Statement on Social justice - Part 8

[yrieithydd]

So in the first post in this series I tackled Scripture from the Statement on Social Justice. Article 2: Imago Dei was the subject of part 2 article 3 was on Justice. Article 4. God's Law.
Article 5 Sin Article 6: (20% of the) gospel. Article 7: Salvation

The Church
WE AFFIRM that the primary role of the church is to worship God through the preaching of his word, teaching sound doctrine, observing baptism and the Lord’s Supper, refuting those who contradict, equipping the saints, and evangelizing the lost. We affirm that when the primacy of the gospel is maintained that this often has a positive effect on the culture in which various societal ills are mollified. We affirm that, under the lordship of Christ, we are to obey the governing authorities established by God and pray for civil leaders.

WE DENY that political or social activism should be viewed as integral components of the gospel or primary to the mission of the church. Though believers can and should utilize all lawful means that God has providentially established to have some effect on the laws of a society, we deny that these activities are either evidence of saving faith or constitute a central part of the church’s mission given to her by Jesus Christ, her head. We deny that laws or regulations possess any inherent power to change sinful hearts.

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 28:16-20; ROMANS 13:1-7; 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-3; 2 TIMOTHY 4:2; TITUS 1:9; 1 PETER 2:13-17

The first thing which struck me about this was that praying wasn't part of worship while evangelizing the lost is.

This one seems to wander from topic quite quickly - it's mainly about secular government and society rather than the Church.

It has a high view of the governing authorities which I struggle with (despite the prayer for the Queen's majesty in Evensong). Someone tweeted today about Trump being appointed by God so we had to help him which is to me a majorly problematic statement.

The denials are partially rooted in separation of Church and State. It is also rooted in an individualistic approach to Salvation. Once again, the idea of the kingdom is absent - to me praying "your kingdom come" is part of what the church is about.

I'm glad to see a reference to one of the four gospels - the great commission from Matthew's Gospel.