3 reasons biblical justice and social justice aren't really different concepts
Despite what many people might tell you, the idea that justice is essential to God isn't new. It's an idea that's at least as old as the Bible. The Bible speaks about justice way more than it does about love (which may explain why so many Christians seem to have trouble with the concept).
So why do Christians get spooked by social justice? It's not because they don't care about justice. It's because they're trapped in a false dichotomy. They think justice is something you either view through Scripture or the lens of politics. And they'd rather err on the side of Scripture and ignore politics altogether. But here's the thing: Social justice isn't something that happens when we apply politics to our faith; it occurs when we use faith with our politics.
3 ways biblical and social justice are the same
I don't think it’s necessary to recognize the phrase "social justice" as something distinct from biblical justice. In fact, I would argue that social justice is biblical justice. Here are three reasons biblical justice and social justice aren't really different concepts at all:
Both concepts come from Scripture — The first use of the Hebrew word for righteousness, “Tsedeq,” is in Genesis 15:6 (MSG), where Abraham's faith is credited to him as righteousness. The word means "straight" or "right." Social and biblical justice is all about making things right for the highest good of others in trouble or need.
Both concepts are centered around God — Christians can pursue social justice because it's consistent with our definition of righteousness, which we get from Scripture. Proverbs 21:15 (MSG) says, "Good people celebrate when justice triumphs, but for the workers of evil it's a bad day." Isaiah 61:8 says that God "loves justice." Good people, regardless of their belief systems, love justice.
A specific group needs help in both concepts — The poor, oppressed, vulnerable and marginalized. These were widows, orphans and foreigners (immigrants) in biblical times. Still, today they can include people of color and others who face systemic discrimination or marginalization due to their identity or background.
How to become more involved in social justice initiatives
The core concepts of social justice are rooted in equity, inclusion and diversity — something we all need more of. If you're looking for ways to get involved yourself, here are six simple ways to add social justice activities to your life:
Educate yourself —Take the time to learn more about the historical and current causes of injustice in your community and worldwide. The more informed you are, the more you can make real change happen.
Donate supplies or money — Many social justice organizations need donations of money or supplies to do their work. Some need hygiene products, feminine hygiene products, diapers or other baby supplies. Others need essential items like first aid kits, flashlights and batteries. If you have any of these things on hand, consider donating them instead of throwing them away or letting them sit around unused at your home.
Volunteer with a local organization — It doesn't have to be anything big or fancy — volunteer at the food bank, sit on the library board or clean up the park and see how it feels.
Join a social justice book club — Read books by authors from diverse backgrounds and discuss how their work relates to equality issues today. Plan a day for your group to participate in a social justice event together.
Participate in political action — Learn about the local, state and federal legislation relating to the issues that interest you; then call or write letters to your representatives to support positive change.
Engage with social media — Social media is a great place to learn new perspectives on social justice issues and hear about new organizations and initiatives being launched worldwide. It's also a great way to get involved yourself by posting about issues important to you or sharing information about events or organizations that could use more support.
Happy social justice-ing! Hopefully, this list has given you some ideas and inspiration to help you add more biblical justice and social justice to your life. The goal is to incorporate the activities into your life in a meaningful way, making room for activities that help you make a positive change in the world, be it just in your tiny corner of it or all around you.
Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey
At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. You can also find out what our community’s purpose and passion are all about by checking out some of the past sermons we’ve posted on our website.
Do you want to grow in your faith, or are you simply curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our podcast series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.