How should the church view Christianity and social justice? Let me be clear what I’m talking about here — I’m not referring to all social issues in general, but specifically the issues of social and racial justice that have become extremely divisive in our society. Secondly, I want to be clear that I believe the church’s primary function is not to promote social justice, but rather to warn people of divine justice.
Some say the church should be actively involved, protesting and taking a stand. Others say the church should stay in its lane and out of these issues. So is it worth it to take a hard stand on divisive social justice issues, risking alienating people we’re trying to reach spiritually?
Let me give an example. Let’s say a church is considering how to respond to the cause of Black Lives Matter. While some in the church may support that cause, there is a risk that taking such a stand could cause the church to lose influence and connection with some people who don’t agree with it. Then the church loses the opportunity to pour into people spiritually, and also could lose their financial commitments. In some cases, churches determine it’s just easier to stay quiet rather than risk causing members to leave.
I’ll break this issue down into three questions to help us clear this controversial issue up.
What does God say to all people?
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
The command here is for the people of God to take a stand against injustice, being a voice for people who can’t advocate for themselves.
Are there examples in the Old Testament?
In 1 Kings 21, God calls Elijah to speak out in the case of a murder.
Now there was a man named Naboth, from Jezreel, who owned a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. One day Ahab said to Naboth, “Since your vineyard is so convenient to my palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I will pay you for it.” But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance that was passed down by my ancestors.”
Ahab goes home and tells his wife, Jezebel, about this interaction. Here’s how she responds:
“Are you the king of Israel or not?” Jezebel demanded. “Get up and eat something, and don’t worry about it. I’ll get you Naboth’s vineyard!”
Jezebel takes it upon herself to do what she believed Ahab was too weak to do, which was take the land by force.
So he (Naboth) was dragged outside the town and stoned to death. The town leaders then sent word to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.”
What’s the point here? Later, God calls on Elijah to challenge Ahab and Jezebel about this injustice.
But the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria...Give him this message...Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!”
God called Elijah to take a stand against an unjust murder.
Not only did Old Testament prophets speak out against murder, they spoke against corrupt judicial systems.
You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed. You treat the righteous like dirt.
Amos is talking about a system of perverted justice in the Old Testament, a system that favored the powerful at the expense of the poor and weak.
For I know the vast number of your sins...you...deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
Here’s the overall message:
I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
That’s some very strong language. God tells them He hates their church, their worship, and their festivals, because of their hypocrisy in the area of justice.
I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.
God is saying: What good is a religious system that doesn’t stand for justice for the people?
What does Jesus say about Christianity and social justice?
In Luke 4, Jesus explains why He came:
The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.
The primary reason Jesus came is to proclaim the good news. But there’s no denying that Jesus also came to rectify social justice issues in the culture.
What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Jesus says it’s hypocritical for us to teach the law and do religious activity, while neglecting what He calls the more important things, including justice.
I don’t see too many examples in the Bible of injustice where people of God were told to stay silent out of fear of losing support from others. But does that mean the church should be front and center on every single social justice issue that happens? Maybe not. But the church should prayerfully seek God as to what specific issues it needs to get involved in to be the voice of justice.
When the church is active in social justice, we have to remember that our primary goal is to advance the kingdom of God, not just to achieve change on earth.