During a recent seminary class, my students and I explored the current trends in advocacy. Within the past few years, we quickly identified various social justice “causes” that were once front and center on everyone’s minds, but have since faded in favor of new causes. From Ukraine, to Palestine, to boycotts of Chick-fil-A, Target, Kellogg’s, and now ICE policies, many are eager to be on the “right side” of history and jump in debates. Some go as far as to defend their views as not part, but a requirement of Christian faith. With so many falling by the wayside only to be replaced with new issues…what should we do?
What does Scripture offer us on issues of social justice? Is such required of a Christian? Does God require something else of His people?
Social justice from a Biblical perspective
Before anything else, it’s essential to understand the idea of social justice for the sake of a cause is not part of Biblical understanding. Yes, social justice issues we recognize today (taking advantage of the poor, exploitation, and doing for others) are found in Scripture. Such issues were frequently addressed in the Mosaic Law and then expounded by Prophets (and even Jesus Himself!). There’s a catch, however, to their address. Social justice issues weren’t causes these individuals took upon themselves for the sake of whatever they were. These matters were seen as part of a bigger picture, one that addressed the sinful nature of humanity.
Biblical figures didn’t think humanity’s problems could be solved without God. Likewise, they couldn’t be resolved by trying to convince others of the importance of an issue. Issues were addressed to reveal the sinfulness of humanity, calling for repentance and change of heart and mind. People were not seen as inherently good and sin, in all its manifestations, led to mistreatment of others. The issue at hand wasn’t the cause; it was the sinful root that required a spiritual solution.
Social justice and the early church
In the early church, there are no examples of social justice work among New Testament leaders. The early apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers were focused on building the church while spreading the Gospel. Whether standing before the Herod of the day or another government official, none of the apostles argued about prison conditions or justice for poor widows. Their first responsibility was to build the Kingdom of God among themselves. The greater world (and specifically the Roman Empire) was seen as a temporary evil, one that would fall before Christ at some point in history.
For this reason, early Christian leaders didn’t view slavery, prison abuses, mistreatment of foreigners, or other matters in quite the same way as we do today. They might not have agreed with them as Christians, but they saw them as part of the temporary world soon to pass away. Those who suffered or experienced mistreatment were encouraged to endure because their situations had an expiration date within the spiritual realm.
Examining our outcomes
The modern understanding of social justice – and causes independent of a religious understanding – is part of general societal privilege. As a culture, we’ve evolved to the point where we can look out over causes and decide how we feel about them on social, emotional, and political levels. Issues such as the abolition of slavery, worker’s rights, and proper treatment for others (regardless of race or status) within a political resolution are all newer additions to modern culture. While these issues were originally fought by Christians within a faith framework, many today do so without any sort of religious conviction whatsoever. Given ideas about the betterment of humanity, it often seems like the “right thing to do.”
But where is all this advocacy going? What are the motives of those who engage in such protests? And perhaps above all, are the actions of many effective in the fight against the few?
A spiritual instability
When I consider the current cultural landscape, I often remember one specific Bible passage.
While He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to Me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have Me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on My body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” (Mark 14:3-8, NIV)
Jesus’ point was that there will forever be no end to the causes of this world. While we await the final restoration of this earth, there will always be someone who is poor, someone who has a need, or a cause to take up due to current political conditions. However, these things should not cause us to lose sight of our spiritual focus. Whether Jesus returns tomorrow or in ten thousand years doesn’t change the fact that everything we do should have Christ as its center. If we aren’t doing what we do for His glory, we need to consider our motives.
Why do we do the things we do?
In the eternal right fight we often see online, many today are concerned about social pressures to appear “on the right side” of matters. While such is understandable, the matters of the heart still merit explanation. Are those public views genuine, or are many succumbing to social temptations to follow the crowd? Is it about getting attention? Perhaps most important, are the views we often have fueled by fact, or emotions clouding our better judgments? Do we have all the information, or are we relying on second-hand ideas that aren’t factual?
As one who has worked in advocacy over the years, many advocates might promote good causes, but do so for their own personal glory and gain. Doing something to desire the praise and admiration of others or to be perceived as the “right kind of person” isn’t the right reason to undertake a cause.
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1, NIV)
Where have all the leaders gone?
Studies in the early church show early leaders were committed to the church before anything else. When confronted with the possibility to go to work to solve a social problem in the early church, the following decision was made:
So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2-4, NIV)
In other words, the first responsibility Christian leaders have is Gospel work, on whatever level they serve. Whether it’s engaging a congregation, training leaders, or working with new believers, Christian leaders aren’t called to crusade full-time in secular matters. There’s nothing to say it can’t ever be done. There is a problem, however, if it is an entire focus rather than something one does after ministry is done.
Even though Christian ministry might not always feel fulfilling (there’s not always the avenue for public attention and dealing with people is frustrating), if we are called to do it, it is our first responsibility. It is irresponsible to leave the church to manage social causes because such will lead others to lose their primary focus on Jesus Christ.
Remembering purpose
If you’ve ever read stories such as The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, you’ll note a huge difference in tone between advocacy of old and advocacy today. Individuals who hid Jews during World War II were strategic in their purposes. They didn’t announce it to the whole world. They were Christians being Christians; individuals who responded to the world around them. Their response? do the right thing at the right time. It wasn’t about what anyone thought or did; it was doing the next right thing as the opportunity arose.
The same was true during the Civil Rights Movement. The actions of the movement were carefully planned, including those of civil disobedience. The purpose wasn’t to destroy community businesses or wreck communities in anger. The goal wasn’t to just make a lot of noise, but to get results. Strategy was key to getting what was desired. Jumping from issue to issue that gains viral traction online would have been considered a distraction.
Remembering purpose is an essential thing to any matter. If we think it’s wrong for the government to disrupt or search houses of worship, it’s wrong for protesters to do so, too. If we wouldn’t want others to destroy our property, we shouldn’t destroy theirs. Respecting physical space and body autonomy should be something we exercise if we expect it of others. A cause should never cause us to violate others in the name of proving a point.
A final thought on social justice
We live in a distracting world. Rising prices, daily stresses, news headlines, and various social and political causes all grab our attention. Maybe instead of jumping on the next cause, it’s better to step back and seek the Lord. He can show us where we can best serve and how we can do it. As stated earlier, there’s no end to the causes of this world. But right now, you can practice your faith in a way that will make a difference in someone else’s life. Send someone an encouraging text. Hire an immigrant to do a job for you. Learn another language so you can better communicate to those who aren’t native born. Bring your neighbor some food or cookies. Battles aren’t always won in the White House or the senate.
Sometimes the greatest battles we fight can be resolved through kind actions and sincere words.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8, NIV)
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