By Retired Reverend Gorton Smith, United methodist Church
Why should a person of faith care about social justice? Ask Abraham as he sought to find ten righteous people in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Ask Moses who stood before Pharaoh and demanded the release of the Hebrew people from Egyptian slavery. Ask the prophets who time after time called for justice for all people. Ask Jesus who challenged those who would judge a woman to search their own misdeeds before passing judgment on another. Being a person of faith and a person of social conscious is closely knit into one fabric.
The rhetoric in today’s political sphere focuses on the size of government, and the role of government in the lives of individuals. The size of government is not the issue, but the effectiveness of government in protecting her citizens socially, judicially and economically. An old adage claims that it is not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. The same can be said for government. The prophet Amos speaks to government when he says, “Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gates” (Amos 5:15).
The issue of social justice is the concern of government, but it is also the concern of each individual citizen. It is incumbent upon each person to care for the neighbor. Isaiah says, “Learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” The voice of the individual calls to account those who would pervert justice for personal gain, or racially motivated cause, or any other way oppress their fellow citizens.
The rising tide of economic inequality in this nation cries out for people of faith to act. In instructing his followers, Jesus told them “whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise” (Luke 3:11).This mandate to share extends to every person within one’s sphere of influence, according to Jesus—he made no distinction. People of faith make the clarion call to the government to provide for those who have need, and, yes, it does fall back on those who have much to provide the means for government to act.
In the same way, government must also be responsible and accountable to all citizens for the beneficial use of any and all funds within its purview. People of faith are as much a part of governmental direction as any politician (and many politicians are also people of faith). The question remains, how does one live out one’s faith commitment within the social community? There is a preponderance of evidence in Judeo-Christian scripture and doctrine that puts this opportunity to faithful witness in a very tangible way. “Give justice to the weak and the orphan, maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute” (Psalm 10:3)
It is very much in the nature of faithful living—in any religion—to be welcoming to those society reject, to free those who are oppressed, and to provide in every way possible for the basic material needs of all people. Social justice rises to the apex of what it means to be a person of faith.
The rhetoric in today’s political sphere focuses on the size of government, and the role of government in the lives of individuals. The size of government is not the issue, but the effectiveness of government in protecting her citizens socially, judicially and economically. An old adage claims that it is not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. The same can be said for government. The prophet Amos speaks to government when he says, “Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gates” (Amos 5:15).
The issue of social justice is the concern of government, but it is also the concern of each individual citizen. It is incumbent upon each person to care for the neighbor. Isaiah says, “Learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” The voice of the individual calls to account those who would pervert justice for personal gain, or racially motivated cause, or any other way oppress their fellow citizens.
The rising tide of economic inequality in this nation cries out for people of faith to act. In instructing his followers, Jesus told them “whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise” (Luke 3:11).This mandate to share extends to every person within one’s sphere of influence, according to Jesus—he made no distinction. People of faith make the clarion call to the government to provide for those who have need, and, yes, it does fall back on those who have much to provide the means for government to act.
In the same way, government must also be responsible and accountable to all citizens for the beneficial use of any and all funds within its purview. People of faith are as much a part of governmental direction as any politician (and many politicians are also people of faith). The question remains, how does one live out one’s faith commitment within the social community? There is a preponderance of evidence in Judeo-Christian scripture and doctrine that puts this opportunity to faithful witness in a very tangible way. “Give justice to the weak and the orphan, maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute” (Psalm 10:3)
It is very much in the nature of faithful living—in any religion—to be welcoming to those society reject, to free those who are oppressed, and to provide in every way possible for the basic material needs of all people. Social justice rises to the apex of what it means to be a person of faith.
