Throughout Amos we read that social injustice will not be tolerated (8.4-6 for example). If you Google a definition of social justice, you will probably get something like this,
“Social justice is the equal access to wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.”
Society’s version of social justice will tell you that we need to look around and see everybody’s differences, we need to acknowledge how different we are, and we need to affirm and accept all these differences.
Society’s social justice says I see your differences, we need to recognise all of this, and treat everyone the same despite the fact we are all different. But first, let’s differentiate between ourselves as much as we can. Then, when we’ve done that, let’s work towards equality for all these groups we’ve just made.
Gospel social justice says it doesn’t matter what colour skin you have, or what passport you hold, or what social status you have.
Gospel social justice says we are all made in the image of God (see Genesis 1), that we have dignity, worth, and value, and that is what we need to affirm and acknowledge, not our perceived differences.
Saying, “I am going to treat all nations the same” still acknowledges that there is a difference.
Gospel social justice doesn’t see the difference.
Saying, “I am going to treat all people the same, the rich ones and the poor ones” still acknowledges that socioeconomic levels are noticeably different to you.
Gospel social justice doesn’t see the difference.
Social justice sees difference but works to treat people equally.
Gospel social justice simply sees everyone as equal.
We live in a fallen world that expects submission based on social status, country of origin, the colour of your skin, but as Christians we know this is not right, we know that true submission is given to God, who does not distinguish by race or colour or gender or bank balance.
Gospel social justice is not equality it is impartiality.
In Ephesians 2 we read
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Jesus came to redeem all, regardless of social status, country of origin, religious background, all.
Galatians 3 summarises this well,
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
On the Day of the Lord, Jesus died for all, to bring all into His kingdom, no matter who we are, no matter where we are from, no matter what we do, no matter our social status, our career path, who we were, Jesus died for all.
