we come to the second part of the article, “PASTOR OF SOCIOLOGY.” We had introduced the idea of the Pastor of Sociology in the first part. Now we shall look at some practical functions of a Pastor of Sociology.
Advancing Nation Building With Religious Fervour
“… and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
(Revelation 22:2)
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
(Proverbs 14:34)
“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity.”
(Proverbs 1:1 – 3)
One thing that people have not really considered is tying nation building and religious fervour. Religious fervour is a very powerful force which must be tapped into. It is what nuclear energy is to electricity. The kingdom of darkness has tapped into this energy in executing its evil agenda in the world. We all know the religious fervour by which terrorists carry out their dastardly acts. These are they that use nuclear energy to build destructive nuclear bombs.
How is religion a super energy to be tapped? It is well known that two things hold man with a firm grip and with you probably can make men do anything. They are fear and reward. So by threat or promise you can make men do virtually anything and that is how our world runs. The employee employer relationship for example employers go to work and are devoted to service because of a promise of a salary and the fear of losing that job and its salary. Both fear and reward keep the business world and indeed the entire world going. Religion possesses the greatest fear and the greatest promise of reward. Yes, you guessed it right, heaven and hell. No promise bigger than eternal bliss and nothing to be feared more than eternal damnation. Religion therefore has the strongest hold on man.
So far the righteous have not really tapped into this energy in seeking progress of the profitable things of this ephemeral world. Religious directions is offered just to help people make it to heaven but not to make our nations a better place. In fact terrorism has even made some in the circle where the righteous belong to speak against religion saying it is the cause of the world’s problem. This they say just because the terrorists and their sponsor do these grievous evils on account of their religious convictions. Some others say religion is the opium of the people, but who would be silly enough to let irreligious men define religion and its benefits (or lack thereof) for us? The foolishness of their argument is glaring and won’t be a topic for today. I talked about this in my article.
It is time for the righteous to tap into this amazing powerful force of religious fervour in nation building and solving sociological problems for mankind. The person who can champion this course is the pastor of sociology.
So how does this work? Let’s take an example. Reading is good and it does the society a whole lot of good when the members of a society read a lot and put the knowledge gotten thereby to good use, but let it be as good as anything, you’d never get most people to read. But when the people hear from a pastor of sociology in a sermon from the pulpit that God hates it when people don’t go after knowledge, he punishes them and their children for it and has even place a curse on those who do not go after knowledge (Hosea 4:6), he rewards those who seek after knowledge, and that the Bible commands us severally to read and pursue knowledge, the people shall begin to take reading as a religious obligation and exert themselves to read. When they do this the society begins to thrive naturally. The pastor of sociology will then have solved one big problem by tapping into the incredible power of religious fervour.
This same thing goes for almost every other aspect of societal problems. When it comes to business ethics, fairness in trade and employments, family problems, finance, leadership, efficacious systems of governance, etc. From the Bible all the solutions to all these issues can be dug out. And when it is dug out and presented as commands from God, people work on them as a religious obligation with religious fervour. This gives a better result to the efforts of societal transformation. Far better than just letting people see the benefits of things.
One note to make though, in performing the ministry of a Pastor of Sociology, we must know that we only offer man solutions to his problems. Christianity does not force people. There are people who would still refuse solution just because it has Christian marks on it. So we don’t force solutions on society but we present it with all the force of reason to our nations. We point them to the solution and let them taste the goodness of it with the hope that when they taste its goodness they shall trace the boundless giver.
The Primary Oppositions Against The Pastor Of Sociology
“Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.”
(Acts 6:2)
The major primary opposition to the ministry of the pastor of sociology is the argument that Christians should be heaven minded and dabble into the issues of this world. But I find it hard to understand how any would read the Bible and conclude that God wants us to be withdrawn from the world or even aloof of worldly affairs.
Someone may quote, “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” (Acts 6:2). The apostles didn’t say because they had to preach the gospel they would then leave the serving of tables unattended to. They found a way to attend to it without it interrupting the ministry of the word. The pastor of sociology does not leave the gospel behind to address the needs of the world. He doesn’t drop the problems of the church to be solving the problems of the world. As we shall see shortly, his ministry preserves the church from without, and that most efficaciously. Furthermore it does not have to be everyone who should be engaged in this ministry of the Pastor of Sociology. But there should be many Christians who should be in this ministry. Lastly, when the apostles chose those who should attend to the ministry of serving tables, though still very earthly compared to the Pastor of Sociology, their statement was, “… look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” (Acts 6:3). They didn’t say go into the world to look for pagans to do this business that no Christian should be involved in. Even though the business was the mere business of serving tables, they needed men that are full of the Holy Ghost, how much more should we need men full of the Holy Ghost to attend to this business of letting the world know and proving that in God and through his word is all the solutions for societal problems to be found? So even this verse further proves that Christians, spirit filled Christians with all wisdom, ought to be pastors of sociology.
Another verse one may quote is, “And he [Jesus] said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?” (Luke 12:14). By this is to mean that we are not to associate ourselves with the affairs of the world as Christ wouldn’t get himself involved in matters of the world. But guess what, from that statement of not being a judge and a divider, he proceeded to do the very work of a Pastor of Sociology starting with the words, “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15). Here he addressed the vice of covetousness. He didn’t go into sharing formula but he addressed the man’s problem which was covetousness. He only meant of course that he wasn’t going to get himself involved in the business of dividing inheritance to children. Pastors of Sociology don’t get into just any human affairs but make effort to proffer solutions to societal problems.
Closely related to that is the verse that says, “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?” (1 Corinthians 5:12). Here Paul was talking on the need to excommunicate a person who had done a grave evil of sleeping with his father’s wife. The church has the power to carry out such mild punitive measures against its members, but can’t do that to those that are without. And having that power, they ought to exercise it to purge the church of such evils. This was the point of Paul. The Pastor of Sociology does not judge the world. But he proffers solutions to world problems with reasons that the world may buy it. This too says nothing against the Pastor of Sociology.
The Major Biblical Bases For Pastor Of Sociology
“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
(Matthew 6:10)
Now that we have seen that no part of the Bible speaks against the Pastor of Sociology, let’s see how the Bible is in firm support of it.
The fact is that the Bible is not in any way in support of us being aloof from the world in any way. We are to be involved in it actively shaping even its secular affairs to the will of God. When Christ taught his disciples to pray, the first thing he told them, after acknowledging and honouring God was this, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). The prayer is for his kingdom to come, not we going out of the world. And the second point is that his will be done IN EARTH, as it is in heaven. So if faith is to be backed by works, as we pray this prayer, we back it up with the work of a Pastor of Sociology. This informs us that it is God’s will for us to seek societal reforms.
Christ tells us, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13 – 16). Salts prevents corruption. How can you preserve the world from corruption if you choose to be aloof? How can you be a light to the world if you choose to hide away in the church and cover that light in the church building? It seems to me that the prevalent mentality in the church today is that people just take going to church as the prime of spirituality. But hiding away in the church while society rots away won’t make his will to be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
There’s nothing carnal in seeking societal reforms to conform with the values of the Bible and rendering Biblical solutions to sociological problems. Even to preach about it from the pulpits is not being carnal. To give sermons out of the Bible on fairness and ethics of business, principles of trade, dealings between tenants and landlords, professional ethics in place of work, leadership, government policies, etc., is great. If we could accept the lame sermons of some so called heaven conscious preachers, sermons that fail to prepare you for heaven, we could do with a little bit earthly sermons to do earthly things holily that we may enjoy the good of holiness, and the world may taste and see that the Lord is good. If your gospel comes with earthly solutions to make man live happily it beautifies the gospel.
So, we should be certain that the Bible is in full support of the Pastor of Sociology.
Pastors Of Sociology As A Kingdom Soldier Behind The Enemy Lines
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 10:4 – 5)
“He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant… To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.” (Psalm 105:17, 22)
Now we need to consider one of the most important benefits of the Pastor of Sociology to the church. When a Christian gets actively involved is proffering sociological solutions from the Christian perspective he takes the battle to the Devil’s territory. It is not a defensive warfare. He goes into the world and wreak havoc behind the enemy lines.
The problem with the church of today is that they do not seem to understand that before the enemy tries to storm the church he first builds momentum in the world then strike a deadly blow on the church. For example take the issue of gender equality. The Devil’s aim is to get the church to rebel against God but he doesn’t start at the church. He first goes into the world and start his movement as just an innocent movement for justice. He garners support and moment with even many pastors vehemently speaking in favour of it because it was packaged as a cry of justice. When there is an outcry in support of gender equality in the world and it is well accepted as a standard of justice, then the Devil turns to the church to attack her with the mob he had garnered in the world.
It is funny when I observe the way some Christians and even pastors throw their weight behind all these sentimental devilish movements that come with good names. I saw sat in one pastor’s class while he was making a strong case for the so called gender justice and was amused. Once they established gender justice in the world, the next thing is they start demanding that our churches have female bishops which has seen the church of England have its first ever female archbishop of Canterbury. Now everyone in churches around the world are crying foul.
Did they not know that when you take all these arguments of gender justice to a logical conclusion, you’d have to deny the faith? Did they not know that gender equality is not biblical? Why was it not tackled while it was still being set as a standard in the world?
It is just like a man who is sitting in his house and someone comes with a keg of petrol and starts pouring it round his house smiling all the while. The owner of the house sits by and smiles back wondering what all that is about. When the man with the keg comes to where he was sitting he got up to make room for him to pour the petrol everywhere he wishes. At the intruder’s request the owner of the house opens the doors to the other rooms and takes him round the house, still in a confused state of wondering what exactly is going. Then the man steps back and lights a match but the owner of the house stands there wondering what the flame had to do with all the activity going on. Then the man throws the match and everywhere goes up in flames. That was when the owner of the house starts crying for help shouting in shock, “help! Help! My house is on fire!” wondering where the all the flame came from. And still he didn’t see the link between the petrol and the flame being the cause of the fire. To him he thinks the fire came out of nowhere as if by magic.
That would be a special kind of dumb right? That is how it is when the world starts rallying cries to take an unbiblical stand on things and Christians stand by and even lend them their voice, then when a woman is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury they start crying that it is unbiblical.
Or we look at the issue of DEI, which means diversity, equality, where they want men and women to work together in every sphere. This, amongst other things, promotes ungodliness. When you take the Christian look at it, it does not go with the command to flee temptation. Now of course the idea of just working with a female doesn’t look as bad as it really is, but experience has taught me that it is the source of a lot of problem and scandals. Lastly, Christ had twelve disciples, and not one was a woman, and not one non-Jew. How diverse, equal, and inclusive was that? The idea stinks of sulphur and brimstone.
When the world starts taking stances that is diametrically opposed to biblical values, they’re only gathering momentum against the church, and it is in the world that these ideas ought to dealt with. It is foolish to stand by and watch while unbiblical standards are set in the world. It is a special kind of stupid to speak in support of those things just because they claim that it is good and just. The things that are opposed to the Bible must be tackled in the world before the church starts to look wrong in the faulty and devilish standards of the world. That is where the Pastor of Sociology comes.
The Pastor of Sociology is a soldier whose mission is to shape the world with convincing arguments as to why things of the world (that would sometimes be perceived as not having any bearing on the Christian and the Christian church) ought to be in line with scriptures. He gives wisdom to the world out of the treasures of the Bible. He doesn’t really need to declare it authoritatively from the Bible, but the biblical stance are always with practical benefits. Sometimes he just needs to argue based on those practical benefits to ensure that people do away with those anti-Christian standards they are always trying to set in the world.
The mission of the Pastor of Sociology in the world is this, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5). And all this he does by engaging the society at every level with tact and understanding.
Conclusion
“And they that understand among the people shall instruct many…”
(Daniel 11:33)
If there’s a time when the world and the church has need for Pastors of Sociology, it is now. The world that gropes in darkness is devoid of understanding. It takes a person of understanding to heal the world. It takes person who has Christ the Light dwelling in him. Let’s not rob the world of the healing and prosperity we owe them. May God open our eyes to see the need of this important ministry in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Father, open our eyes to see this highly important ministry and give our nations Pastors of Sociology. Pastors after your heart who shall shape nations after the desires of your heart. Prepare us for this service and begin with me. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
