“In the Christian obsessed with “social justice” it isn’t easy to discern whether charity is flourishing or faith is expiring.” – Nicolas Gomez Davila
Plain and simple: I grew up poor. From a young age, I questioned the social order and welfare systems of the USA and the world. When my mother had to work three minimum wage jobs to feed her four children, I knew there was something wrong with our social system. After I became a Christian I read the teachings of Christ and felt compelled that something, if not everything must change in society and as a follower of Christ, I have the responsibility to advocate and work towards such change.
As I entered college, I felt a greater calling to rise up and do something. Sitting in a theology class, I heard the words “social justice” and “social gospel” for the first time. I could finally put a cause to the angst I felt internally. Now I am at a point where I am grappling with these concepts. I am a large advocate of changing our society down to the systemic levels. I believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ. I believe in showing the love and compassion of Christ through works (a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name). What I am struggling with is finding a balance between evangelism and social justice. I have been reading Rauschenbusch and others and I recognize that the pendulum can’t sway too much to one side. One must not give up the message of the saving power of Christ when leveling out society. But one must not keep people from eternal hell by failing to meet their needs to keep them for an earthly hell.
Don’t think I’m a heretic. I think believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6), but I also firmly believe that Jesus calls Christians to help save people from the hells of this earth; poverty, disease, abuse and addiction to name some. My question is, why can’t we as Christians find a balance (myself included)? I see there are some denominations that have a social justice emphasis while others strictly evangelism. This debate splits moderate and conservative Baptist. I don’t think this will be settled overnight, but I thought I would share my struggles.
Tags: evangelism, social justice
June 26, 2008 at 6:17 am
As you know, I was brought up with the social gospel. Whenever I mentioned going on a mission trip that wasn’t labor-intensive, I was told that I could “do that here” and that I should “meet their physical needs”, and he would tell me again about a Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy is shivering in the cold and Linus walks up to him and says “Be of good cheer Snoopy, Christ reigns supreme” (or something to that effect), walks off smiling and leaves Snoopy alone in the cold.
At the same time, I know that evangelism is not my gift (I’m pretty sure it’s one of yours though!). I would be much better suited ministering to people through counseling or physical needs. So here’s what I think: part of our spiritual gifts involves a calling for social justice just as much as service and evangelism. Also, I think that evangelism needs to take various forms to fill different needs. Social Gospel works for many people who have not seen that sort of kindness before, and they come and ask what is going on. Other people can be reached through straight out evangelism (though I’ve never really been an advocate of standing on a street corner handing out religious tracts. It kind of makes me shudder), while still more, I think, need a mixture of both.
So I guess my point is, it takes all kinds. I would venture to say that Jesus was just as much and advocate for social justice in certain ways as he was an evangelist. In fact, that’s how non-Christians often paint him: a radical in search of social justice.
So I guess in short: minister to physical needs but also make known whose name in which you are doing those deeds. I don’t see how someone could say that we should stick to simply evangelism after looking at how Christ healed the sick, the lame, the blind, cast out demons, rose people from the dead…etc. And then commanded his disciples to do the same works IN HIS NAME.
June 27, 2008 at 1:35 am
yes, what kate said.
and i think solving the world’s problems with you is better over queso and chips.