Question:
Why are there so few messages spoken on what the Bible says about specific problems we encounter in the world today (for example, drugs, alcohol, violence, wars, etc.)?

Answer:
First of all, the best ministry is the positive, life-changing ministry concerning the Person and work of Christ. The more each one of us has Christ before us, keeping His infinite love and infinite sufferings for us always in the forefront of our minds, the more we will be kept from yielding to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and from involvement in the evil that surrounds us.

But if some in the assembly are aware of the specific problems like drugs, alcohol, sexual sin, etc., coming into the assembly, or even those in the assembly directly exposed to people involved in these things, ministry from the Scriptures concerning these problems is certainly appropriate. In recent years there has been public ministry at the Iowa and Pennsylvania Conferences and at the Minnesota Young People’s Conferences on the importance of maintaining sexual purity. There has also been ministry in the Words of Truth publication in recent years on sexual sin, social drinking, dealing with the violence around us, serving in the armed forces, wars, politics, and voting, and other relevant issues of life. (If you would like to subscribe to the bimonthly publication: Words of Truth write to Christian Literature, 27 Edinboro Lane, Reading, PA 19605.)