Nowadays, you can't go on social media, the news, or anything else without hearing about this concept of "Social Justice." The phrase is defined as follows: "justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society." Now, before we go on, I want to say this flat out: this is not a political post. I hate politics (it's one of my vices), and I feel nothing divides the church better than politics. We see Christians bashing one another over the head for their political decisions, and that MUST STOP. Why? Because Social Justice IS (in a round about way) important to the work of the Gospel, but not in the way it is used in politics. It is the way in which Christians live among one another.
The Church is not a platform of "social Justice." I've seen Christians, over and over, ruin their witness by bashing someone they feel is unjust. Social reform happens as AUTOMATICALLY as we get closer to Christ, as in His community, all are equal, all are members of the Body, and, though different parts, each has the Same Holy Spirit who gives gifts to all. Stop trying to enact Social Justice, and START trying to be like Jesus. As the Scripture says "
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage.[a]
7 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man
in His external form,
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 HCSB) As we draw near to Christ, as we become conformed into His image, justice is something that happens within the community of believers. Again, let's look at Scripture:
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.
43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47, HCSB) Do you see it happening? The very definition of "Social Justice" exists when the body of Christ starts acting accordingly! There is no one above another, but everyone serves all. Devoting ourselves to God's word, to one another, to the breaking of bread (both in communion, and with one another), and to prayer, we begin to conform to the Holy Spirit, who conforms us in to Christ. We begin distributing to all in the body, as they have a need, and taking care of one another, building one another up, and becoming a community of equals who love and serve one another. According to Today's main scripture, there is neither "Jew, nor Greek, Male nor Female, Slave nor Free." Christ is all, and in us all. He is the great equalizer, He is the bringer of justice, and He is the one who sets us free. Let us be united in Him, and watch the Holy Spirit go to work!
Galatians 3 English Standard Version (ESV)
By Faith, or by Works of the Law?
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[a] the flesh? 4 Did you suffer[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify[c] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”[d] 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit[e] through faith.
The Law and the Promise
15 To give a human example, brothers:[f] even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[g] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Footnotes:
a. Galatians 3:3 Or now ending with
b. Galatians 3:4 Or experience
c. Galatians 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24
d. Galatians 3:11 Or The one who by faith is righteous will live
e. Galatians 3:14 Greek receive the promise of the Spirit
f. Galatians 3:15 Or brothers and sisters
g. Galatians 3:28 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
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