Well, over the centuries, we've seen some amazing positive changes in our nation and around

the world, plunging infant mortality rates, improved health, linkedinine lifespans, and

we've seen the abolishment of some of the most inhumane practices on the planet, of course.

This world remains a fallen, hostile place, but what role does God play when we see these

types of positive social changes taking place?

It's a question to you, Pastor John, from a listener named Jim Pastor John. Hello. When something

huge and good happens in a society like a faulty government system is fixed or slavery is abolished,

or minorities are given more equal treatment or anything of the like, is God secretly at work in

that moment inspiring things to happen? What does God's role in positive social changes?

Well, first let's be sure that we have a distinctively Christian view of the term positive social

change. Whenever we're talking about change among unbelievers, the term positive must always be

qualified in our mind so that we don't stop thinking like Christians and simply think like

unbelievers. Christians know that all so-called positive deeds done from a heart of unbelief

or disregard for the glory of God or disregard for the eternal good of people or disregard for

reliance upon the mercies of God in Christ. Those deeds, no matter how beneficial they are,

in the short run for our prosperity or health or freedom still are acts of rebellion against God

and so not positive in the ultimate sense. So I'm assuming that when Jim asks about God's role

in positive social change, he means change for the short term benefits of people like

rising material standards of living and greater health and more safety and more freedom to

act out our convictions, even if the short term benefits for society are not accompanied by

spiritual awakening or faith in Jesus. So that's the question I'm asking. What's the role of God

in those kinds of societal changes? That's what I assume he's asking. Now, I've got a general answer,

...