The ‘social justice non-gospel’
'We're called to help others, but not through vain obedience to extra-biblical, worldly philosophies of men'
by Joseph Farah
Do those critical of what is being referred to as “the social justice gospel” today oppose social justice?
That is all-too-often the suggestion or accusation made by proponents. But it is not true – not for me or any other believer I know.
As one of those who signed the “Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel,” I can attest that all human beings are created in the image of God. We all live in a world plagued by sin in the human heart. Personal salvation comes only through the sacrificial and atoning death of Jesus, the Son of God, while the restoration of perfect justice awaits His return to earth as King of kings, Lord of lords.
We can debate interim forms of triage, but man is wholly incapable of righting personal, cultural or systemic wrongs of the past any other way than by sincere individual repentance through the grace we are afforded in our circumcised hearts and through spiritual rebirth. Only Jesus, the Perfect Judge, can and will bring about “the restitution of all things” upon His certain return. (Acts 3:21) In the meantime, we are commanded to pray for that Kingdom to come, on earth as it is in heaven, (Matthew 6:10) while we take the life-giving message of the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. (Acts 1:8)
Do we love our neighbors as ourselves? Yes. Do we feed and clothe the poor? Yes. Do we comfort the afflicted? Yes.
Our spiritual obligations to do these things are both personal and collective as believers, but specifically not through vain obedience to the extra-biblical, worldly philosophies of men. (Colossians 2:8)
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Joseph Farah’s new book has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the astonishing proof of the Gospel revealed in every book of the Old Testament.
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Likewise, each of us has enough personal sin in our lives for which we need to repent without “collectivizing” our historical national shortcomings. It may make us feel good to do so. It might even make us feel “proud” to do so. But it brings none of us any closer to the realization of the Kingdom of God and the perfect justice we all seek. Instead, our priority from Jesus – black, white, male, female, Jew, gentile – is to spread the Good News. And, in so doing, we must never fall temptation to compromise on or deviate from the clear meaning of Scripture.
How does the “social justice gospel” do that?
By falling prey to such humanistic and neo-Marxist notions as “critical-race theory,” “intersectionality,” “critical social and cultural theory,” “g****r theory,” etc. This is where the “social justice gospel” departs from the essence of scriptural t***h. It is not “ethno-centric” to oppose these ideas. It is not “r****t” to oppose these ideas. It is not “anti-woman” to oppose these ideas. It is not “h********c” to oppose them. Such slurs do their accusers a disservice. Frankly, it’s sin to hurl them.
As a former radical l*****t myself, perhaps I see this distinction more clearly than some others. It was through my own experience coming into the saving grace of Jesus and the divine wisdom of the Bible that I was able to be cleansed of such worldly confusion. It leads inevitably to more strife, more division, more animosity, more distraction.
Make no mistake: It’s a good thing to embrace our brothers and sisters of all colors and creeds – to love them, serve them, comfort them in any way we can. But our charge as believers in Jesus is, first and foremost, to evangelize them, to lead them to spiritual rebirth, to save them from death, to disciple them in the ways of God, not the ways of this fallen world under the d******n of an evil prince.
Jesus and the prophets have revealed to us how He – and He alone – will bring about perfect justice and t***h on earth under His rulership. There is no other prescription under heaven. We diminish our Lord and Savior in looking for any other.
Does that mean any of us don’t have the absolute right – even duty – to get involved in politics for the betterment of our country under the dictates of our moral conscience? Absolutely we do! Just don’t let any of us pretend invoking vain humanistic ideas has anything to do with Jesus’ Gospel of the Kingdom and real justice.
no propaganda please wrote:
The ‘social justice non-gospel’
'We're called to help others, but not through vain obedience to extra-biblical, worldly philosophies of men'
by Joseph Farah
Do those critical of what is being referred to as “the social justice gospel” today oppose social justice?
That is all-too-often the suggestion or accusation made by proponents. But it is not true – not for me or any other believer I know.
As one of those who signed the “Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel,” I can attest that all human beings are created in the image of God. We all live in a world plagued by sin in the human heart. Personal salvation comes only through the sacrificial and atoning death of Jesus, the Son of God, while the restoration of perfect justice awaits His return to earth as King of kings, Lord of lords.
We can debate interim forms of triage, but man is wholly incapable of righting personal, cultural or systemic wrongs of the past any other way than by sincere individual repentance through the grace we are afforded in our circumcised hearts and through spiritual rebirth. Only Jesus, the Perfect Judge, can and will bring about “the restitution of all things” upon His certain return. (Acts 3:21) In the meantime, we are commanded to pray for that Kingdom to come, on earth as it is in heaven, (Matthew 6:10) while we take the life-giving message of the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. (Acts 1:8)
Do we love our neighbors as ourselves? Yes. Do we feed and clothe the poor? Yes. Do we comfort the afflicted? Yes.
Our spiritual obligations to do these things are both personal and collective as believers, but specifically not through vain obedience to the extra-biblical, worldly philosophies of men. (Colossians 2:8)
--
Joseph Farah’s new book has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the astonishing proof of the Gospel revealed in every book of the Old Testament.
--
Likewise, each of us has enough personal sin in our lives for which we need to repent without “collectivizing” our historical national shortcomings. It may make us feel good to do so. It might even make us feel “proud” to do so. But it brings none of us any closer to the realization of the Kingdom of God and the perfect justice we all seek. Instead, our priority from Jesus – black, white, male, female, Jew, gentile – is to spread the Good News. And, in so doing, we must never fall temptation to compromise on or deviate from the clear meaning of Scripture.
How does the “social justice gospel” do that?
By falling prey to such humanistic and neo-Marxist notions as “critical-race theory,” “intersectionality,” “critical social and cultural theory,” “g****r theory,” etc. This is where the “social justice gospel” departs from the essence of scriptural t***h. It is not “ethno-centric” to oppose these ideas. It is not “r****t” to oppose these ideas. It is not “anti-woman” to oppose these ideas. It is not “h********c” to oppose them. Such slurs do their accusers a disservice. Frankly, it’s sin to hurl them.
As a former radical l*****t myself, perhaps I see this distinction more clearly than some others. It was through my own experience coming into the saving grace of Jesus and the divine wisdom of the Bible that I was able to be cleansed of such worldly confusion. It leads inevitably to more strife, more division, more animosity, more distraction.
Make no mistake: It’s a good thing to embrace our brothers and sisters of all colors and creeds – to love them, serve them, comfort them in any way we can. But our charge as believers in Jesus is, first and foremost, to evangelize them, to lead them to spiritual rebirth, to save them from death, to disciple them in the ways of God, not the ways of this fallen world under the d******n of an evil prince.
Jesus and the prophets have revealed to us how He – and He alone – will bring about perfect justice and t***h on earth under His rulership. There is no other prescription under heaven. We diminish our Lord and Savior in looking for any other.
Does that mean any of us don’t have the absolute right – even duty – to get involved in politics for the betterment of our country under the dictates of our moral conscience? Absolutely we do! Just don’t let any of us pretend invoking vain humanistic ideas has anything to do with Jesus’ Gospel of the Kingdom and real justice.
The ‘social justice non-gospel’ br 'We're called t... (
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Amen and Amen spot on thanks for that NPP.
bahmer wrote:
Amen and Amen spot on thanks for that NPP.
You are welcome. Joseph Farah is a fascinating thinker, and I enjoy reading his articles and books
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