Jesus said to those who wanted him to stay in their area: "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also [throughout Palestine], because that was why I was sent" (Luke 4:42-44). Jesus knew the work the Father had given him to do. He eluded those who wanted to make him their king (John 6:15). He focused on the lost sheep of the house of Israel rather than going to the Gentiles (Mat. 15:34) and he refused to be drawn into matters relating to personal inheritances (Lk. 12:13).

We are called to make disciples (Mat. 28:19) and bring them to maturity. Paul wrote: "We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in him. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me" (Col. 1:28-29). Paul kept his focus.

I do not believe we are called to actively protest against the sinfulness of society. When "Jerry Springer: The Opera" was being staged in a London theatre in 2005, I received many emails almost demanding that I join a campaign against its irreverent and derisory treatment of Christian themes and extreme profanity. I had to ask myself the question as a church leader: am I called to protest against such things or to promote the glories of Jesus? I cannot do both.

As believers, we are not all called to work diligently to bring about social and legal change, but some are and we must support, help, encourage and cooperate with them whenever asked to do so. For example, the Bible does not rail against slavery, but it does promote godly, respectful and caring ways of living with it. Paul wrote: "Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you – although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves [in your hearts] of human beings.  Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them" (1 Cor. 7:21-24). The slave trade was eventually made illegal in the British Empire in 1833, yet it still continues in various forms today.

I have Australian friends – a lovely couple now with two children – who trained as missionaries with a call to Spain. But once there, they were exposed to the evils of people trafficking. They are now working full-time in a ministry that reaches out to all caught up in that horrendous trade. We all know people whose hearts ache over the injustices and evils within our society and are trying to do something about it. Let's do all we can to encourage, support and pray for them.