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This Month's Scripture Verse:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Friday, September 13, 2019

Why Should Christian Write About Social Justice?

Though the title for this article is not the same, it comes close to paraphrasing the title of an article written by Thabiti Anyabwile (click here for a short bio) and was posted on the Gospel Coalition website. This article is the first in a series of articles that Anyabwile has just written on social justice.

Anyabwile briefly describes several reasons why he is reluctantly starting a series of articles on the subject. The reasons are, for the most part, briefly explained in the article so this article will provide additional reasons for discussing social justice.


The first reason listed in Anyabwile's article about social justice (click here for the article) is that he has seen no progress. Just before mentioning that, Anyabwile described the subject as being contentious in the Christian community, one can assume the conservative Christian community that is. Thus it is a bit ambiguous what Anyabwile was referring to. Was he referring to the debate about social justice in the conservative Christian Church or was talking about the state of social justice in America?

At least I can't answer that question for sure but I can supply two reasons why the subject of social justice causes division within the conservative Christian Church. Both reasons have to do with what many conservative Christian leaders, leaders both in and out of the pulpit, have said about social justice. These leaders complain about the subject because some people have reduced the Gospel to that of working for social justice. Such is a legitimate concern but is not necessary consequence for Christians who are concerned about social justice.


Another reason why the subject of social justice arouses controversy is that some of those same leaders also point out that social justice was a stated concern of neither Jesus nor the Apostles. For the most part that is a true statement but such a statement seems to have eradicated the concern for social justice often proclaimed by the Old Testament prophets. In addition, a hard line approach that is based on the lack of attention Jesus and the Apostles showed the subject forgets the differences in context between the times of both Jesus and the Apostles and now. Jesus and the Apostles lived on earth during a time when the Gospel was unknown in most of the world and under the Roman Empire. We now have participatory societies via democracies in a world where the Gospel has been spread and where there is a history of nations having practiced atrocities and other injustices under the Christian banner.

In addition, social justice from a Christian perspective should not just attempt to comfort and/or deliver the victims, it should also be calling the victimizers to repentance--an idea that is often not addressed by conservative Christian leaders who oppose the Church from discussing social justice.


The second reason why Anyabwile has brought up the subject of social justice is that there are truth claims to be examined regarding the subject. Just as the Scriptures talk about earthly concerns such as history and science, the Scriptures have spoken about what is social justice and what isn't--though they have not discussed it exhaustively. By ignoring social justice, those truth claims are being ignored.

Another reason why Anyabwile wrote about the subject is because Christians who work for social justice or who even want to discuss it are often misrepresented. And the practice of misrepresenting them is not contained just with in America. Anyabwile lists several countries where this has either occurred or there was a fear that it would occur.

The final reason why Anyabwile is discussing the subject now is that he feels that he is personally ready to. And though that reason is personal, it is an important reason. We can say the right things, but if we don't say them in the right way not only can we sabotage our own efforts, we can self-righteously hurt others while trying to right a part of the world. A prayer I pray before engaging several activities is as follows: 'Lord, protect me and others from me.' Such a prayer helps me realize that I too can offend or hurt people in big or small ways. It is a prayer I wish I would have prayed much earlier in life.

What will be interesting when examining the series of article by Anyabwile on social justice is whether or not he will specifically discuss multiple areas of social justice. Some of those areas that need to be addressed when discussing social justice include racism, economic classism, and discrimination in society based on sexual orientation and/or identity.






References
  1. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabiti-anyabwile/engage-social-justice-debate-now/
  2. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/thabiti-anyabwile/

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