How Should Christians Respond to the World Situation?

Daily, it seems, we’re besieged by harrowing reports of hatred and conflict among people everywhere, both on a local level and on a global scale. The increasing violence leaves us heartbroken, anxious, and unsettled.

In addition, it seems that economic upheaval and its accompanying hardships, environmental issues, and increasing social unrest are becoming a fixture of life today. The world’s problems appear to be insurmountable with no solution in sight.

How should we believers react to the enormous problems in the world today?

First, we need to see what the true source of all the terrible things in the world is, and secondly, we need to see that God specifically desires us to do two things today: pray and share the good news of the gospel with people.

The devil’s goal: to destroy mankind

The Bible reveals that God has an enemy: the devil, Satan, who actively opposes God and God’s will. Satan is the source of all evil.

The account in Genesis 1 and 2 tells us God created Adam and Eve and put them in a garden. In this garden was the tree of life, representing God, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, representing Satan.

God wanted Adam and Eve to partake of the tree of life so that they would share God’s divine life. By partaking of the tree of life, they would have God’s life and would be able to live by and express God. This was God’s heart’s desire.

But concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God warned them in Genesis 2:17:

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, of it you shall not eat; for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Because Adam, who represented all mankind, was the focus of God’s heart’s desire, he became the focus of Satan’s efforts to prevent God from getting what He wanted. Through Satan’s subtle and deceptive influence, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and took the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, becoming poisoned with Satan’s evil nature. From that one act, all mankind was polluted with sin, resulting in the fall of the entire human race. And because the holy and righteous God cannot tolerate sin, mankind was cut off from God.

Since then, Satan has been unceasingly and actively seeking to damage and even destroy mankind, which God so lovingly created for His purpose. All the terrible things that have happened throughout history have been instigated by the devil working within fallen human beings, and he continues that work today. In 1 Peter 5:8, we’re warned:

“Be sober; watch. Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking someone to devour.”

God’s goal: to save mankind

Yet in the midst of this gloomy situation, there’s hope for all mankind. God became a man named Jesus. In John 10:10, Jesus said:

“I have come that they may have life and may have it abundantly.”

Life here in Greek, the original language of the New Testament, is zoe, which refers to the eternal, divine life. God’s original intention was for mankind to possess and share in His divine life. Satan may have interfered, but God never gives up. Whatever He plans, He fulfills.

But since fallen, sinful mankind was cut off from God, how could anyone have God’s divine life?

In John 10:11, Jesus continued:

“I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Jesus is the good Shepherd, the Almighty God Himself who became a man and lived a perfect, sinless life. He then laid down His own life for us, the lost sheep, to redeem us and bring us back to God.

Our Shepherd saved us from God’s judgment by shedding His blood for us. Then in resurrection, He became the life-giving Spirit, able to enter into and give life to anyone who repents and believes in Him.

The Lord Jesus did so much to save people and give them life, but many don’t know anything about Him. Others have misconceptions about who He is. They need to know this wonderful Shepherd who loves them and wants to give them life. They need to know everything He’s already done for them. How can they? We need to pray for them and to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to them.

We need to pray for all men

The world’s worsening condition can easily cause us to be disheartened and discouraged. But in Luke 18:1, the Lord Jesus encouraged His disciples “always to pray and not lose heart.”

Then, in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 the apostle Paul wrote:

“I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; on behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.”

In the New Testament Recovery Version, note 1 on all men in verse 4 explains:

“We should pray on behalf of all men (v. 1) because God our Savior desires all men to be saved and know the truth. Our prayer is required for the carrying out of God’s desire.”

Certainly, God is almighty, but He needs us to cooperate with His desire for all men to be saved by praying for them. Our prayers give God a way to work in people’s lives so they repent and believe in the Savior. This is why we must pray for our relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even all men to be saved.

We need to share the good news of Jesus Christ

The second thing we must do is go and share the gospel, the good news of our dear Lord Jesus, with people.

In Matthew 28:18-20, the resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples and commanded them:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days until the consummation of the age.”

This command applies not only to the disciples who were with the Lord then, but to all believers. We must disciple all the nations, that is, proclaim the gospel to them.

What does it mean to go? It doesn’t exclusively mean to go forth as missionaries to a foreign country. Most of us may never have that opportunity. But each of us can go to our friends and relatives and tell them about the Lord Jesus. After all, how can they repent and believe in Jesus Christ if someone doesn’t speak to them about all He’s done for them? Romans 10:14 says:

“How then shall they call upon Him into whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe into Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without one who proclaims Him?”

People need the Lord Jesus, and God desires to save them. God has put the people around us in our lives so we can pray for them and proclaim the gospel to them. This is how they can be forgiven of their sins, receive the divine life of God, and be brought back to God’s wonderful purpose for them. May we all see this need and cooperate with the Lord to pray for all men and to proclaim the gospel.

If you would like to share the gospel with someone, we encourage you to visit our Share the Good News page, where you’ll find gospel tracts, videos, blog posts, and podcast episodes. All these resources can be easily shared with people you know and are praying for. Once they’re saved, you can also help them order a free New Testament Recovery Version here so they can begin to read and understand God’s Word.