Social Justice: What does it mean?
Over the last few days I have had some interesting conversations around the use of the term Social Justice. Some are strong proponents of the use of the term while others have said that while they agree with what it means conservative evangelicals have issues with the term and what it may connote.
What are your thoughts? Let’s talk!
February 12th, 2009 at 10:40 am
In my limited opinion, the term,”Social Justice” has many definitions today. There are those who believe that ‘we’ that is the church should limit its ministry to evangelism. Preaching the gospel of Christ solves all ills within our society, leading individuals to wholeness in every aspect of their lives.
Then there are those who believe that evangelism is involving oneself in every aspect of a person life. Preaching the gospel yes, feeding th hungry certainly. But when there is discrimination of any kind it is the responsibility of the Christian to become involved in the lives those who in need. They believe the totality of the Christian experience is to save lives from destruction and injustice. I am more inclined to agreed with the later of the two opinions. Christ involved himself in the lives of individuals in every aspect of life. We can no longer put our heads in the, “gospel sand” and allow others to ingage in changing our society. Becoming active in voter registration, voting, supporting candidates for public office who believe in helping all not some is as much a part of our Christian experience as walking down the street.
February 12th, 2009 at 10:41 am
In my limited opinion, the term,”Social Justice” has many definitions today. There are those who believe that \’we\’ that is the church should limit its ministry to evangelism. Preaching the gospel of Christ solves all ills within our society, leading individuals to wholeness in every aspect of their lives.
Then there are those who believe that evangelism is involving oneself in every aspect of a person life. Preaching the gospel yes, feeding th hungry certainly. But when there is discrimination of any kind it is the responsibility of the Christian to become involved in the lives those who in need. They believe the totality of the Christian experience is to save lives from destruction and injustice. I am more inclined to agreed with the later of the two opinions. Christ involved himself in the lives of individuals in every aspect of life. We can no longer put our heads in the, “gospel sand” and allow others to ingage in changing our society. Becoming active in voter registration, voting, supporting candidates for public office who believe in helping all not some is as much a part of our Christian experience as walking down the street.
February 12th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I guess I am confused why anyone would have issue with the term. Unless there is concern for what the issues, the term refers to, bring to the surface. Things we would rather forget and never deal with. Justice is something we should be demanding at all costs. The real issue is do we want to see restoration of God’s Kingdom in our Church or do we want to preserve a base of power and control that have created the problems. If we do not cry out for justice, then we are no different than the broken systems of the world that have misused people for years.
Jesus hit that stuff square in the Jaw. Semantics aside, is it the words or the issue we have a problem with?
February 12th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I suppose since I entered into relationship with Jesus as an adult, I don’t really understand the all too often jockeying for the right words. As a pre-Christian I thought it looked foolish. Now as a Christian I know it’s foolish. We all know that to live life like Christ we are to be about the business of bringing the Kingdom here. That’s why he prayed “your Kingdom come.” I am certain in that coming Kingdom, justice is absolute. God constantly shows His concern for the “people of low position.” We hear how He doesn’t approve of victimizing them and further he condemns us when we ignore them. How about we find a way to let grace prevail in our terms for it and just do it. It seems like some conversation the Pharisees would have had 2000 years ago, bantering about the terms and principles and theological implications, and never leaving their sacred spaces to get their hands dirty doing the work of God. Grace on our definitions; planks out of eyes; go forth.
February 12th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Dear Mr. Andy,
The problem is with issues on Social Justice and the ramifications and repercussions that ensue thereafter. Indeed, how can the society in general be expected to be just when it is absent in the church community that banners holiness and that should be exemplifying it to the dot, as taught and lived by its founder, Jesus Christ?
The issue ramifies into relationship problems among family members, among co-laborers in the church, among co-workers elsewhere.
To be graphic, this President of a Bible College used his position to promote the secretary to become the Academic Dean. This without just cause and due process. Could you imagine how this devastated the former Academic Dean? Can you imagine the stress of having to keep a good face in the midst of a church crowd and having to keep the secret of what is truly happening behind the scenes? But this particular Bible College president can do such with elan.
Here is more: would you believe (hitting the square part of the jaw of those) verbally abusive pastors. But really now, how could they be so tender, loving and caring to other children and women in the church and elsewhere but be entirely different inside the four walls of his parsonage?
Esther Dawn PACLIM
February 12th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Esther,
I so understand exactly where you are coming from. Christians ought to be held to a higher standard. We ought to hold each other to a higher standard. So often we don’t. And not just in the arena of the don’t-do-these things, but also in the do-go-and-do these things. If we don’t stop doing the things we ought not do and don’t start doing the things we should . . . well, what chance is there those in the dark will ever see light reflected by us.
Sounds like you’ve experienced some time situations lately. The “body” doesn’t always look very healthy. Let me encourage you to keep on fighting the good fight. And I’ll join you.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Despite the clarity of terms for some, social justice remains confusing to me. I am capable of providing a technical definition, but find the concept illusive. Admittedly, I am an older pastor, and my generational training and experience may contibute to my confusion. However, I am willing to struggle with social justice as I often struggle with difficult and important passages of scripture.
I am reminded that we are called to be a city on a hill and a light on a lampstand. But in stark contrast to those illustrations is the reality of the darkness - and our Savior seemed to be very mindful of that. Without argument, the same text calls us to go out and make the world better, make it taste better (salt), make it safer (light), and make a place of refuge for those wandering in the darkness (city on a hill). Such references seem best understood within the context of this new kingdom Christ has offered to all who will listen and follow, and follow Matthew’s theme of incarnational ministry.
Some will call the incarnational church an example of social justice. I’m ok with that. But social justice (in my opinion) does not necessarily reflect the new kingdom at all. The words, in general parlance, can be tied to failed attempts of social reform within specific political organizations. Hopefully, this new kingdom is not represented by earthly political structures. Aliens and strangers comes to mind.
I am most aware of the darkness as the parish we serve continues to struggle, despite our best, sometimes expensive, always well meaning social programs attempt to offer hope in our community. We are often disappointed, and occasionally with tears, heart broken. However, I am convinced that the incarnational church will make a difference here. It’s the fact that we are here, feeding, clothing and welcoming, that will give our Savior the opportunity to heal and to love. An incarnational ministry may or may not be social justice, but, hopefully, this great work is exactly what Christ has called us to do.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Well said pastor Kevin
I too understand and practice social justice — but I avoid the term — not because I don’t understand it — but because it is often misunderstood and just as often misused.
Heart holiness, must be expressed vertically in right relationship and committment to God and horizontally in right relationship to our ourselves our families, our church, our neighbor, (society), and all creation.
Herb
February 14th, 2009 at 2:05 am
I guess I am not worried what conservative evangelicals think. Most of them would not come to my neighborhood, they moved their churches away some fifty, sixty years ago. The issues that they are concerned with have very little to do with the struggles my kids face and the conversation is wasted. My kids could care less about what any of us think anyway.
The world does not care about what we call it, they are watching to see if we do it. If we don’t, then we continue to be powerless to bring His Kingdom to them. They don’t want to hear what we have to say, words are meaningless. They want to see action. Righteous and Just action without any politics or agenda attached. Authentic relationships and genuine concern for what they face on the day to day.
Jesus told his disciples that prophets and priests longed to see and hear the things the 12 had witnessed. He also said they could not understand because they did not know the heart of the father. Jesus was then confronted by a religious student of the law who did not like the simple answer to his question about how to get eternal life. He wanted to nit pick about, “who is my neighbor”.
Jesus answered the guy and illustrated His point to His disciples about Knowing the heart of the Father by telling the story of the good Samaritan. Long story short, Jesus was dealing with a social issue and he told the religious guy, that the Samaritan man better understood the Father’s heart, than the priest, the Levite, or the man bleeding in the road because he stopped what he was doing, and got involved. He showed the love of the Father, while the others kept on going.
I think social justice is a term that demands we stop walking on the other side of the road and being so concerned with what the church people are going to think and do. Just go get involved in the world, taking the Jesus that is in us to meet people where they are at.
Jesus went to the point with those of us who are religious and said you can’t love me without loving the people that make you uncomfortable. Too many of us don’t want to hear that message and don’t want to get too close.
Jesus was in fact a social and religious rebel. His interpretation of scripture did not sit well with those that sat in power, they killed Him because of it. He spoke of a Kingdom that valued everyone equally. There were no hierarchies that could be achieved by performance or position. All citizens were equal, women, children, gentiles, Samaritans, adulterers, tax collectors, prostitutes, unwed mothers, Romans, Jews, Greeks, the list goes on and on.
He was not politically correct and the religious folks could not stand Him, or the people he associated with.
Peace and Love
Andy
February 17th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Hey Andy, I wish you lived near Fremont, CA because I’ve got a lot of things going on that I could get you into.
Social Justice as it relates to the church is not political. It doesn’t side with liberal or conservative politics. And we should fight the tendency for people to interpert what the church does in social justice as politically motivated.
At the root, I believe Social Justice from the church is showing the world Christ’s love. We know Christ’s love because we know Christ’s grace. All of us that claim to be followers of Christ were at one point a sinner, no worse than murders or rapists. There was a point at which we all acceptted Christ’s love because we realized that through his grace, he would still stand by each of us regardless of our faults if we acceptted him as our savior. Take the woman that was brought before Christ, condemmed to die. Christ didn’t say well you’ve done this so you should repent before I’ll stand up and defend you. He defended her then told her to go and sin no more.
Social Justice from the church is this action; defending people that the world has condemmed or passed by. Guess what the means… we defend and advocate for the poor, the hungry, the disenfranchised. Those are the easy terms because they are ambiguous.
But let me ask this, do we defend the homosexual instead of condemming him/her? Do we defend the rights of a prisoner? Unwed mother on welfare? Drug addict?
To me Social Justice is stepping out and doing what we read in the bible, being like Christ and advocating for those that are the toughest to advocate for, including homosexuals, unwed mothers, prisoners, drug addicts and whomever else that the world looks down on.
February 17th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Hey brother,
I hear you, but I got my hands full here in Cleveland too.
Keep making His kingdom visible for your community to see.
Laboring together,
Andy
February 17th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I love this video and the questions it raises. I am not making any sort of political or social statement, but am moved that a young person, has been able to share her views on God’s love for All.
I would be interested to see how different people interpret her views, or better yet her questions.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=50284812973&ref=nf
March 6th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I have been struggling over this issue since I first noticed this blog soon after I started my own here. Please allow me to share my ongoing struggle with the “social justice” idiom.
Some qualifications first. As a NewStart pastor, it has been a high priority to teach and example personal involvement in the lives of people, especially those in you circle of influence, but also intentionally within those areas of society often purposefully forgotten and neglected. Our outreach is eclectic and reaches multiple strata. We are eager to be used by God in whatever capacity he directs us - homeless shelters, disaster victims, single parents, our literal neighbors, colleagues, and friends. We exercise the ’social justice’ component of holy living intentionally.
Having said that, I do take issue with the term because of its implications on society and the Gospel.
In terms of society, I feel that it enables what I see as a rabid victim-mentality that fosters all kinds of self-destructive tendencies (such as apathetic dependence and resolute entitlement) of those who are not experiencing “social justice”. This enabling is the result of the implied opposite term: social *injustice*, connoting that some actual of intentional act of injustice was perpetrated upon some segment of society. And while apathy does deserve a classification as anti-antithetical to holiness, it hardly deserves judgment as an intentional affront. And, if it truly is our intent to help our fellow Christians discover this apathy, charging at them with pointed fingers will hardly result in a willful change of heart. Nor will a guilt-ridden approach. Words mean things. The connotation with therm ’social injustice’ is not palpable as a bridge-building term. In my opinion, if our passion is to change people’s minds so that we can truly make a difference, we will get “there” with a more lasting result if we are not so confrontational out of the gate. What we need to do is to help people’s hearts break for what break’s God’s heart - to help people adopt God’s passions as their own. This requires an approach that is mutually edifying, not condescending or condemning.
In terms of the Gospel, we understand that we are in a creation that has been crippled, fundamentally, by the Garden’s corruptions. Fundamentally, Jesus Christ is the remedy for that corruption. The ’social justice’ attributed to our Lord, has often been characterized, mistakenly, as an end unto itself. However, the thrust of Jesus’ ’social’ ministry was always used as a vehicle towards heart change. Again, because words mean things, the term ’social justice’ falls short. It limits the scope of the Gospel to feeding the poor and looking after widows. Both of these things are good and necessary, but it is not the end of the Gospel. The Gospel is also about heart change - a restoration of the relationship between a person and his/her creator. Such a change will not come because we feed all the poor. Such a change will only come as people are individually confronted with the gospel, not in a shotgun approach, but in an approach that addresses each individual personally. However, that takes more time and commitment from us than a soup kitchen or feel-good legislation. Additionally, the message of Christ is not that life on earth is to be perfected, as if fixing all the ills of society will somehow bring salvation, or that it is even possible with human effort. The message of Christ is that in the midst of earthly torment, our hearts can be perfected. While we are hungry, we can find satisfaction in the obedience of Jesus. While we are thirsty we are quenched by the love of God. When we alone we are nurtured by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I understand the resurrection of the term, but I find it limiting and confrontational. However, it has been difficult to offer an alternative that brings with it both the ideas of compassion and intercession in a way that invites others to join in the mission with passion and conviction. However, let us not allow the term (either as a champion of it or a detractor) to distract us from the purpose set before us - to make a real difference in people’s lives as agents of heart change.
Respectfully offered.
In His grip,
Pastor Herb
March 6th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
please excuse the typos above.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Well said, other Rev Herb. I really like this:
…”we will get “there” with a more lasting result if we are not so confrontational out of the gate. What we need to do is to help people’s hearts break for what break’s God’s heart - to help people adopt God’s passions as their own.”…
I have been involved in compassionate ministry for many (many) years, and I have never seen it put more succinctly. Uncle Buddy said; “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar”. We all understand that’s how you have to minister to the world, but many of my peers seem to have been trying to attract the “church” with vinegar for years.
But I’d like to think on this next idea some more:
…”The ’social justice’ attributed to our Lord, has often been characterized, mistakenly, as an end unto itself.”…
Yes — but others have treated the spiritual as an end unto itself:
…”However, the thrust of Jesus’ ’social’ ministry was always used as a vehicle towards heart change.”…
I’m just not sure that Jesus had a social agenda and a spiritual agenda, where one could be called a vehicle for the other as much as he had a wholistic ministry that recognized that body, mind, and spirit are indivisible. What do you think?
Keep up the good work Rev Herb
March 12th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Herb,
I think you’re on to something with this quote:
…”The ’social justice’ attributed to our Lord, has often been characterized, mistakenly, as an end unto itself.”…
Yes — but others have treated the spiritual as an end unto itself:
…”However, the thrust of Jesus’ ’social’ ministry was always used as a vehicle towards heart change.”…
I’m just not sure that Jesus had a social agenda and a spiritual agenda, where one could be called a vehicle for the other as much as he had a wholistic ministry that recognized that body, mind, and spirit are indivisible.
I intentionally do not jump back into the dialogue once I have begun a discussion because I do not want to steer the conversation in any particular direction. I want to listen and understand where we are as a community of faith. However, your quote encouraged me to speak once again before moving the blog onto yet another topic for reflection and discussion.
John Wesley said, “We should “think and let think”—we should humbly allow other Christians to hold other opinions—on issues that are not essential to our salvation.”
This principle should inform our Wesleyan-holiness, Nazarene worldview. Unfortunately, at times Christians engage issues from rigid positions solidified in their perspective. The unwillingness to discuss or even consider an alternative perspective on an issue may not only injure the holder of the rigid perspective but also ultimately hinder others from knowing the love of God personally, physically, and corporately through the experience of justice and met needs.
Courageous Conversations was initiated to allow a forum for dialogue around compassion and justice. Our heritage is one that speaks, “there is no holiness, without social holiness” (John Wesley)
May we continue to engage in “courageous conversations,” so that we might bring glory to God in our talk as well as our walk.
Grace & Peace,
Althea
March 12th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Herb, (that was weird - grin)
I tend to think that Jesus has a rescue agenda for which the primary concern is our eternal condition. Again, I am an ardent proponent of taking care of and advocating for the unfortunate of our society. However, I consider such efforts as temporarily abating the greater condition of creation’s corruption for which Jesus is the cure. I also do not believe that perfection in benevolence will ever occur on this earth, apart from God’s Kingdom being finally established - except in the perfection of our intentions via God’s perfect love. So while we must attend to the physical earthly needs, our most high passion ought to be the eternal soul-condition. I believe that through that lens our compassionate work is made better.
March 25th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I’m in the middle of Nazarene History and Polity through NBC and I’ve come across something that Bresee said that I feel is pertinent to this conversation.
Bresee said: “The first miracle after the baptism of the Holy Ghost was wrought upon a beggar. This means that the first service of a Holy Ghost-baptized church is to the poor; that its ministry is to those who are lowest down; that its gifts are for those who need them most. As the Spirit was upon Jesus to preach the gospel to the poor, so His Spirit is upon His servants for the same purpose.”
According to this statement, a Christ centered ministry and a sanctified life will naturally give itself to a social ministry. Bresee would be in agreement with Herb N’s assertion that Christ’s ministry wasn’t a fractured one. I’m inclined to agree that our faith will let itself be known in a real and social way as well as in a personal way.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Ministry to the poor is important. I’m on disability because of a brain disorder so I don’t have much money. Wednesday night I got the courage to attend the Nazarene church in town that I was raised in after a 15 year absence. They made me feel welcomed. I am a bit nervous to attend services Sunday morning because I don’t own a suit to wear but my sister said that I should attend anyway.
My local library has the internet that members may use for an hour. I found this site. People like myself that often feel “left out” of main stream society as most people work. I feel fortunate that there is a Nazarene church in town that I can go to and feel good.
Thank you for the above blog. It made me feel there are people out there that care about low income folks.
Thanks again.
Vince
October 27th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I’ve been a Nazarene pastor for 18 years and have noticed two things that seem to be happening in our denomination concerning compassionate ministry.
First, I think that compassionate ministry has become too segregated from who we are holiness people. It is questionable that we should have a separate department for that at headquarters. Compassion should be inseperable from our Christian core. It is neither more nor less important than doctrine. Sometimes compassion seems to be lifted up as more important.
Second, I think that the term ’social justice’ (which a term used more and more today, particularly by my regional college, Point Loma) has taken on a politically-correct tinge. It implies getting angry about certain sins against humanity but not others. It also implies an indulgent attitude toward illegal immigration, which does have some huge negatives attached to it. And we hear very little about abortion anymore. If opposing abortion, defending the most defensless of all, isn’t social justice I don’t know what is.
December 14th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Since you mentioned abortion….
I think social justice comes down to individuals doing the right thing, being obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I work as a volunteer RN in a crisis pregnancy center performing pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, and providing counseling and information. I’m 56, and of course the women I see are much younger. The language I use in talking to these women is not what I recall from the 70s and 80s when abortion clinics were being bombed. I know they can get abortions, and many of them will. One of the services the center offers is post-abortion counseling.
My job is to tell these women the truth, about their bodies, their unborn babies, and their options. My job is not to condemn, to judge or to preach. I am not a political activist. I don’t expect to change the world, but I hope I can show Christ’s love and compassion to women in crisis, one woman at a time. A good day is one on which I am permitted to pray with my client. A great day is one on which a woman changes her mind and decides not to abort.
The church needs to quit worrying about semantics and show Jesus’ love to the community around it by what we do and not just what we say. Sometimes parachurch organizations are needed to carry this out. My church can’t provide the services that the crisis pregnancy center can. Nazarenes need to be willing to join with others across denominational lines to help meet these needs and show the world what The Church is all about.
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:27 am
What does social justice look like? Is it providing for people’s needs? Is it redistributing the wealth? Or is it giving people the skills and unbiased opportunities so they can have access to the wealth? I believe social justice is the latter. Certainly God expects us to not oppress anyone, especially the poor or the widows or anyone who cannot help themselves, for example the unborn.
In a way, social justice can be expressed in one overarching word, one overarching concept that is the hallmark of holiness convictions and views of the Bible. That word is love.
June 1st, 2010 at 7:19 pm
It seems from the discussion going on here there is no objective standard for ’social justice’. I think that is because so much of American Christianity is based more on feelings than anything else. God only has one plan for how people should live together in society - the LAW. People will say ‘we’re under grace, not under law’ as if that’s where the discussion ends. While they like to quote that from Paul, they don’t like quoting him (from the same book, Romans) that the Law is good and the Law is still established. The Law never was, never will be an issue of salvation. It is always a definition of right and wrong, justice and injustice. As such it is still in effect. I highly recommend the 3 volume Institutes of Biblical Law by Rushdoony. Or try Chalcedon.org or Americanvision.org. The civil and criminal law in the US was originally based on the Ten Commandments. That was an underlying aspect of the US Constitution. It called for limited civil government. When people start thinking the government should solve all our problems, then the same people hand their responsibility to the same government. And the taxpayer has to pick up the tab. Governmental assistance to the poor, etc. is not Christian. It is theft.