The Church Existing, in Part, to Bring "Social Justice" to our Communities

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Beezer

Puritan Board Freshman
I am curious to hear what first comes to mind when you hear "social justice", specifically in the context of a church emphasizing that it exists in part to "bring social justice and cultural renewal to our city and throughout the world."

I hear and read this sort of thing a lot these days...it seems much in vogue. In my area the established historic churches that emphasize it are from liberal mainline denominations that have replaced the gospel with it; however, several PCA churches and a couple of new P&R church plants are increasingly highlighting it in their "mission statements" as one of the reasons they exist.

Is anyone else seeing this trend among reformed churches where they live? If so, do you have any suggestions for why churches seem to make this a point of emphasis in their ministries?






 
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What does "justice" look like and what is the role of the church in establishing/maintaining it?
 
Beezer said:
I am curious to hear what first comes to mind when you hear "social justice"
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A paraphrase of a German politician who was paraphrasing a German playwright.

""Wenn ich [social justice] höre ... entsichere ich meinen Browning!"
 
I tend to run. Thanks to the Gospel we are equal in the eyes of God because of Christ's merits. What else is needed, especially in Western Civilization where it is like who is oppressed any more?
 
While I am one of the more "socialist" members of the PB, even I want to run a mile when I hear this sort of thing. When I hear of social justice, I think of Marxists, race-baiting, illegal mass-immigration, pushing the LGBT agenda, "Democrats", and rioters who hate democracy and free speech when it is not in their favour.
 
Frankfurt Marxism, as are all Marxisms, is an eschatological ideology. They will not rest until they have destroyed all opposition. This is why I get nervous when some PCA guys get on board the social justice bandwagon.
 
The prophets spoke a great deal about social justice, largely to protect the defenseless, the widow and children, the debter the land-less. The problem comes when people take these passages out of context and make humans god: you by your own power can go and right all wrongs (or what a liberal elite says is wrong).

We can take from these passages a few applications: we must see to the good of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must love even the most lowly of our brothers. We should apply what God says is right and wrong in our own context. We should take a stand for what God says is good or bad and be salt and light in our culture.
 
jwithnell said:
The prophets spoke a great deal about social justice
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What translation is that? Because I can't find the phrase "social justice" in my Bible. It appears to have been advanced by a Jesuit in the 1840s. And adopted by the Socialists and Communists in the 20th Century.

So anyone who embraces the phrase should be dealt with as you would deal with a Jesuit.
 
Not the phrase per se. The minor prophets are sometimes organized like a legal charge of the covenant maker (God) against the covenant breakers (his people). So you'll see passages such as Micah 2 where people covet fields, defraud people of their land, rob them of their inheritance.... These are serious charges because brothers are depriving their weaker brethren of the provisions God made for his people.

The OP asked what's the first thing that pops to mind. This is what came to mind, that God demands that his people behave equitably -- something that has devolved, into a Robin Hood farce by those who steal from the productive, destroy peace, turn lies to twisted truths. We have nothing to fear of the phrase. The ones mouthing off on college campuses will be held accountable for mocking what is true justice.
 
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jwithnell said:
The prophets spoke a great deal about social justice, largely to protect the defenseless, the widow and children, the debter the land-less. The problem comes when people take these passages out of context and make humans god: you by your own power can go and right all wrongs (or what a liberal elite says is wrong).

We can take from these passages a few applications: we must see to the good of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must love even the most lowly of our brothers. We should apply what God says is right and wrong in our own context. We should take a stand for what God says is good or bad and be salt and light in our culture.
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I think you are talking past each other. No one denies taking care of those people. Social justice today sees oppression in everything. Not that churches who espouse it are necessarily liberal but, they lack discernment and have become the seeker friendly emergent types. Funny how emergent reacts against seeker friendly yet they become seeker friendly...
 
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When a nation rejects the law of God there is no basis for social justice. It is part of the divine order that the nation and kingdom that will not serve the Lord will perish. There are two great commandments, and the second commandment is like unto the first: where a nation will not love God it will not receive nor recognise the love of neighbour.
 
Has anyone else noticed the terrible irony in churches who prize "social justice" over the gospel? They deny the reality of Gods justice whilst seeking to justify man in his sinful condition.
 
arapahoepark said:
I think you are talking past each other. No one denies taking care of those people. Social justice today sees oppression in everything. Not that churches who espouse it are necessarily liberal but, they lack discernment and have become the seeker friendly emergent types. Funny how emergent reacts against seeker friendly yet they become seeker friendly...
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Ask the BLM crowd or Occupy Wall Street or the SoJo crowd if usury is wrong. And on what basis? I've actually been called a racist for askign that question.
 
ReformedReidian said:
I've actually been called a racist for askign that question.
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Were you also told to "check your privilege?" I once heard the response that ethics is concerned with values, and values invest with privilege, which is true regardless of colour, sex, or social status. So to check one's privilege is to become amoral. I thought it was a convincing reply.
 
Beezer said:
I am curious to hear what first comes to mind when you hear "social justice", specifically in the context of a church emphasizing that it exists in part to "bring social justice and cultural renewal to our city and throughout the world."

I hear and read this sort of thing a lot these days...it seems much in vogue. In my area the established historic churches that emphasize it are from liberal mainline denominations that have replaced the gospel with it; however, several PCA churches and a couple of new P&R church plants are increasingly highlighting it in their "mission statements" as one of the reasons they exist.

Is anyone else seeing this trend among reformed churches where they live? If so, do you have any suggestions for why churches seem to make this a point of emphasis in their ministries?
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The first thing that comes to mind is Machen's book Christianity and Liberalism. As others have said, treating people with equity and loving ones neighbor is good and right. The garbage coming from the western world is another animal altogether. It is being heralded as the telos of or in leiu of the gospel. This is the very definition of liberalism....
 
MW said:
Were you also told to "check your privilege?" I once heard the response that ethics is concerned with values, and values invest with privilege, which is true regardless of colour, sex, or social status. So to check one's privilege is to become amoral. I thought it was a convincing reply.
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Happened all the time during the election season. I usually responded with "I have servants to do that for me."
 
I don't have many opportunities to talk about "social justice" advocacy with those that hold it as a sacred duty. As it has been said above, there is justice of which I'm a believer in. Making that distinction clear to "social justice" advocates is usually my point of the conversation. I want to know what they personally think "social justice" and justice mean? Those concepts get very little cogent attention these days. Propaganda, heard driven SJWs behave like thoughtless drones. I refuse to join them and check "my privilege" if they won't check their insanity.

Practically, I would employ the same tactic as I would with fiery LGBT folk. "This seems very important to you and I'd be delighted to discuss it with you in a setting (if the current one is inappropriate) where we could actually have a conversation. However, if my being white, straight and male is a cause for an up front dismissal of my reasoning and opinions then there is no point in talking. I hope that isn't the case here."
 
As if this fire need more flame the latest grating, yet quickly growing faux-rage concept is "cultural appropriation." This charming but scary article is worth the read. Here is an article about the sad Portland incident. SJWs have yet again successfully beat down folks engaging in peaceful, voluntary activity. This time the crime against humanity is providing closer to authentic Mexican food while not having the right skin color. Ten years ago The Onion couldn't have thought this stuff up. Half of Wichita will have to be closed if kitschy copying and imitation becomes illegal.
 
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ZackF said:
"cultural appropriation."
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The worst case of cultural appropriation I ever saw was at a restaurant I used to regularly eat at in downtown Dallas. Hamburgers and fries at a Korean owned restaurant with a Mexican cook. Not a single German or Frenchman in sight.

And who would ever be entitled to prepare currywurst?
 
Edward said:
The worst case of cultural appropriation I ever saw was at a restaurant I used to regularly eat at in downtown Dallas. Hamburgers and fries at a Korean owned restaurant with a Mexican cook. Not a single German or Frenchman in sight.

And who would ever be entitled to prepare currywurst?
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:) With my mutt background I'll be allowed to cook anything or nothing for profit. I suppose that will depend on the jurisdiction.
 
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