Social justice

Social justice is defined in many ways by Christians. Some Christians say that we are not to engage in social justice issues. They say that we are to preach the gospel and that in itself is enough. I believe, however, we are to engage in social justice issues. To be clear, I do believe we are to preach. Jesus himself said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed." Luke 4:18" Then he said to his disciples " “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16" However, that is not the only thing that the bible teaches us to do. We are also instructed to care for the widow (James 1:27), the Orphan (James 1:27), and the poor (Matthew 25:35). 

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Our Conceptual Framework Of Social Justice 

My conception of social justice is grounded in examples from scriptures. So before I give my conception of social justice, I will provide a non-exhaustive list of examples from scriptures that help me to frame the idea of social justice. 

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• " So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,' says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 3:5

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• "'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD." Jeremiah 22:16

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• "This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place." Jeremiah 22:3

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• "He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked." Ezekiel 18:7

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• "The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice." Ezekiel 22:29

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• "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49

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• "(They) have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor." Jeremiah 5:28

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• "if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm," Jeremiah 7:6

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• "On your clothes men find the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this you say I am innocent.'" Jeremiah 2:34

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• "If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10

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• "The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just." Isaiah 32:7

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• "Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:9

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• "The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern." Proverbs 29:7

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• The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked." Psalm 146:9

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• "I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy." Psalm 140:12

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• My whole being will exclaim, Who is like you, 0 LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.'" Psalm 35:10

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• " Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the LORD, I will protect them from those who malign them. " Psalm 12:5

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• Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. Psalm 146:5-9

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• To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3 

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• He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 

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• Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. Isaiah 1:17

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• “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” Zechariah 7:9-10 

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Our Organization's Conception of Social Justice 

Social justice is doing what is right in your society and speaking up for those that are done wrong. In essence, social justice is you acting rightly and speaking up for those that are done wrongly. It is grounded in the idea that everyone should be treated fairly. 

Right and wrong are grounded in the biblical principles of fighting for and defending the cause of the poor, the needy and the alien, correcting oppression, satisfying the needs of the oppressed, watching over the alien, the widow and the fatherless, fighting against extortion, and robbery of the poor.

While this is not an all-inclusive concept, its a start.