How Important is Social Justice?

We’re one week away from one of the most politically- and emotionally-charged elections in U.S. history. Our lives have been inundated with political ads, texts, calls, and 24-hour news cycles often related to the political landscape. How do we make sense of it all? How do we make sure that our time is spent wisely, focused especially on the things that ultimately matter? The only sure way is to consult what God, our all-knowing, all-powerful Creator, says. When we study His Word, it’s amazing how little He emphasizes the things we so often do.

Take social justice, for example. Non-Christians and Christians alike have made equality issues their highest priority in the world today. Race, immigration status, gender, gender identity and sexual preferences, have become the source of some of the most heated topics up for discussion (or vehement argument). But how, and how much, should we be investing in such issues?

When Jesus walked this earth, He certainly addressed the call of His followers to care for the indigent, to feed the hungry, to minister to the sick, and to visit those in prison (Matthew 25:34-46). The gospels are rife with examples of how He met the needs of these people, as well, during his three years of public ministry. Yet, He never led protests against the racism, sexism, or slavery of His day. Nor did He ever lead political efforts to overcome such social justice issues. At the same time, He stated in no uncertain terms: “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). The will of God the Father. And what was that will?: “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (v. 40).

Jesus also made it clear that while loving our neighbor is important, it is secondary to loving God – the greatest commandment of all (see Matthew 22:36-40). You can’t follow the second commandment properly, not without the first.

In the gospels, we are introduced to a woman who came to Jesus, broke open an alabaster jar of expensive perfume - worth an average year’s salary – and poured it on Jesus’s head. Some people who watched her do this, ridiculed her: “Why this waste of perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.’ And they rebuked her harshly” (Luke 14:4-5).

But Jesus defended the woman, saying she had done something beautiful to Him. He was the Messiah, about to die for the sins of mankind, and she had recognized His authority and mission. Her action showed respect for the Lord, God in flesh, and kindness in preparing His body for burial (v. 8). In relation to that, what did Jesus say about their concern (at least apparent concern) for helping the poor? “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…” (v. 7-8a).

First, that statement tells us that we will never live in a world, plagued by sin, where social struggles are nonexistent. There will always be work to do…and of course we should do it, as we are able. But secondly, our ultimate priority is worshiping our Creator. Our eyes should always be focused primarily on eternity and eternal values, not on temporary ones.

If we do not know and love God, who is the source of salvation and true justice, how can we ever pretend to understand or how to administer justice in this world? If we don’t make His Word, and His Ways, the primary focus of our lives, how can we serve Him properly and give Him glory?

We can get so caught up in doling out what we believe to be social justice, and making those issues our primary concern, that we can miss the eternal issues that are of greater importance. We can befriend the hurting and feed the hungry, but we are essentially building a bridge to nowhere if we never talk about their soul. We can become enamored with political talking points on immigration, racism, and gender equality, so much so that we lose sight of what the pure and undefiled religion of serving those in need is supposed to look like – one in which we not only serve others, but we also keep ourselves “from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). We easily become hateful toward one another, argumentative, and dishonoring to God. We become no different from the rest of the world.

Dear God, show us our hearts, give us proper motivations in the work that we do in the name of Jesus Christ, and convict us when our ultimate priority strays from worshiping and knowing You. Help us to keep eternity in view.

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An Introduction to the Fruit of the Spirit

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Waiting with Open Arms