A Challenge for the 21st Century Church: Social Justice

I recently posted an article related to a resolution opposing social justice that a messenger planned to present at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. I was surprised at the responses. One person said that when he thought of social justice, “Communism” or “socialism” came to mind. Another considered social justice a modern construct that had nothing to do with the Bible. Someone else said, “Social justice is just about civil rights.”

The church of the 2lst century is challenged to reclaim the term and make it part of its DNA. In fact, I believe that if thechurch fails to deal with social justice concerns such as sexuality, economic deprivation, care for the infirm, hospitality for the stranger, and creation care, it is not pursuing the mission of God.

A quick search of the word “justice” on Bible Gateway identifies 130 citations including both the teachings of Old Testament prophets and those of Jesus. The ethical pinnacle of the Old Testament is found in Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (NIV)

In the New Testament, Jesus preached, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Matthew 23:23, NIV)

Justice is not optional in a biblical ethic; it is central. If we are pursuing the mission to which God has called us, we must be advocates for and practitioners of justice. We not only proclaim the message but we find ways to walk beside and minister to “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:45, NIV)

In a society where those who are different are ostracized, ignored, and repudiated, the church has the opportunity--no, the commission--to embrace those on the margins and assure justice for them. In so doing, there is a possibility that a marginalized church may become a significant force in righting the wrongs prevalent today. The church does this not in order to become more prominent or to be rewarded but to be what God has called it to be. This is a challenge for the 21^stcentury church.

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