In the meantime, the Wantagh Memorial Community Church, with Ron Garner at the earthly helm, has entered into the fray, committing his understanding -- all our understanding, really-- to the fight for Jesus' justice in the world. Glenn Beck, radio commentator, has called the church to account on his action against social justice. I think the word that bothers him is the word "social". I think that he thinks it reflects a move toward communism, marxism, and a host of other "isms" that the country has long been afraid of.
It is one more usurping of a term by a fearful people, and I am sorry that the term has come to be understood in that manner, because social justice, in its purest form is simply giving every human a chance at life. Jesus taught us to care for the sick and the poor, the widowed and the orphan. Jesus invited all to share his gospel of love -- women and children, those with demonic possession (the mentally ill, in our time), those who have made mistakes in their lives, the over zealous, the under achievers, the poor, the out-of-work, beggars, politicians and kings. Isn't that social justice at its finest? And who are we to do any less?
In the early church, as it is described in Acts of the Apostles, the members gathered in one place, shared their food and "had all things in common", so that no one would do without. Isn't that social justice at its finest? And its not scary at all. It's just Christian.
So when you hear the argument, and when you hear the Glenn Becks of the world preaching against social justice, remember that Jesus called us to care for all God's people. Even Glenn Beck.
1 comment:
I don’t believe that Glen Beck is a theologian in any sense of the word but the idea of “social justice” that he is talking about is “social justice” imposed by the state, or how social justice is used in “Black Liberation theology” in the false doctrine of “collective salvation”. Much tyranny can and has been harshly imposed upon people in the guise of “social justice” by various dictatorial states. Social Justice imposed by the state is very different than loving your neighbor as yourself or helping the least of these led by the Holy Spirit by Gods people, the church. If you don’t believe this, Mao and Stalin are too easy, check out Enver Hoxa dictator or Armenia from the end of WWII until his death in 1985. He practiced “social justice” especially the social justice idea of equality of gender. Google what he did to those who did not agree. It not commonly known that he tortured and executed Catholic and Orthodox priests who were caught baptizing people and felt that his greatest accomplishment was eradicating all religion from Armenia. May I direct you to Luther’s biblical doctrine of the “Two Kingdoms” which may clarify the issue of “social justice” within the church.
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