Weekly Pulpit -- Warren Sentinel -- July 7, 2010
Am I a Conservative or a Liberal? I suppose it depends on where you stand. Was Jesus a Conservative or a Liberal? Again, I suppose it depends on where you stand. A pastor friend of mine in exasperation once said to me something like, “Sometimes you sound like a Liberal and sometimes you sound like a Conservative! Which are you? I just can't figure you out.” When I read Scripture, I often feel the same way about Jesus.
A couple of months ago an influential television and radio personality urged his viewers and listeners to check out their church's websites to see if they contained any mention of “social justice.” He went on to urge folks to leave their churches if they found such “code words” and to report their pastors to their denominational authorities.
You don't have to check out our church's website (www.rockland.cc) to find out if I believe in social justice. Let me be clear: I believe in social justice. And I believe that the Bible says a lot about social justice. And I believe that Jesus himself taught and practiced social justice. Please note, that's just my personal view and it doesn't necessarily reflect the views of everyone I pastor – but I hope it does.
Jesus was all about justice. And the Bible is too. It is nearly impossible to read the Bible without recognizing God's special concern for the “least of these” – the poor, the oppressed, the widows, the orphans … And Jesus' earthly ministry tended to focus on the least of these as well.
Just this past Sunday I preached on two parables of Jesus (found in Luke 14). Right between these two parables, Jesus said, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
I can't read those words of Jesus (or many others like them) and come to the conclusion that Jesus didn't proclaim social justice. Maybe he didn't use the phrase “social justice,” but he definitely understood and promoted the concept. If you don't believe me, take a look at Jesus' words in Luke 4:18-21 and consider the Old Testament concept of the “Year of Jubilee.” While some might interpret Jesus' words to mean that he was only concerned with the spiritually poor, imprisoned, and blind, I believe that Jesus' actual ministry demonstrated a much more holistic concern.
That being said, we must also be careful to not assume that all social programs are socially just. Some present day social programs may do more harm than good and may lead to bondage and dependence rather than liberation and freedom. But followers of Jesus should be careful to not throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. In fact, the rise of the early Church may have had a lot to do with the willingness of early Christians to sell their possessions and to give to anyone who had need.
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