Biblical Justice vs Social Justice: Is There a Difference?

The concept of justice has filled thousands of volumes over the centuries.  It would be foolish of me to attempt to cover this rather detailed and complex subject as it requires.   Selling a human being, abusing a child, or stealing from a little old lady, most of us, would agree that using force or fraud to exploit others is evil.  We carry within us an inherent sense of right and wrong, a conviction that oppressors should be punished and the weak protected.  We want justice.

Justice in its simplest form, means to set things right.  Yet, how do we know what is right?  Who defines “right”?  Is it society-at-large or the culture we live in?  Is there a moral law that we inherently know to follow?

As we look at the life of Jesus and the instructions given throughout Scripture, it is clear that Christ followers are called to, “…learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17) We are called to take action and confront evil, to care for the vulnerable and to make right that which is wrong.  This mandate is not new.  It is not a cultural fad or something that is simply a tendency in today’s society.

Throughout the Old and New Testament, our call to do justice is clear:

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute…” (Psalm 82:3)

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others…” (Luke 11:42)

Social justice is a common term used today.  A brief online search will discover varying definitions about what it means.  One definition says social justice is, “promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity.” [1] On one hand that sounds fine, but looking deeper, it is rather vague and can lead to many different conclusions about what justice really looks like.

In contrast to social justice, which focuses on a historical view of addressing injustices in society, biblical justice starts with the eternal in mind.  It starts by seeing people as God sees them, recognizing that we are all created in the image of God.  And it is incumbent upon Christ followers to pursue physical and spiritual freedom for the oppressed so others can also become what God created them to be. If we have experienced freedom, how can we not pursue freedom on behalf of others?

As the Church, we may partner with those doing the work of social justice in our communities, but let us not be confused about our ultimate mission.  Our mission is not about picking up another cause because it sounds appealing and makes us look good.  Our mission is about fully embracing the cause of Christ.  The end goal of biblical justice is seeing lives reconciled to God and eternally transformed.

One day there will be perfect justice, carried out by a perfectly holy and just God. In the meantime, evil is pervasive throughout our world.  Women and children are sold into sex slavery.  The poor are beaten and forced to work with little, if any, pay.  Human trafficking or modern-day slavery continues in every country today. There are more than 35 million slaves in the world today, more than at any other time in history. [2]

Can we, the Church, lead the way and pursue justice on behalf of the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, and the enslaved?  If we know the One who is completely just, should we not lead the charge?  I say, YES!

Fueled by the compassion of Christ, we engage in issues of injustice, protecting the vulnerable, fighting for those held in oppression, walking alongside the wounded and pointing them to the One who heals, restores and redeems.

Pursuing justice starts and continues with a foundation of prayer, because we know it is His battle not our own.  It involves time and sacrifice, and stepping out of our comfort zone and persevering with patience.  It means walking in wisdom and not jumping in haphazardly or foolishly.  Our just God leads and we follow as He empowers us through the Holy Spirit.

True justice is best understood in the context of the redemptive work of Christ.  He freed us from the bonds of sin and elevated us into the heavenly realm where our fellowship is with the Lord, and His love and grace can in turn flow through us to others.  Therefore, the proper manifestation of the love of Christ and his followers is to love God first (See Matthew 22:37), and then to follow that with loving our neighbors as ourselves. (See Matthew 22:39)

This means we are not to oppress, but to help.  We are to seek justice for all and equality of opportunity by which those who are gifted of God in different ways, may use their gifts in expanding the kingdom of God.  But for those who do not know Him, even then the grace of God shines upon them. (See Matthew 5:43-48)  

As Christians we are to glorify God by providing biblical justice to all people.  So, let’s go and let’s engage in the fight for biblical justice!

[1] https://charterforcompassion.org/partners/social-justice

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/17/modern-slavery-35-million-people-walk-free-foundation-report

Will You Serve the Lord?

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

The passage “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” is popular.  It’s printed on plaques, found on old reclaimed pallet wood, printed on the front of Bibles, and even hand-painted on walls of homes.  It adorns Christian homes in many aspects because it is a statement of faith, an affirmation of a family’s commitment and covenant to serve the Lord.                     

These were the concluding remarks given by Joshua, one of the two spies who encouraged the Israelites to proceed into Canaan, despite the giants that lived there, and who was appointed the Israelites’ new leader after Moses’s death.  It’s a bold proclamation that many Christians, even today, seek to follow in their daily lives. 

This verse comes as Joshua tells the Israelites about what God has done for them since the beginning, bringing Abraham into a new land and sending the Jewish people out of Egyptian bondage, through Moses and Aaron, to where they were presently, following Joshua to God’s Promised Land.

Joshua had witnessed several shameful behaviors exhibited by the Israelites as they wandered the wilderness with Moses, from the creation of the Gold Calf to what he had seen prior to his statements from the Lord in Joshua 24.  He pleads with his people to turn away from the gods their fathers worshiped while in Egypt and while traveling in the wilderness. (See Joshua 24:14)

His hope was to show them as he re-visited history about God’s love and provision in their lives and in their ancestors’ lives, and that it was better to serve the Lord who took care of them than false gods who “demanded” unholy sacrifices but did little to help.  His concluding statements to the Israelites are to mark who will be following God in service and who will continue the treacherous path of serving false gods, boldly claiming his family would be serving the Lord.

The people choose the path of righteousness by telling Joshua they would serve the Lord and forsake their former gods, re-dedicating themselves to the covenant with the Lord.  This prompts Joshua to call them all to testify to their allegiance to the Holy God. (See Joshua 24:22)

So, we learn from this revolutionary speech that Joshua brought awareness to the Israelites, reminding them that all their provision and survival in the wilderness over the past several years was from a loving God who had done the same, generations before them, and would continue for generations to come.  That declaration from Joshua and the Israelites centuries ago is still relevant today, as we examine and honestly evaluate whether we are living lives in service to God.

For the Israelites, the Law was what governed them, the proclamations made to Moses from God at Mount Sinai that brought forth the Ten Commandments, the Tabernacle, and laws appointing the proper attire and actions of the priests and demeanor of the people.

Through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, we, as Christians, no longer need to go to a holy priesthood to interact with the Lord, as we have direct access to God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Instead, we can go to God at anytime, anywhere, and share with Him our hearts’ desires, our pains, our questions, and our praises to the Lord who loves us. (See Hebrews 10:19-22)

Yet, just as Joshua admonished the Israelites for continuing to embrace their fathers’ gods, we are still at fault for following false gods who promise us comfort, understanding, and love, social media, other religions, careers, even our family and friends.  Truthfully, many of us have chosen to go to others who know less about our situation than the Father who created the heavens and the earth.

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew 6:24)

This speech from Joshua calls for us to be witnesses just as he calls the Israelites, that we have to not just speak these words so we “look” like Christians, but proclaim them boldly to ourselves that, from this day forth, our houses, our families, and ourselves will serve only the one, true God.

When parents or couples hang this verse on the wall in their home today, they are proclaiming what Joshua was proclaiming.  Parents have a responsibility to make sure what goes on in their home honors God and excludes activities that do not honor or serve him.  Just as the people of Israel re-dedicate their lives to the Lord, this also prompts followers of Christ to do the same today.  It is a reminder to check your heart, the activities that go on in your home, the example you set for your family, and to what your family is watching or listening.  It’s a chance to check behaviors, actions, and attitudes to ensure all of what we say, think and do, align with Jesus. 

The bottom line is that we, as Christians, need to know serving the Lord isn’t to receive glory from man for our “good deeds,” it is serving in thankfulness for all the Lord has done, is doing, and will do when we leave these earthly homes for an eternal one.  It is also for the pleasure of serving Him and following His will, in that we can help others draw closer to God and make the choice to allow Him into their lives through the acceptance of Jesus.

You are the witness to this proclamation to serve the Lord, as Joshua said to the Israelites long ago, so make the choice to put your service to God before everything else, and know He will be greatly pleased with His good and faithful servants!

For the Sake of Christ

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)

There are many Christians who have sacrificed everything to minister to the people that God led them.  You would think that they would be griping about what they don’t have, and there have been a few, but most of them are the happiest people.  What they have given up for the sake of Christ has been enormous, but they don’t have one regret.  Paul was the same way.

Paul incurred significant loss when he followed Jesus.  He was an up and coming Rabbi as well as the wealthy son of a Roman tentmaker.  He considered it all loss compared to what he gained in Jesus Christ.  Once he set his eyes on Jesus, he never turned back to his old life and never had one regret.

There is a danger in Christianity, where we try to use God to advance our ambitions.  Whether it be riches, prestige, or comfort, we can lull ourselves into thinking that God wants us to prosper in those areas.  To be truthful, those aren’t even on His radar.  God wants you to conform to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to advance His kingdom by making disciples.  Rarely do riches or prestige fall into those areas, but joy and contentment do.

It is a big step of faith to trust God with your whole life.  Many want a backup plan or an insurance policy, but true discipleship is abandoning everything you hold valuable for the sake of Christ.  There will be times of hardship, but there will also be incredible times of God’s provision.  You will see Him work in ways you never thought possible.

If God is leading you that way, go for it. You won’t regret it.