Marlene's question

In last Sunday's Manhattan Declaration class, Marlene Luartes asked a question that I would like to go back and reflect on. I e mailed Marlene, asking her to restate her question, and here it is on her own words:

"I think you're referring to my question about the phrase in the first paragraph of lesson 2: "to seek and defend the good of all who bear his image." Who does this include? All people?...because we're all made "in the image of God". Are we talking about just our country? If not, what does this mean in other lands, where there may be conflict between groups?"

Here is the exact sentence in the Declaration to which Marlene is referring:

"We act together in obedience to the one true God, the triune God of holiness and love, who has laid total claim on our lives and by that claim calls us with believers in all ages and all nations to seek and defend the good of all who bear his image."

In the context of this paragraph in the Declaration, the framers were making the point that the issue of sanctity of life as an issue that transcends the interests of a single group. Pro-abortionists pose themsleves as both tolerant ("We don't care if you Christians choose not to abort your own babies") and protective of minority rights ("You Christians can't tell anyone else whether or not they may abort their child; it's none of your business.") But as Christians, we don't have the freedom to say that it's "none of our business" if our neighbor chooses to have her baby killed, whether or not that neighbor agrees with the Bible's prohibition of murder. We can't ignore it for the baby's sake. We can't ignore it whether or not the mother or the baby ever become Christians. We must do all that we can to protect the baby, simply because he or she is made in the image of God.

I think Marlene's question is concerned with "seeking the good" of people after they are out of the womb. Here are a couple of possible situationss:

1. I'm a soldier. How am I seeking the "good" of my country's enemies? Aren't they also created in the image of God?
Actually, many of the U.S. Army's most recent missions have done just that. Endeavoring to stabilize the government of a nation in chaos is certainly "seeking the good" for the oppressed in that nation. And in the case of Iraq, much of the activity of the army has been to improve the living conditions of the survivors of the former tyranny there. While all individuals on either side of a conflict are made in the image of God, we are guided by Scripture in two ways. By serving our own nation's army, we are "rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's" (Matthew 22:21). When we must choose sides in a conflict, we should defend the weak.
Psalm 82:3
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

2. I am an American in a country where there is a civil war, and I have no vested interest in supporting either side. For whom do I "seek the good?"
I think the answer here is "for whomever you have opportunity." The Good Samaritan wasn't looking to "take sides" on the day when he found the victimized Jew on the wayside, even though they were of traditional enemy bloodlines. He was commended by Jesus for meeting the need right in front of his face, and so should we.
Psalm 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

In light of the previous two examples, I heard an interesting pastor speak last week. He does not allow his messages to be taped, because of the sensitive nature of what he does. The Lord has opened doors for him in a couple of nations which have traditonally been very closed to the gospel. He first went into those countries with no other agenda than to "do good." Through his acts of humanitarian service, he earned the right to be heard. Now both atheists and members of non-Christian religions are opening seeking to know about his faith. In one of the countries, he has already made some disciples in locations where there had been no previous Christians. In the other country, he seems to be far from making any converts, but he openly declares his own testimony, and they are listening and asking questions.

All because he set about doing good for others created in God's image, without thought of what he would gain from it.