Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 24:1 (Spring 2020)
Article: Social Justice In The Kingdom Of God
Author: Tim Little

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Social Justice In The Kingdom Of God

Tim Little

Abstract: Social justice advocates promote a different justice than biblical justice. Biblical justice is defined by righteousness which is connected to the character of God; whereas, social justice is defined by equality qualified through postmodern philosophy. This equality, they claim, should permeate all social institutions (competitive markets, family, etc.). Some even claim social justice concerns not only equal opportunity, but equal outcome. While there is ontological equality in the kingdom of God, there is not economic equality. Social justice promotes equal opportunity and the distribution of wealth, but the kingdom of God, however, will favor the nation of Israel and wealth will be consolidated in Jerusalem. Social justice feeds off sinful man’s covetousness; whereas, biblical justice promotes righteousness and contentment.

Key Words: Kingdom of God, social justice, biblical justice, ontological equality, economic equality

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Introduction

Social justice has become a lightning rod topic in our culture. Social justice concerns the academy and the masses. “Wrong” decisions can be politically, socially, and financially ruinous. Building upon a postmodern culture, social justice thrives upon lies, deceit, ambiguity, and confusion. One of the primary challenges with social justice is a definition. This movement prospers in a postmodern culture because proponents can read whatever meaning they want into the words and become a proponent of social justice. Who would not want to associate with social justice? As a result, many people subscribe to social justice as they perceive it. The lack of clear definition is

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compounded because grassroots organizations have sprouted up supporting social justice.2 Lee Staples encourages “collective action through community organizing . . . to overcome unjust social relations and achieve changes that further human rights, participatory democracy, and distributive justice.”3 Staples’s quotation also illustrates the diversity within the movement. This article first defines biblical justice and social justice. It will be demonstrated that the social justice movement would be better named social covetousness, for there is little biblical justice within the movement. The social justice movement has more in common with the seven sins which the Lord hates (Prov 6:16–19) and the injustice which the Messiah overthrows (Isa 59) tha...