Integrity and Social Justice

There is much heat and perhaps not enough light being generated within the church at the moment, with passionate conversations around the Obama healthcare law and connected issues around freedom, the US constitution, and right versus left-wing world views. As the Pastor at Journey Church, I want to blog about some of the issues raised in various Facebook threads. It's important to step out of the intensity of some of these conversations/judgments and just think broadly and in a biblical, historically orthodox way about the issues of social care, individual and corporate response to need etc.

First it has been proposed that an individual needs to separate one's faith, social, political, scientific and even artistic thinking and acting. While I think I understand what the proposer meant, I gently disagree. Science, if done well, should indeed be free of any subjective influence - including worldview and faith assumptions. Of course 100% subjectivity in science is never practically possible, but it's a valid aim. Much of what passes for science in the popular media is sadly shaped by a 'secular humanism' faith/worldview that is so pervasive it is hardly noticed. But that's another blog post! As for every other category, I believe our God-view (theology if you will) should, must and inevitably does inform and shape every other sphere of the mind. Indeed to resist such shaping would be to detract from the integrity (one-ness) in which we live out faithfully our allegiance to Jesus Christ and His mission, vision and purpose.My art is informed by God - because art deeply expresses who I am - and that has been radically transformed by the Holy Spirit at my moment of initial salvation, and my ever-continuing sanctification.

My political views must be an extension of my new-creation identity - or else I am letting them be formed by some secondary identity. Now, let me quickly make clear that Christ-followers of good conscious come to very different conclusions about how to politically express the God-mission. That's OK and does not indicate an incongruity in the Body Of Christ (the church) because God chooses now (and always) to work through our humanity - in all its diversity. It does mean that I must engage with other Christ-followers (and secular people) in a spirit of mutual respect, restraint and good manners. After all, who am I, but someone given a second chance by Jesus? What right do I have to judge others? None! Therefore with humility and hesed loving-kindness, I will engage politically. For the record, I am a political independent. I will engage issue by issue as informed by my faith, rather than subscribe to any broad partisan systems of policy. That's just where I am. If you are a member of a political party - that's fine. As your pastor, I just want you to be fully convinced that your vote reflects Jesus' will for you and the resources and relations He is entrusting to you. Peace be ours.

Now, let me 'grasp the thorn' of so-called social justice and the social-gospel. These are not dirty words. They are beautiful words, because I am a Christ-followers who lives in a society. I am called to reconcile the world to Christ. My area of influence is my immediate society - including the people who read this blog. Of course I want justice for us all! God is just. I am called to be like God. God wants us all (society) to be like Him. So social justice is the aim of every Christ-follower. I am called to live in ways that focus on others as much as myself. ("Love they neighbor as thyself" - what else can it mean?). That means a socialistic impulse is expressive of a Godly worldview.

Church versus State: Some have fondly advanced the view that social justice is the role of the church not the State and that Christians have allowed this role to be delegated to the State, who do a poor job of it. Furthermore, some have even argued that social justice is not a goal of the church, but Christian Charity, as if somehow the two were effectively different. Maybe they have a point, but if they do, I think it may be predicated on a weak premise: that the State is influentially discrete from the church. I would say that one role of the church is to lovingly effect the culture around us with Christ, We are the 'aroma of Christ' - salt and light in a decayed and dark world. If the State has taken on the roles of social welfare and care, it is almost entirely so because the church has been phenomenally successful at influencing the State with Christ-like ethics. Hallelujah! We should rejoice at this, rather than fight against it!

Of course, the Gospel of Salvation and Sanctification (saving and discipling) is primary and social concerns are secondary. The social-gospel must never displace The Gospel. But also, The Gospel must never be an abstract truth, not expressed in lived-out lives that bless the world. John 3:16 tells us that God loves the world, and so must we - individually and collectively as the church and also as citizens in a republic. Even The Lord Jesus Christ cared for people's immediate needs as he shared the truth. Often before He shared the truth. Sometimes the only truth He shared was an act of social justice.

In essentials let there be unity. In non-essentials let there be liberty. Oh but so, so, so important - in all things let there be real Jesus-humble love.