At Bible Study, I was accosted on not nagging people enough on issues of social justice in the church. So, I thought I would use the column to consider the issue again.
While the Old Testament issues a clarion call for social justice, it is muted in the new Testament as it was directed toward people without power. Meging the two continues to be a difficulty for the church at large. At our chruch board meeting, i was shocked to hear the slant on the history of the church in soical action projects., as if separation of church and stat emeant silence on matters of public policy in the church.
One way the church faces social injustice is through charity. Often it does it very well. to me, charity is an individual act of kindness for a basic human need. It helps out in a difficulty.
Justice is a matter of social structure. While charity deals with a symptom, justice tries to address causes or conditions for public social harms. A cup of cold water is an act of charity, but providing for safe, healthful drinking water for all is a matter of justice. Helping out an elderly person with a prescription bill is an act of charity, while Social Security and medicare are acts of public justice.
I have a number of problems with the older churches and social justice work. One is the basic presumption that admonishing, well really nagging people about social justice does not seem to work and often puts people into a defensive crouch that inhibits the very programs one may be advocating. Second, the church’s analysis of soical issues often seems to me to be faulty on a number of counts. One the linkage between biblical and ethical precepts are often only loosely tied to the program that is being advocated. Second, the social analysis by the churches seem to me to be much better done by trained social observers who aspire to objectivity and even-handedness, while church's position papers seem to cherry-pick wretrs and their positions to fit within a decision already made. Third, ti is impossible for me to see how we can argue, with a straight face, that only one style of program is “the” Christian position on social justice. people of good will are perfectly capable of seeing ends and means differently. the long-established (mainline) churches are too quick to dismiss efficiency and effectiveness as measuring markers for social programs.faced with such a wide array of social problems, the church can easily fall victim to burnout or despair.Further, the chruches would do well to select issues that can acquire a good deal of support. One of the reasons the church is ineffective in social justice is that officials know that it does not carry the suppor tof its own membership, so that its policy statements are mere rhetorical flourishes but hold little weight. If we cannot convince our own members, why do we feel it is incumbent upon us to lobby officials?
For me repentance does lead to a transformation of values that would lead people to seek out the best ways to to approach issues of social justice.this may be to seek allies for one’s interests and to include the government as a major policy actor. Too oftne the church slips into the silly notion that the government stands against social justice and is far too quick to condemn government action. Second, the church could do well as acting as a signal. When an issue seems orphaned or lacks political clout, such as the plight of the mentally ill, the church can help create awareness of the issue. With its constant call for inclusiveness, the church could do a better job of seeking to include different points of view in its march toward a better world.
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