Social Justice???...How About Plain 'Justice'?

Social Justice?...How about plain old "Justice".

There is a ton of debate in our culture and the Church about "social justice", what it is and how it is to be implemented. Part of the problem in North America and in European cultures currently is we use words with our personal meanings injected into them instead of using the true meanings of these words. It is very difficult to know what people are even talking about because their definition of the word(s) is different than other's definition of those same words. Some define social justice as doing good to others and most see social justice as the government doing "good things" for its citizens. When I hear the term it is so loaded that as a pastor I just say, "Let's just talk about plain old justice...biblical style".

Justice is a concept that God invented and defines in His Word...the Bible. We don't get to define its terms and definitions and throw them around at our wine and cheese parties as talking points. God defines justice and commands HIS FOLLOWERS (YOU and not the proverbial OTHER) to pray for and act on justice.

Some examples...

1) Financial Justice...The core of financial justice starts with people working hard as unto the Lord to make a living for their families and even enough to share with those who have EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES which prevent them from being able to meet their basic needs (food and shelter). Biblical financial justice also says everybody who is able bodied SHOULD WORK and provide for themselves and their families. Justice, then, is not enabling those who can work to not work. In addition, the church, not the government, is responsible to take care of the needs of those in their midst that cannot provide for themselves (widows, orphans, and the sick).

Those who have been blessed by God with great wealth (ie...most Americans compared to the rest of the world's standards) have been given their wealth by God to use for God's purposes not for the enhancment of their own kingdom. Simply put, financial justice for the wealthy (again...most Americans)is to use their wealth for the advancement of God's Kingdom. This includes charity, job creation, good management of employees, ethical investment and influence with their wealth, etc...

We rely on the government too much to care for the legitimate needs of the poor because Christians do not take seriously their responsibility to care for the true weak and poor among us.

Regardless, it is not financially just to steal money from others no matter what you call it or no matter how noble the purpose you have to steal said money...theft is theft. Those who steal have a greater authority to answer to and our judgment in what we do with biblical financial justice is coming "and that right soon".

More on Justice Later...