Early last month, Glenn Beck made some comments on his radio and television programs that has, quite literally, outraged Christians pretty much across the board. He said that the term “social justice” is really just a code word for communism and Nazism, and that Christians should leave their churches if social justice is held in high esteem there.
As a respected political analyst for conservatives, these comments have not been well received by a good portion of his audience.
Allow me to make something clear before I write the rest of this blog: the Bible is clear on how Christians should act towards the marginalized and disenfranchised. We are to love them, help them, and care for them to the best of our ability because in doing so we are actually, in some mysterious way, loving Jesus Christ himself.
Now, with that said, we need to make sure we get things straight.
Social Justice is Not the Gospel
Depending on your experience and what you’ve been learning, reading that may have been a source of minor (or perhaps major) outrage for you.
I get it.
For too long, Christianity was characterized by a sort of laziness when it came to actually helping people. The problems were too large and the needs too many to make much of a difference. So many Christians kind of gave up and said, “We may not be able to help them with _______________, but we can at least share the Gospel with them. That’s what is most important, anyways.”
In response, many of us have swung to the either side and, depending on who we’re spending time with, come to the conclusion that social justice is not only important to the Gospel – it actually is the Gospel. After all, Jesus was clear that one of the two greatest commandments was to love our neighbors as ourselves, and that in helping others we are serving him.
As a result, there are many Christians, and particularly within the younger crowd, who believe that as long as we are helping, serving and loving people to the best of our ability, God will either reveal himself to them or will prompt them to ask us why we love them so much. When that happens, we can talk about Jesus. But doing so earlier than that is offensive or presumptuous, so it’s best not to.
In that sense, we’ve adopted as our banner the quote often attributed to St. Francis of Assissi:
Preach the Gospel Always, If Necessary Use Words
Our social justice efforts have become our way of preaching to the world today. We all know that actions can speak louder than words, so if we just love the way we should and really help people, we are preaching the Gospel to them.
I get it. I really do. I see the appeal of living life that way. We would be making the world a better place and actively living out the love of God.
But social justice is not the Gospel.
Jesus did not die on the cross so you and I can serve at a homeless shelter or sponsor a kid for $30 a month to release them from poverty. Those things are wonderful…hear me on that. Christians should be doing those things. But they are not the Gospel.
The Gospel, the good news, is a message with content. It tells us that even though we are separated from God by sin and unable to do anything to earn His forgiveness, Jesus Christ lived the perfect life that we could not. He then died on a cross as our substitute so that, through him and only him, we can be forgiven and accepted back into God’s family. There is nothing we need to do to in order to get right with God apart from relying on what He has done for us in Jesus. His forgiveness and favor are completely free, so none of us can boast about what we’ve done to earn eternal life.
Because that message is true and we have responded to it in faith, we are now free to do all kinds of good works, especially those that fit under the social justice category. And by “free” I don’t just mean we finally get to do them. Anyone can do a good work. I mean we are liberated from trying to earn God’s approval by doing them. We do not get closer to God by our good works and we do not please him more by our good works. We are already close to God, pleasing to God, and loved by God as much as we will ever be because, and only because, of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
That is the Gospel.
And if we are not actually sharing that message with people, even if we are freeing them from poverty or whatever other hardship they face, we are not really helping them as completely as God intends us to. Because sooner or later they will die, and if they have not accepted God’s gracious offer of forgiveness before then, the rest of their existence will be exponentially worse than it was while on this earth.
Glenn Beck is wrong. But unless we put social justice in it’s proper place, there’s a good chance he won’t be for long.
Participate: Think back over the social justice projects you’ve been a part of, did you share the message of redemption offered through Jesus Christ as a part of it? Why or why not?
Engage: What would it look like for social justice to be put in its proper place in your life? Would you have to share the gospel more? Would you have to serve more?
Own: This is an important conversation for Christians to have. How can you begin to engage your fellow believers on this topic?
Thank you for writing this article!
By: John Matthew Leone on April 9, 2010
at 10:28 AM
Ken,
You and I are on the same page! I have been watching all of the social justice talk brewing and feeling as if it was not complete.
You have put the words in my heart to blog.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!
Steven
By: SOwen on April 10, 2010
at 1:42 PM
Thanks, Steven!
By: Ken Eastburn on April 12, 2010
at 6:41 AM
ken, the thing about this article that causes me to pause, is that you portend to know the mindset of those christians who set out to do works of social justice, and posit a blanket supposition of likeness to their intentions. also, this statement concerns me: ” There is nothing we need to do to in order to get right with God apart from relying on what He has done for us in Jesus.” is this not “faith without acts”? how is this act of relying articulated or demonstrated? so, now that the horse named emergent is dead, are we going to flog the horse of social justice? more nit picking that distances those straddling their emotions and intellects about coming to Christ.
By: chas on April 10, 2010
at 11:10 PM
Hi Chas,
I should have been more clear in this blog, but I wasn’t assuming to know what EVERY Christian believes about social justice or what their motives are, but I stand by my analysis that what I’ve written here applies to some Christians and a good portion of them at that.
As far as what I said about needing to do nothing more than rely on Jesus for salvation, I stand by that statement as well. Works are the evidence of faith, but it is faith alone that saves us. Not faith plus works. Just faith. Works come after faith and as the evidence of it, but our works do not, at any point, save us or add to the righteousness that we have received through Jesus Christ. So no, there is nothing we need to do to get right with God. But there is much to do because we are right with God.
I’m not trying to flog the horse of social justice, I’m merely trying to make sure that social justice does not become a horse in need of flogging. And, surely, if we do not take the time to articulate what the gospel is and is not, any trend can easily become something it shouldn’t.
By: Ken Eastburn on April 12, 2010
at 6:50 AM
I see loving, helping and caring for the marginalized and disenfranchised less of a “suppose to” and more of a “get to” matter. When in a loving relationship with Jesus, we do things simply out of love for Jesus. We experience joy in doing these things knowing that Jesus cares deeply for people, and in particular, those that suffer. I view sharing the Gospel as a somewhat independent objective, though, helping and caring for others create unique, but not the only opportunities for doing so. I also understand the political push back for social justice issues, especially when people feel forced to participate.
By: Michael on April 11, 2010
at 8:11 AM
I agree Michael, thanks for chiming in!
By: Ken Eastburn on April 12, 2010
at 6:50 AM
My husband, David, & I–who, by the way, are also involved in a house church and hoping to maybe start another one soon–watch Glenn Beck daily. And after reading your post, I can’t help but wonder if you actually watch his programs…because his definition of social justice isn’t like what, it seems, the outraged Christians think it is.
With all due respect, have you gone to “the horses mouth” to find out what he really said? And if so, then hmmm…I guess I don’t understand because what we understand Glenn to be saying is that there is a vast difference in having a government FORCE redistribution of wealth and a government that ALLOWS those of us in the Body of Christ to CHOOSE of our freewill to respond to what the Lord commanded us to do: to love Him with all our heart and love our neighbors as we love ourselves, which, obviously includes feeding the poor and being a Good Samaritan.
If, on the other hand, you or others reading this post haven’t actually seen Glenn’s program or heard what he really said, I have a DVD of some of his programs, including the one where he explains the progressives’ definition of social justice, and would most gladly send it (free of charge) to anyone who would like to hear for themselves what he said.
As far as what you have concluded, that we need to participate, engage, and own. Absolutely! But I want the FREEDOM to do so, and under the leadership of the Lord Himself through His precious Holy Spirit, not the government TAKING from me or others and then deciding, based on THEIR SYSTEMS, how and who to distribute it to.
Sharon
By: Sharon Hillam on April 11, 2010
at 7:35 PM
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for commenting! For this blog, I relied on the infamous clip that got Glenn Beck in trouble in the first place. What he said in that clip was wrong, but I have no interest in berating Glenn Beck or taking him through the ringer based on one clip.
That’s why I didn’t spend much time there. It was merely a useful and timely way to open up a conversation about the role of social justice in the life of the Christian.
Hope that clears the air a bit!
By: Ken Eastburn on April 12, 2010
at 6:53 AM
Hi Chas,
ROM 4:3 reads “What does the scripture say?. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”. The body of Christ has entered a dangerous season not to be compared to others. We must set aside sentiments, I belong to Apollos or Paul and believe God studying the scriptures not fine books to show ourselves approved not to men but to God.
I am not against books.
Note the opening question in ROM 4:32. It is emphasizing that what the scripture says is what is important.
When Abraham was advised to add work/act he almost derailed but for the mercy of God.
Even the book of James that talks about works, acknowledged faith alone for righteousness/salvation Jam 2:23
By: Pedro on April 12, 2010
at 1:12 PM
faith with no outward manifestation is a fig tree without fruit. is this acceptance and righteousness a single act, or something that is defined moment by moment? to simply say the sinners prayer, invite and accept christ with your mouth, once, is not the same as as having faith. it is a single act, a single moment, in a long string of moments. if faith is an act trapped or defined by the past, it is inactive. Christ and faith are for the here and now. it is what we are feeling and doing right now. and if right now we are passing (missing) on our chance to manifest Christ for others, then we are not demonstrating faith. i am not interested in trying to flout the faith without works/works without faith albatross. if faith is simply inward directed and merely felt, it fails to model Christ at all and depicts narcissism, a Christ that is an elecutionary that salves only us.
By: chas on April 12, 2010
at 1:44 PM
Chas,
Is it enough to say that we are saved by faith alone and that the natural outcome of such faith is good works?
By: Ken Eastburn on April 12, 2010
at 1:48 PM
I can honestly say the term “social justice” was foreign to me until recently. Wikipedia in its infinite wisdom (chuckle) lays it all out pretty well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice
It would appear social justice is another word for not making Jesus the main thing. Thus, we help the poor, have a prison ministry, do this, or do that…but don’t share the Gospel in some manner or form. “But we prayed with them…we said Jesus’ name plenty of times.”
But did you really try to get to know the person? Did you really try to listen to them. Praying and throwing Jesus’ name is something a Pharisee could do but did their efforts further the Kingdom of God an inch?
Nothing we should do as a follower of Christ should be put in motion if it doesn’t promote the Gospel. Everything else is done to serve ourselves…either serving flesh to make us feel better…or serving others by shining the light on ourselves.
By: Rick Garner on April 12, 2010
at 2:41 PM
Chas,
A farmer plants a seed buried in the group and can not be seen until it starts to broke out from the ground, becomes a visible tree with fruits that enrich and nourish the life of many.
Men then acknowledge the farmer and may forget that the seed was given to the farmer and all he did was sow it in a ground who’s maker is the giver of the seed.
He does not know how the seed grows- he may say that he ploughed the ground and watered the seed but many others did a better job in ploughing and watering yet produced little or nothing.
Our life is a seed that we’re asked by God to sow by faith- we need to know that sowing is by faith and for the discussion, we’re sowing the seed on Christ which germinates to righteousness and salvation. In other words, that exercise of faith or acceptance of the grace of God alone guarantees our salvation and so is not of works lest we will be full of foolish boasting.
The above does not in any way negate the fruit that comes to evidence the fact that a seed was actually sown.
Jesus said abide in me and you will bear much fruit. But how did we first enter into him?. Answer: by faith alone not our fruit. ROM 4:13-14, 5:1-2, 4:12&16 and 9:30 etc
By: Pedro on April 12, 2010
at 2:55 PM
@ ken: is it enough? perhaps. @ pedro: parababble.
By: chas on April 12, 2010
at 6:13 PM
Chas,
Is parababble meant for exhortation, encouragement, correction or rebuke?
I guess that’s what our word to each other should bring at all times even on-line.
By: Pedro on April 13, 2010
at 3:27 AM
pedro, thank you for your rebuke. i apologize for my rudeness.
By: chas on April 13, 2010
at 7:05 PM
Hello Ken,
Thank you for wanting to discuss my reason for withdrawing from your contact.
First, may I apologize if it appeared rude. I did not intend that at all. Many of your write-ups have encouraged and challenged me in a good way.
I have not met you but I love you as a fellow human being and a brother that mentions Jesus Christ.
At the moment, I will not like to rush into discussions about my concern for the following reason:
(a) Theological differences can stem from one having a spirit other than the spirit of Christ, wrong foundation or lack of understanding. The first factor being the only one that will move me to severe relationship/contact. At the moment pardon me to say I need time to get clarity. I took the step to withdraw sharply because the contact was a public one to which I had re-tweeted your write up(s).
Foundational error has been inherited by majority of us Christians. So I believe that through love for the lord, love and respect for each each other and a sincere heart to learn, we can always walk our way through those differences and achieve unity of The Faith. And on the side of lack of understanding, recognition of one another’s ministry gifting can lead to appreciation of God’s differential grace on us as it relates to deeper understanding of his word.
Once more, my sincere apologies if my action hurt your feelings in any way.
Shalom
Pedro
By: Pedro on April 18, 2010
at 10:57 AM
Pedro,
My feelings have not at all been hurt, but I still don’t understand what it is that you have found to be offensive or otherwise off-putting about the blog. I’m happy to discuss that with you or help clarify anything that I may have been unclear on.
Let me know if you want to discuss that either be commenting here or by emailing me at thewell@leavethebuilding.com
By: Ken Eastburn on April 19, 2010
at 8:03 AM