Reason #1, The Affairs of this World
Social justice is defined by toppling systems deemed to be oppressive and hindering identity groups based on race, gender, and sexual orientation from achieving economic, social, and political equity. This struggle involves revolution against government and other institutions including the church. Speaking evil of dignities, violence against opposition, the destruction and theft of property, divisiveness, and the disruption of peace are welcomed actions. These actions describe the works of the flesh (see 2 Peter 2:10; Eph. 4:31; Gal. 5:19-21). To be involved in the affairs of social justice, one must lay aside the works of the Spirit. Today, some attempt to leverage their misguided view of the mission of Jesus as support for their activism in America’s social justice movements. Did Jesus become entangled in the socio-political affairs around Him? If not, what sort of justice did Jesus work toward?
Christian Warfare
“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier,” (2 Tim. 2:4).
Economic, social, and political inequalities will always exist in a fallen world. As our culture marches lock-in-step with the prince of the power of the air (the devil), it has become more brazen in its sinful lifestyle; men have lost their ability to blush (Jeremiah 8:12). As such, this world is at enmity with a holy and just God. Efforts to establish utopia are futile as the Lord declares, “The poor will always be with you,” (Matt. 26:11). This certainly does not mean a Christian is to neglect the need of any person when it is in the power of his hand to do so (Gal. 6:10), especially those of the household of faith. Nevertheless, Christian warfare is not concerned with eliminating poverty nor overturning political systems in a zero-sum struggle to redistribute wealth and resources to embittered identity groups. True justice is rejected when one enlists in the war for social justice.
Messianic Misconceptions
Furthermore, those who claim Jesus was entangled in the affairs of social justice during his ministry are woefully incorrect! Those who take this position have the same mistaken view of the Messianic mission the Jews did. Most Jews failed to comprehend the spiritual nature of the kingdom of Heaven. They expected a Social Justice Messiah. They erroneously expected the Messiah to topple their occupying Roman oppressors, secure Jerusalem and the temple, and bring about other social justice reforms. They expected a king like the other nations who would be a powerful monarch, one who would conquer territories and secure physical borders.
“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, “See here!” or “See there!”’” (Luke 17:20-21)
Even His closest disciples desired to sit on earthly thrones and attain a family legacy (Matt. 20:20-28). Hence, in their zeal to establish their misguided vision, the Jews attempted to seize Jesus by force in order to make Him King.
“Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountains by Himself alone,” (John 6:15).
Often, Jesus would redirect people into a proper understanding of the spiritual nature of His kingdom, but few understood. It is not surprising that some today mistakenly hold to a similar view of the Messiah and His church. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus emphasized the spiritual nature of the kingdom by calling it the “kingdom of heaven” over 30 times. The phrase—the kingdom of heaven—purposefully emphasizes the spiritual nature of Jesus’ kingdom. Further, He taught a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus, that citizens are naturalized into His kingdom in a spiritual fashion, not physical (John 3:3-8). He told the Samaritan woman that God is a spirit and is seeking spiritual worship from reborn spirits (John 4:23-24). He also told them the kingdom of heaven is located within the spirits of men, not within physical borders (Luke 17:21).
The Justice Jesus Brought
Moreover, Jesus brought spiritual deliverance to mankind and justice to heaven. He set at liberty the captive spirits of men who were under the oppressive heel of Satan. He accomplished this through His wondrous atonement on the cross. Hence, we are told that He “sent forth justice to victory” in the heavenly realm (Matt 12:20). Heavenly justice has now been satisfied and all men have an opportunity to eternal life through the blood of the Lamb. His purpose was to satisfy heavenly justice not social justice!
Jesus did not come to deliver men from the oppressive heel of the Romans. He didn’t fight for social justice; He never spoke evil of the Roman authorities! Neither did He lead a Jewish Lives Matter march in Jerusalem or Rome. On the contrary! He told His disciples to be thankful and pray for the Roman authorities (1 Tim. 2:1-2), submit to their laws (1 Peter 2:13), and pay their taxes in order to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Matt. 22:21).
This spiritual mission was completely unacceptable to the Jews who thought of Him as a fake. When they realized Jesus didn’t meet their expectations, they hated Him and plotted murder. This mistaken view of Jesus and His mission was no small error in the Jews’ thinking and all should take notice; this view of the Messianic mission provoked the Jews to bloodshed! Pilate said,
“’I am innocent of the blood of this just person. You see to it.’ And all the people (Jews) answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children,’” (Matt. 27:24-25).
A Message to Christians
Many today are in need of a renewed knowledge of the Messianic mission and the work of the church. Lest they “kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5) and begin to harbor a hateful, slanderous, and murderous attitude against God’s people. For Jesus, “Being about the Father’s business,” had nothing to do with social justice. As such, His church must follow His lead. Christian affairs do not involve fighting the powers that be in an effort to redistribute wealth and resources. Nor is it to throw in our lot with the Black Lives Matters Social Justice movement. The principalities and powers Christians wrestle against are in the heavenly places, not earthly (Eph. 6:10).
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled,” (2 Cor. 10:4-6).
The work of the church is to preach heaven’s message of repentance, righteousness, self-control, and the judgement to come (Acts 24:25; 2 Thessalonians 1:8). Efforts to accomplish this sacrificial work are directed by the word of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit. As a servant is not greater than his master, tribulation will also accompany this great Christian mission (Jn. 15:20). Since many erroneously thought Jesus to be about the affairs of this life and hated Him when He was not, His disciples can expect to be treated the same for not being “woke” to the social justice movements of today. Learning this lesson is difficult for some. Even Peter, one of His apostles, had difficulty learning this lesson as he began to take up the cause for temporal revolution against their governing oppressors. Jesus rebuked Him strongly for his warped view of the kingdom.
“He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men,’” (Matt. 16:23).
“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren,’” (Luke 22:31).
The message for all who are like Peter is to return to Jesus lest we offend Him. Clearly, the concept of American social justice is absolutely entangled within the affairs of this life. As the Department of Economics and Social Affairs states, “Social justice is not possible without strong and coherent redistributive policies conceived and implemented by public agencies,” (Social Justice in an Open World 6). Remember, justice has been accomplished in the heavenly places. This was Jesus’ mission. All praise to Jesus the Christ!
This series is written by Michael (Mike) Hernandez and is endorsed by Five Minute Bible Study. If you have any questions about the subject, you are welcome to contact Mike at michaelhernande@yahoo.com.
References
Social Justice in an Open World: The Role of the United Nations. E-book, The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, 2006, https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/ifsd/SocialJustice.pdf
