Where Are Our Priorities?

On March 17, 1883 Friedrich Engels spoke these words at the funeral of Karl Marx:

... "Just as Darwin discovered the law of evolution in organic nature, so Marx discovered the law of evolution in human history; he discovered the simple fact, hitherto concealed by an overgrowth of ideology, that mankind must first of all eat and drink, have shelter and clothing, before it can pursue politics, science, religion, art, etc..."

(By the way, I don't consider Darwin's notion of evolution to be a scientific law, but that's a topic for another time.)

Psychologist Abraham Maslow said essentially the same thing in his 1943 paper, A Theory of Human Motivation. He said we need to meet the needs of physiology, safety, love and belonging, and esteem, before we can meet the "higher" needs he deemed as self-actualization which includes morality and religion.

Much of the modern Church is doing the same thing. Often I hear that we must meet people's physical needs before we can even begin to discuss spiritual matters with them. What they're saying, whether they know it or not, is that a full belly is more important than eternal life and salvation.

Before I go any further, let me make it perfectly clear that I'm not opposed to meeting people's material needs. The Bible is full of this kind of example. I simply take issue with Christians who would say (and I've heard this myself) that Jesus wouldn't preach to people without meeting their "felt needs" first. This simply isn't true. Look at these examples:

Matthew 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

The problem is that unregenerate man has no idea of his need for salvation, so he won't ever come to God on his own no matter how well his fleshly needs are met.

Psalm 53:1-3 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (2) God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. (3) Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

They need to hear the Word of God and be drawn by His Spirit.

Romans 10:13-17 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.