I will be turning 28 on the 17th of June. This post contains a few thoughts about current issues from my perspective.

Life is short. I am growing older day by day. I hope I am growing in wisdom. I recently had a conversation with a friend and we talked about how it seems on social media that everyone posts with such confidence in what they believe or think is right about every situation that may arise.

I told this friend that I am only confident in 3 things:

1. Jesus Christ is risen from the grave and He is my Redeemer.

2. Lauren is my wife.

3. Maesyn is my daughter.

From my perspective or my ignorance, social media has the potential to continue to be a dangerous place. We can have the tendency to post with confidence and arrogance. Is anyone’s view ever changed by a facebook post? I am not saying that discussions on social media outlets cannot be useful, but I do think it is rare.

What are the right hills to die on? What are the right places to say this is it/this is the last stand?

The hills I will not die on:

• A monument
• A school’s name
• A mascot

Some hills that I will die on or that I think are valuable to fight for:

• Everyone is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)
• Because every person is made in the image of God, every single person has dignity, value, and worth.
• Every single person has rebelled against God. Every single person is a sinner in need of sweet sovereign grace through Christ. The fall/sin has ruined our society in such a way that at times we may be unaware.
• Jesus changes hearts (Eph. 2:1-10).
• Christians are not saved by works/efforts, but we will do good works.

In the United States, we are faced with the ever present realities of sin. Our society is divided, our communities are divided, and our world is divided because of sin.

We know the problem. Some of us need to continue to listen and be empathetic to the effects of sin in our society. Sin has affected all aspects of life.

But for the Christian, we know the cure. We have the solution. The Gospel is not an add on. The Gospel is the solution by which we find peace. If one is not reconciled to God, it is impossible to be reconciled to neighbor. Yet, the Christian can still love and show compassion towards their neighbor as far as it depends on them.

I am not confident in every way I apply the Gospel to life, but I am confident in the Gospel. I am confident in what Christ does.

Will legislation change hearts? No. Christ does.

But does that mean we should not try to speak in to society? No. The Church speaks into the society by showing what has happened in the lives of their members.

In the local Church, the dividing wall of hostility has been brought down. Those who have been reconciled to God are now reconciled to fellow believers. In the Church, believers come from all different backgrounds, all different ways of life, all different makeups. But we have been changed by the power of Christ in the gospel. There is unity because we are found in Jesus.

But as we live in this world, we preach Christ who is sufficient to save souls. If one is hungry, feed them and tell them about the Bread of Life. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink and point them to the Well that never runs dry. Should the Christian fight for justice of all on this side of heaven? Yes. And Preach Christ who changes hearts. Is it good if we just give one food without sharing the good news? If we do not share the Gospel, do we labor well or labor in vain?

So the Christian can call for police reform without hating police, the Christian can say Black Lives Matter while clearly affirming everyone is made in the image of God, we do these things while calling every single person to repentance to trust in Christ by faith. The beauty of the Gospel is that at the King’s feast, those who have trusted in the King, they have a seat at his table.

The gospel has the power to reconcile sinners of all types.

Yes, the Gospel has the power to reconcile a former member of a radical white group and a former member of a radical black group.

Is this the call for our churches?

We only get one life and it will soon pass. Only what is done for Christ will last.

---

Evan Knies is from West Monroe, LA. He is married to Lauren and father to Maesyn. He is a graduate of Boyce College and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. You can follow him on Twitter @Evan_Knies