Ever since Glenn Beck told listeners to run from churches who advocate "social justice," (I know, its old news) I've looked for coherent responses from people of faith. I'm a GB viewer, but I think he overstepped here (shocker alert!). His problem is with churches who get in bed with the government to promote "forced social justice" aka socialism, but he mis-characterizes Biblical social justice which is certainly the responsibility of the faithful.
He's tried to redeem himself promoting charitable justice, but it does bring up a good point as to the role of the church and the government as it pertains to social justice.
This link includes a few varied responses I found interesting. Some have me revisiting my own conclusions concerning the role of government in social justice.
I'd love to hear some responses from y'all.
Social Justice Conversation
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dolfan
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My own position?
Social justice is impossible outside of the kingdom of God. The world is impossibly fallen and all of its institutions with it. The church has no business and no interest in poking sticks under fallen ideas of justice and pretending them be pillars of real justice. Cries for greater government this or that to correct inequities are meaningless babble when what the world needs is to correct iniquities. That can only, only, only happen inside the church of Jesus. To even attempt any other means, any other relief really, is to confess with our hands and feet that there really is another way besides Jesus.
At the same time, the world really IS fallen. The church has a great void before it to bring to bear in the fallen world the truth of Jesus Christ. And, that truth is way more than a distilled outline of Admit, Believe, Confess. All of the tools of justice in all of its aspects, all of the tools of right, all of the tools of submission and of service and of supply, all of the tools of what a real and Godly kingdom really looks like are right here, right now. But, they can only be used, only have any effect at all, if the church is using them for the sole purpose of obeying God's commands for us to do and be what Jesus said to be and did. Otherwise, it is casting pearls before swine.
Social justice is impossible outside of the kingdom of God. The world is impossibly fallen and all of its institutions with it. The church has no business and no interest in poking sticks under fallen ideas of justice and pretending them be pillars of real justice. Cries for greater government this or that to correct inequities are meaningless babble when what the world needs is to correct iniquities. That can only, only, only happen inside the church of Jesus. To even attempt any other means, any other relief really, is to confess with our hands and feet that there really is another way besides Jesus.
At the same time, the world really IS fallen. The church has a great void before it to bring to bear in the fallen world the truth of Jesus Christ. And, that truth is way more than a distilled outline of Admit, Believe, Confess. All of the tools of justice in all of its aspects, all of the tools of right, all of the tools of submission and of service and of supply, all of the tools of what a real and Godly kingdom really looks like are right here, right now. But, they can only be used, only have any effect at all, if the church is using them for the sole purpose of obeying God's commands for us to do and be what Jesus said to be and did. Otherwise, it is casting pearls before swine.
Human government bears the same relation to hell as the church bears to heaven. (David Lipscomb, On Civil Government, 72).
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Full Quiver
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Well I didn't hear Beck say it so I can't comment in context but I will guess that he was pointing towards political churches that use the govt. to do the things that they should be doing.
In other words if your congregation as a whole or in most part is receiving from the govt. to survive and thus living off other people's money, OPP, then that congregation probably thinks they should give and do well to others off OPP. In Lay man's terms they want the govt to fund their social justice programs instead of giving and sacrificing themselves.
Being tied at the hip to the govt keeps you under their thumb and watchful eye. Either God's people will fulfill HIS word concerning these things or the govt will try in the name of good. Dolfan is right though that it only truly gets done when the church does it and many times falls short even then. It really takes God's strength and Spirit to multiply our efforts.
In other words if your congregation as a whole or in most part is receiving from the govt. to survive and thus living off other people's money, OPP, then that congregation probably thinks they should give and do well to others off OPP. In Lay man's terms they want the govt to fund their social justice programs instead of giving and sacrificing themselves.
Being tied at the hip to the govt keeps you under their thumb and watchful eye. Either God's people will fulfill HIS word concerning these things or the govt will try in the name of good. Dolfan is right though that it only truly gets done when the church does it and many times falls short even then. It really takes God's strength and Spirit to multiply our efforts.
I have piped unto you, and ye have not danced!
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