Saturday, October 3, 2009

Pray for Social Justice?

It seems that with increasing frequency one runs across the term "Social Justice." Most often the term will be used in a political context, though increasingly it is spoken of in relation to "Progressive Christianity" or its newest catch phrase; "Red Letter Christian." All of these terms; Social Justice, Progressive Christianity, and Red Letter Christian are inter-related, and in need of some explanation.

Social Justice, as it is used in the political realm, basically has to do with redistribution of wealth. It is a Robin Hood mentality that would see the rich taxed until they are no longer rich, and the poor subsidized until they are no longer poor. That may not sound so bad to you until you come to the realization that if you are anywhere in the middle class, Robin thinks you are rich. Keep in mind though, that despite all the good PR, Robin is still a Hood.

Progressive Christianity is, for the most part, just the application of this political ideology to the apostate church. The term "progressive" is getting to be a little too well linked to politics lately, so it is falling out of favor with the Progressive Church. The sweepstakes winner for a new name for the same old song appears to be "Red Letter Christian."

The term Red Letter Christian takes its name from the popularity of certain editions of the Bible which have the "words of Christ" in red print. Red Letter Christians would emphasis the words of Jesus over all the rest of scripture, thinking it excuses them from believing what the Old Testament and the Apostles teach about such issues as homosexuality, abortion, etc. Nothing new here; it seems that every form of apostasy begins with a low view of scripture. Of course when push comes to shove, the true "Red Letter Christian" would be forced to ignore and or twist the words of Christ to maintain their political allegiance.

So with all that said, I would like to submit a more accurate definition for the term "Social Justice." Social: of or relating to human society. Justice: the assignment of merited rewards or punishments. Put them together and you have a society getting what it deserves.

A good example of Social Justice would be for modern day America to suffer the same fate as Sodom and Gomorrah. Think the cesspool that is Hollywood. Think the debauchery in San Francisco. Think the corruption that is politics today. Think Mardi Gras. Think the millions murdered by abortion. Yeah, Social Justice would be a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah treatment. So don't pray for Social Justice.... pray for Repentance and Mercy!

1 comment:

Dennis said...

Excellent post! These so-called "Red Letter Christians" seem to think Jesus just spoke of love an compassion. They should read Mark 7:21-23:

"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

These are "red letter words also."