Should We Be Issue-Oriented?
If, by the title's question, one means, "Should we have a chip on our shoulder?" or "Should we be spoiling for a fight?" or "Should we be looking for trouble?", the Bible answer would be an emphatic "No!" (Romans 12:18). But, if one means, "Should I take an unmoving and uncompromising stand for the truth of God on every matter of obligation?" then the Bible answer is an unhesitating and unashamed "Yes!" (Proverbs 23:23; Matthew 4:4; Jude 3). As a matter of fact, every sane person is issue-oriented to some extent; men just vary as to the issues which concern them, the positions they take, and the intensity with which they oppose counter positions. Those who holler the most in opposition to being issue-oriented are, in fact, demonstrating issue-orientation in their voiced objection to issue-orientation. The louder and longer they holler, the more issue-orientation they themselves display. Consistency, thou are a jewel, but many are blind to your beauty.
A brief look at the inspired record and the conduct of its approved and disapproved characters will powerfully present God's answer as to man's appropriate disposition toward issues.
Adam and Eve were the first to be confronted with an issue and it could be worded like this: "Should you do what God has specifically forbidden?" With Satan's prompting, Eve answered, "Yes," and Adam, yielding to his wife's offer, echoed her sinful reply by partaking of the forbidden tree. What about it, brother? Should they have taken a solid issue-oriented, anti-Satan, anti-sin stand with God? Shouldn't Eve have stood on God's side of the issue and disappointed Satan, and shouldn't Adam have been so oriented toward God's side of issues as to oppose even his wife in this temptation? It is obvious that the first couple, when faced with a God-given obligation, had to be for God or against Him with no issueless option available.
Cain and Able afford the next recorded case of issue confrontation. They were asked, "Should you worship God exactly as He instructs?" Abel, by his compliance, said "Yes" and received God's approval, while Cain tried willy-nilly, "half-obedient" worship that displeased God (Genesis 4:3ff; Hebrews 11:4). Man's attention should not miss the point that Cain was a religious, worshipping man and yet still a man on the wrong side of a salvation issue. True, Abel was slain, but his death opened the doors of glory while Cain tightened his embrace of the devil.
At the sunset of the antediluvian age, Noah was intensely concerned about the issues of the day: "Is it going to rain?" and "Will God destroy the world for its wickedness?" Millions answered "No," and many of them may have imagined themselves as issueless folks regarding the will of Jehovah. Then flood waters came and covered all the high mountains, destroyed every land creature outside the ark, and exposed the error of the masses in their neglect of issues which made a difference with God (Genesis 7:19-22).
The early postdiluvian world faced the perennial issue, "Should one do his own thing?" Two cities said "Yes," Lot said "No," and Lot's wife said, "Maybe." God showered fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah, sealing the wrong answer of the multitudes and re-emphasizing the flood's lesson; that is, that God's forbearance with man in sin will not last forever (2 Peter 3:9ff). Lot's wife, whom the Lord personally said to remember, left a lesson as well. Her backward look and consequent doom showed that the on-the-fence-position is the wrong-side-of-the-fence position. (Luke 17:32).
"Should one do his own thing?" is plainly in view again in Genesis 39, and Mrs. Potiphar takes the hedonistic position on the issue in opposition to Joseph's hard line stand for righteousness. His issue-orientation cost him his position and freedom, but hers (if she did not repent) cost her, her soul.
As Abraham's descendants moved near to nationhood, a central issue arose - "Should the majority decide appropriateness in worship?" Under pressure Aaron said, "Yes," the golden calf was formed, and 3000 died for their unauthorized worship. Men then and now may minimize carefulness in worshipping as God instructs, but Moses pronounced God's assessment of the matter, "Ye have sinned a great sin" (Exodus 32:30).
A short time later very religious men raised one of the most quickly resolved issues in history: "Can we do what we want to do in worship as long as God hasn't said not to?" Two priests said "Yes," and were immediately devoured by fire from God's displeasure (Leviticus 10:1-2). This was really not a new issue, but the same as that involved the calf worship. Again, God dramatically shows that unauthorized worship is unacceptable worship.
The above are but a sample of the Bible's case against man's indifference in matters that make a difference with God. All sin is serious! (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 6:23). Repeatedly, emphatically, graphically, God has conveyed the message that men must be aggressively oriented toward Heaven's side of every issue or suffer condemnation.
May God help us grow in both our love of the truth and in our love for the souls of men, that we might stand on the side of right, ceaselessly praying and working to the end that those choosing indifference and other spiritually fatal positions will repent and turn around (Acts 3:19).
From Our Archives, 1992
By: Bob Berard