More on definitions and purpose…

I’m finding it important to distinguish between what I see as the two sides/arenas of Christian social justice: Community and Advocacy.

Beloved Community: The heart of Christian social justice is in the way that a personal faith in Christ can wonderfully transform people into a new body of believers where there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, rich nor poor, black nor white (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:10-11). And when the unsaved, after hearing the gospel, ask where they can see that happening we can show them such a place without hesitation. A place where materialism does not rule and no believer has too little or too much. A place that bears witness to the Prince of Peace in a violent and suffering world. A place where Christ is all and is in all. Social justice in this respect is spoken in terms like racial reconciliation and the radical redistribution of social capital.

Legal-Political Advocacy: American Christians in particular have been given remarkable opportunity to participate in the government and have an added responsibility to make the most of the opportunities that democracy provides – our government provides tools too powerful to pass up. Christians, motivated by faith, are fully justified in taking a public stand for biblical ideals but they must do so in harmony with democratic principles. Using legal and political advocacy to directly combat the sinful structures of this world quickly becomes a conversation about responsible citizenship for people of faith in a liberal democracy.

As I’ve stated in group my primary goal at this point is to 1. Place the Christian ideals of social justice back into the center of the life and practice of the Church where it belongs, and 2. Gather together the members of this community behind a unified vision for and disciplined commitment to social justice.

We are continuing to educate this congregation about social justice and beginning to create fellowship around our shared conviction. Advocacy is on the horizon.

“It is not enough for the Church to be engaged with the State in healing social ills, though this is important at times. But when the world can turn around and see a group of God’s people exhibiting substantial healing in the area of human relationships in their present life, then the world will take notice. Each groups of Christians is, as it were, a pilot plant, showing that something can be done in the present situation, if only we begin in the right way.” ~ Francis Schaeffer, The God who is There