Some Links On Social Justice
By T. H. Wright
Published:
Last Updated:
See also Postermodernism.
Social justice is a light and fluffy term; it is meant to carry so much weight and yet defining it is like holding onto water: it changes anytime you try to put a definite meaning to it. Our goal is witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the good which comes from the light of God shining into the dark places of the world. I have too often heard the very theologically incorrect statement that people will be converted by our acts of service and kindness. We proclaim the Word which came and dwelt among us. Even still, it is not our acts of kindness but the Spirit who uses the Word through preachers and evangelists to regenerate people and convert them to a knowledge of the truth.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.“
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:11–17
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/evangelism-social-action-friends/
UPDATE: 20200710
I found this article to be a very helpful analysis of some of the movements within our culture and society. The Pelagian emphasis is good, and easily spotted within the philosophy’s ideas.
https://theopolisinstitute.com/leithart_post/church-of-christ-without-christ/
These articles are also helpful. Leithart references this author and likely this article.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/antiracism-our-flawed-new-religion
https://www.the-american-interest.com/2018/05/24/atonement-as-activism/
UPDATE: 20200720
In keeping with a stream of other posts I have shared (linked in this topic), this Quillette article seeks to build on some of what is becoming clear within the movements on the left side of politics, and it is doing so by critiquing the position of the popular views/talking points of the Right. In its place the author begins an analysis of what is becoming clear with the movements of what is frequently referred to as social justice or anti-racist. I think it does a good job of at getting the basic theories behind the movement right and challenges the Right to think about how they will respond. I think some of the dignity, victimhood, shame/honor, guilt/legal culture/society idea is overdone in today’s world, but I think it does a fair job of not straw manning the opponent and not letting mocking and ridicule be permitted as the proper response to the movement.
https://quillette.com/2020/07/20/what-the-right-gets-wrong-about-social-justice-culture/
UPDATE: 20200729
A well-written read on what is wrong with today’s social justice activism and where it needs to change course. A major argument is that because the activists are nihilistic postmodernists, their efforts are their attempts to acquire meaning in life, but that meaning is ultimately arbitrary because the next generation of nihilists will change what counts and what doesn’t.
There is a place here for comparison with some of the earlier pieces I have shared.
https://lawliberty.org/flaunting-a-presumptuous-innocence/
This article, by John McWhorter (links to other articles by him in the second link below), argues for why he is against the current milieu against free speech. While he highlights the risks, the article I linked to here argues that its source is nihilism, postmodernism, and Nietzsche. While I have not read the “Open Letter” he references, I’m sure its contents are more or less easy to assume.
https://quillette.com/2020/07/29/our-oppressive-moment/
https://www.redemption.studio/t/church-of-christ-without-christ/869
Pastor Elbert McGowan briefly interviews Dr. Ligon Duncan with some introductory material for understanding how biblical justice differs from social justice. While there is more that can be said, this is a good primer for those wanting help discerning!
UPDATE: 20200811
This helpful article explains the background to some of the modern issues over the use of term “social justice.” This summary should help you to think through the various things you are hearing.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/faqs-christians-know-social-justice/
UPDATE: 20200814
In a series of articles, Keller has been writing to address some of our contemporary society’s hot button issues through a biblical analysis. He wrote two articles at first. The first deals with the Bible and Race and is so titled. This is a fairly standard interpretation of the Bible’s views of race, or I might say “so called race.”
https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/the-bible-and-race/
The second article is on racism and why it is sinful. This is also a fairly standard systematizing of the Bible’s teaching on racism. What he works to emphasize is that sin is both individual and corporate and how the two should be held in balance.1
https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/the-sin-of-racism/
The titular article of this post is the third in the series and critiques secular views of justice, and thus also critical theory. This article does a good job of showing why the various forms of justice that secularists advocate for, all of which have been arisen since the Enlightenment, fall short of a biblical standard of justice.
https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/a-biblical-critique-of-secular-justice-and-critical-theory/
Some of the above material is reworked into the following post of his at Relevant Magazine.
https://relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/what-biblical-justice
As Christians, we should not be seeking to accommodate a secular understanding of morality based in human autonomy, but we should seek to be biblically faithful in all things. If we settle for something else, we settle for something less.
The author writes about the apparent religiosity of the current secular movements. Similar to what McWhorter has written, and to whom he references,2 the author explores the metaphysics and ethics of the movement. Notably, he traces its connection to and adoption of Christian theological categories, all while lacking mercy and forgiveness. The analysis is helpful and is noting, as mentioned, facets of the current ideas that other critics are seeing. Notably, he does briefly touch on the postmodern soteriology and eschatology inherent in their efforts and ideas.
https://quillette.com/2020/08/01/the-piety-of-the-impious/
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See also https://www.redemption.studio/t/are-we-held-accountable-for-the-sins-of-our-forefathers/895/2 for another article on this subject. ↩︎
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See https://www.redemption.studio/t/our-oppressive-moment-quillette/879. ↩︎