Justice

Many Christians are confused about the issue of social justice.  There are many different perspectives on the complex subject, and there is a lot of baggage attached to the phrase "social justice."  As much as I can, I have started to simply use the word "justice" when describing God's plan for followers of Jesus to be actively engaged in serving others who may be in need. 

People often ask me why I am so passionate about justice, and I usually say it is because I want to be an imitator of Christ.  Jesus was (and is) passionate about justice.  Justice is closely tied to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Christians who are on mission should be supporting justice.  It is not an option.  Unfortunately, Christians often fall short in the process of being stewards of power and influence to root out institutional injustices that keep mass numbers of people living in cycles of suffering.  Individual compassion is the low hanging fruit for Christians, and we get stuck there when we could be acting justly on behalf of others.  Nehemiah's leadership is a good example of God's transforming power working through leaders to help large numbers of people to be freed from opression.  Of course, the concept of acting powerfully to supposedly release the masses from opression has been horrifically abused in the past by some communists and socialists.  It's why Christian leaders must be so careful so as not to do harm to people while trying to help... especially when it comes to justice.  Again, I think Jesus is the best example for leaders to follow.

Another reason why the social justice issue confuses many modern Christians is because we live in such an individualistic society.  Culturally speaking, when we think that it's all about me, then it becomes a foreign concept to think about how our actions might impact others.  The world's message is that it's all about me, but that's also the message that a lot of American Christian churches are lining up to offer people... "it's all about you.  You can have it all if you just do the right Christian things, and God will bless you.  Your relationship with God is strictly personal."  I really think the heresy in the prosperity doctrine and self-help gospel confuses folks about how they could be giving themselves away to others in need in our own cities and around the globe when we die to our selves and gain Christ.