In your estimation what would be the issue (or issues) that the Church should get involved with? What are some of the social issues that we should care about? What are some practical ways that we can get involved?

Something that has been on my mind/heart lately is modern day slavery and human trafficking. There are 27 million slaves (estimated) in the world. I'm still researching out what I can do to make a difference here in Portland.

From your research/experience what would be the issues of our time that we have to tackle as the Church?

I think one of the most pressing issues, especially in Portland, is our care/love/compassion for the homeless. I was watching this sermon... (vimeo.com) from Timothy Keller. I was incredibly convicted by his examples pertaining to our role as Christians in modern day society. If you really want the meaty stuff – scrub in that linked video to the 8:00min mark.

That is a powerful video! Social Justice and Justification by faith... so important! thanks for sharing that!

I think helping the poor, unemployed, or underemployed with job training, education and other self-reliance efforts probably has the most chance of long-term success. Helping people to become self-reliant gives them the opportunity to offer and extend service to others because their own needs are met.

I would have to say that one of the biggest issues of our time is Homosexuality and the Church. How we respond to this will be and is a big deal. The challenge of keeping to our biblical convictions while also keeping our arms wide open, loving and supporting those in the GLBT community. I fear that as the church gets more politically involved in the issue and less personally involved in peoples lives we will completely miss the boat.

Matt – so true! I find myself constantly struggling to hold to my own biblical convictions while offering sincere, non-judgmental, and loving expression. Living in the city of Portland makes things even more confusing when our city's culture is so focused around "open-mindedness," which is really quite amazing, until we have to openly say what is right or wrong to us as Christians.

I've noticed a trend in talks with non-believers lately. It seems like it's ok for everyone else to express their opinions openly but as soon as the "Christian" states what we believe to be true Biblically – we are immediately shut off from the conversation. The pairing of self reflection seems to be a bit of a help though. Let me give a quick example...

I believe homosexuality to be a sin, clearly defined in the Bible, but I also know that premarital sex is a sin too. I have on numerous occasions been convicted by my role in premarital sex. At the end of the day, we've both messed up. The common secular viewpoint of the "Hypocritical Christian" is no longer called into question since we've already established that this is not a finger pointing, subordination validated by false righteousness.

All I know is that I'm messed up and somehow there is an amazing God who will always love me. I can only hope to share this love with someone who does not know what it means to be a child of Jesus.

@mattcivis @onetruthandre I would agree as with you guys about the GLBT community. I think truth wrapped in love is entirely necessary; though there is such a fine line of nuance and bias there. I feel like we need to "identify without losing identification" (John Stott) as the church. And I thought that video by Keller also communicated that brilliantly. What are some further thoughts on h

@noahread @onetruthandre on the issue of poverty, unemployed, underemployed... what is the most practical way to help? How much should the church get involved? Do we partner with government? Should we initiate movements that work with other churches? Or should we go the parachurch route?