Jesus and Justice pt 1: Introduction

We live in a cultural moment in which issues of social justice are centered like never before. Some people enter the conversation because of social pressure to look "woke". Image management on social media is the primary motivation. But the fact remains that American culture, both secular and religious, are talking about justice with a consistency and conviction that I haven't seen before.

I find this resurgence of justice into the mainstream absolutely fascinating. Why is it that Christians (perhaps it's more fair and accurate to say white Christians) are some of the most skeptical and dismissive when it comes to social justice? After all, caring for the vulnerable among us is deeply and profoundly biblical. I'm astounded how often my passion for justice is categorized as liberal or progressive instead of biblical by other Christians. Giving issues of justice a political or social label is a tactic often used by white conservative Christians to keep issues of justice at arms length.

Many Christians have been formed more by American political ideologies than the life of Jesus. Faith fits in with politics and not the other way around. Consequently, the Christian imagination around justice is hijacked by categories like "right", "left", "progressive" and "conservative" rather than Jesus and foundational concepts to His kingdom like grace, stewardship, hospitality and love.

There are many competing visions and frameworks for justice within the public square. Tim Keller recently offered a very succinct and helpful article unpacking the libertarian, liberal, utilitarian and postmodern visions of justice in a recent article.

My goal here is not to critique other frameworks of justice. In fact, one of my frustrations is how many Christians enter the public square only willing to collaborate with those who share their exact same world view. How do we expect to bring the Kingdom of God to our time and our place with this mentality? We live in a pluralistic society and would do well to thoughtfully find common ground across differences. Some Christians heavily critique those caring for the marginalized from the front lines while cocooning themselves from the pain and suffering of the vulnerable. It's like the high school football fan endlessly critiquing coaches and players without having played a snap in their life. They've eaten more nachos in the stands than they have gotten in the trenches to know what it's actually like to play the game. We ought to notice and celebrate others, regardless of their worldview, who take justice seriously and make personal sacrifices to care for vulnerable people.

Jesus provides the most compelling vision and framework for justice that I have encountered. A distinctively Christian framing of justice has something beautiful and compelling to give to the world in a time like this. In fact, it's actually part of why I'm a Christian in the first place. Issues of justice are grounded in a comprehensive worldview that establishes human dignity and offers a pathway towards restoration.

First, let me begin by defining justice. After tracing the themes of justice throughout the biblical narrative I define biblical justice this way: Developing compassion for vulnerable people and making personal sacrifices to care for their whole person. Another way to think about social justice is "social righteousness". Justice is living "rightly" related to how God wants us to treat people and the planet. If Shalom is God's desire for our world, a rich biblical concept that envisions a place where nothing is missing and nothing is broken, then justice is the means to get there.

When your heart and mind are opened to the importance of justice for the first time it's impossible to read the bible in the same way. This concept of justice is a constant scriptural motif:

• Justice is a critical attribute for God's people in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:9-10, exodus 23:1-13, Deuteronomy 15:7-8, etc.)

• Justice is a central message of the prophets and a consistent reason why God is upset with his people (Isiah 1, Isiah 58, Micah 6:8, Amos 5-6, etc.)

• Justice is a way of life for Jesus (Luke 14: 12-14, Luke 11: 37-44; Matt 25: 31-46, Matthew 23:23-24, etc.)

• Justice is an inevitable trait of the early church. When people gather around Jesus, justice becomes a way of life (James 2:14-16, James 1:27, 1 John 3:17, etc.)

Don't let anyone fool you. Justice cannot be viewed as a "secondary issue" or "distraction from the mission of the church" if the bible, and Jesus more specifically, is to be taken seriously. Evangelism and justice hierarchies must be abolished. Jesus himself viewed issues of justice and mercy as "weightier" than behavioral and doctrinal correctness (Matthew 23: 23).

Those of us who are pastors - who take seriously our role in preparing people to meet Jesus - should be deeply concerned about forming Jesus followers into people of justice. After all, in Matthew 25 those who meet Jesus are not asked to recite a catechism or doctrinal statement. They are asked how they cared for the poor and hungry.

The defensiveness around issues of justice among many white Christians has a long and interesting historical context. We've been duped by bad theology and socio-political American visions of the good life rather than what we see in the story of Jesus presented in the gospels.

I resonate with what Tim Macke from The Bible Project said in a recent interview: “It takes great discipline to set aside our modern debates on justice and just learn how to listen to the biblical story on justice and then come back to our modern context”

I will attempt to do just that as I turn to pt. 2....