Evangelical social justice advocates argue their cause from the perspective of the effect (injustice) to the cause (“racism” and others). Whereas the gospel always argues from the standpoint of the cause (sin) to the effect (injustice).
When it comes to the matter of “social justice” – a term I personally disavow but will use for the sake of this commentary – Lev. 19:15-18 is one of the most comprehensive passages in all of Scripture.
It reads:
“You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly. You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the Lord. You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
When properly understood against the backdrop of the current infringement of the “social gospel” on the evangelical church we believers in the one true God (John 17:3) realize that there is no category of person to which the precepts established in the above-mentioned passage do not apply with regard to the universal principle of the imago Dei (Gen. 1:27).
In other words, those whose hearts and minds have been regenerated by the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16, 12:2; 1 Thess. 2:13) understand that such aesthetic qualifiers are wholly unnecessary. Every human being – by virtue of having been created in the image of God by God Himself (Jn. 1:3) – is inherently worthy of being treated equitably without regard to ethnicity, sex, or socio-economic station.
“…have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?” – James 2:4
But in observing the contemporary social gospel movement today, particularly within Protestant evangelicalism, I find it continues to evolve yet never matures.
Despite the seemingly incessant string of racial reconciliation and social justice conversations, roundtables, summits, and conferences being conducted and facilitated by various evangelical churches and entities, the fact is not much has changed in terms of their core objective: that sinful human beings consistently treat one another as God has commanded us in His Word (Ps. 106:3; Prov. 21:15; Zech. 7:9). But this begs the question: what part of “sinful” do these beloved brothers and sisters not understand?
Admittedly, I pose that question with just a hint of sarcasm, but only because it is believers who should be ever-mindful that sin – our sin – permeates and encompasses every facet of our existence in this world. Yet we seem to so quickly consign that reality to oblivion when confronted with the injustices and inequities this world presents, as if they were somehow behavioral anomalies (Jn. 16:33).
Or, to state it differently, why should we, as Christians, expect anyone’s behavior to change whose heart has not first been changed (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:11)?
In asking that question, I am reminded of the words of the 17th-century Puritan theologian, Thomas Watson who, in The Doctrine of Repentance, asks soberingly:
“Is it not strange that two should live together, and eat and drink together, yet not know each other? Such is the case of a sinner. His body and soul live together, work together, yet he is unacquainted with himself. He knows not his own heart, nor what a hell he carries about him. Under a veil a deformed face is hid. Persons are veiled over with ignorance and self-love; therefore they see not what deformed souls they have.”
In recent months, I have been privileged to have been asked to participate in several discussion forums on the topic of social justice. I have declined the vast majority of those invitations because simply put, God has already spoken on the issue.
God has Spoken on Justice Already. What will you do?
So what more is there to be said?
Do you want more laws enacted so sinful people can break those laws as well as the ones they’re already breaking (Rom. 7:14-20)?
Do you desire that unethical politicians resign or be impeached only to be replaced by other unethical politicians who will mimic their transgressions (Eccl. 5:8)?
Do you want sinful police officers fired only so they can be replaced with other sinful police officers (because we’ve all sinned) (Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 3:23)?
My point is there is nothing you or I can say on the matter of “social justice” that would heighten or strengthen or make more authoritative what an omniscient, almighty, and sovereign God has not already declared.
As the prophet Micah declared,
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly before your God (Micah 6:8)?”
Many evangelical social justice advocates particularly regard the middle portion of that passage – “to do justice” – as being especially integral to their apologetic that social justice is, in fact, a “gospel issue” (whatever that means). But it is in the same spirit in which God spoke to His people through Micah regarding our practicing justice, kindness, and humility that He speaks to us today in other areas of our life.
Consider also that:
- He has told you, O husband, that you are to love your wife: Eph. 5:25-33a; 1 Pet. 3:7.
- He has told you, O wife, that you are to respect your husband: Eph. 5:33b; 1 Pet. 3:1-3.
- He has told you, O child, that you are to honor and obey your parents: Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-3.
- He has told you, O employee, how to conduct yourself on your job: Col. 3:23.
- He has told you, O leader, how to guide others with humility: Matt. 20:25-28.
In other words, God has spoken.
He has spoken not only on matters of justice and injustice, but on marriage, parenting, leadership, work, finances, abortion, and others. Yes, God has spoken.
He has spoken. It is our responsibility as believers, like Micah did, to proclaim His word to a sin-saturated world. We know that, in God’s sovereign providence, there will be those when they hear the truth of the gospel who will respond in obedience and those who will not. This is the nature of the human heart (Matthew 13:18-23; Mk. 7:17-23).
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” – Eze. 36:26-27 (NASB)
Yes, God has spoken.
The only question now is whether you and I will obey Him in what He has said.
Editor's Note: This was first posted on his website under the name, "God Has Spoken." The first paragraph was pulled from his post here and added to the top.
