Social Justice as a necessary aspect of the Christian Faith
Christian Existentialism
Modernism: There is a stable, coherent, knowable self. The mode of knowing produced by the objective, rational self is “science,” which can provide universal truths about the world, regardless of the knower’s status. The knowledge science produces is “truth” and is eternal.
Postmodernism: Embraces fluid, multiple perspectives, typically refusing to privilege any one truth claim over another. Ideals of universally applicable truths give way to various truths within one’s local social context which, rather than referencing some underlying universal reality, point only to other ideas and cultural artifacts. We interpret knowledge according to our own “local” experiences, not against all-encompassing universal structures.
Christian Existentialism combines these two ideas. Absolute truth exists but cannot be ‘known” by the subjective self. All we have are belief and faith.
(Some might find the idea of a Christian existentialist contradictory, but this is not a novel view. Jean-Paul Sartre made a similar distinction between the types of existentialists when he stated “…there are two kinds of existentialists; first those who are Christian, among whom I would include [Karl] Jaspers and Gabriel Marcel, both Catholic; and on the other hand the atheistic existentialist among whom I class [Martin] Heidegger…and myself”. Sartre, Jean-Paul. Existentialism is a Humanism. In: The Fabric of Existentialism. Gill, Richard & Sherman, Ernest P. 520 Prentice-Hall, Inc. New Jersey. 1973).
Problems with American Evangelical Christian Faith
The Bible and Evangelical Faith hold two different systems of belief. Social justice, compassion, and love for your fellow man are not optional parts of the Christian faith; they are its essence.
Evangelical Christian priorities:
This view reverses Biblical priorities:
Matt 23:23 (Luke 11:42) “Woe to you Pharisees, you tithe 10% of your garden herbs, but you neglect the more important matters of the law: justice, mercy, faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.”
Evangelical theology states that faith and holiness are a Christian’s priority, while Scripture indicates that loving your neighbor should be our priority.
Most important command in Scripture: Matt. 22:36, Mark 12:29, Luke 10:25 (Good Samaritan)
Matthew 22: 35- An expert in the law tested Jesus with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
What does it mean to love God? 1 John 4: 20- 21: If anyone says, “I love God” and hates his brother, he is a liar… Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Galatians 5: 14- The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
James 2: 8- If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
Romans 13:10- The commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” “nd whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 7: 12- Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do to them also, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
If the Bible states that the most important command is to “love God and your neighbor,” then what in God’s name are we doing?
Different methods of interpretation.
Evangelical Christianity emphasizes the writings of John and Paul.
No one can deny John defends the idea of faith without works:
5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
11: 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
14:6 Jesus answered, I”am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Other verses: John 3:16; 3:18, 6, 24; 6:29; 6:35, 6:40; 6:47; 17:3
The letters of Paul have similar verses:
Acts 16:30-31 He then brought them out and asked, “S” rs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.”
Romans 10:9 …if you confess with your mouth, “J” sus is Lord,” “nd believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
However, the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) contain verses that suggest faith alone is not the only way to heaven. More importantly, none of the three Synoptic gospels contains a verse indicating that salvation comes by faith in Christ alone. In fact, when Jesus is asked about eternal life in the Synoptics, he indicates that either faith and works or works alone can lead to eternal life.
The Rich Young Ruler
Matthew 19:16/Mark 10:17/Luke 18:18
Matthew 19:16-21
16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, ” Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“7” W Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
“8” W “Which ones?” the man inquired.
19Jesus replied,” “D’ not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and ‘l’ve your neighbor as yourself.”
“0“A “l these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
“1Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
“uke 10:25-37
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“6” W “at is written in the Law?He”e replied. How do you read it?”
“7He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yoursel’.'”8” 8 “u have answered correctly, “Jesus replied. Do” this and you will live.”Luke 19: 1-10
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Z”cchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” “So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, “H” has gone to be the guest of a ‘s’nner.’ ‘
“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
“Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
TSheepheep and the Goats Matthew25: 31-46
31Whenn the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates Sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who my Father blesses; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; 36 I needed clothes, es and you clothed me; I was sick, and you looked after me; I was in prison, and you came to visit me.’
‘7 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘L’rd, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
‘0” The King will reply, I’ll tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
‘1” Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in; I needed clothes, and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison, and you did not look after me.’
‘4” They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you ”’5“H ” will repI’ll tell’tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
‘6 Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Conservative Christians argue that the Synoptics need to be interpreted within the larger context of the Bible as a whole. Undoubtedly, many can offer intelligent, well-meaning interpretations. However, the problem is not the interpretation itself, but deciding what needs to be interpreted. Why do the Synoptic verses need “interpretation” when the verses in John do not? Evangelical Christians would not say John 14:6 or Romans 10:9 need interpretation. They should be taken for what they say. What rule is used to say that John and Paul are to be taken at face value, but the Synoptics (and other verses such as James 2:14-17) do need interpretation? The only reason is tradition; evangelicals were taught that way. The very thing Jesus condemns in the Pharisees. The theology of faith alone is one of many different theologies throughout the history of the Christian faith. It just happens to be the dominant one in church history right now. That doesn’t make it wrong, but it also doesn’t make it absolute! Evangelical Christianity needs to face the mystery of biblical interpretation (Now I know in part… I Corinthians 13:12).
For an excellent breakdown of all the verses referring to salvation in the Bible, check out this website:
www.religioustolerance.org/chr_savc.htm
www.religioustolerance.org/salvatio.htm
Evangelicals need to examine their theology within a larger historical context to see the potential truth in other systems of belief. Many early church fathers saw works as a necessary aspect of the Christian faith. Luther’s attack on the Catholic Church had many valid points. All these theologies may have a place in God’s plan. We know Paul had major disagreements with other disciples (Acts 15:36-39, Acts 21:17-26, Romans 14, Galatians 2:1-14). Why isisn’tt possible they disagreed on other issues?
Conclusion
Christians are trapped by a theology of inerrancy that hinders their process of interpretation. Because the Bible is consistent, they create needless interpretations of verses that disagree with their previously formed theological position. They start with the presupposition that their theology is absolutely correct, and then interpret the Bible accordingly. The Bible does not have to be perfect to be inspired. It can contain universal truths yet also include divergent views from its writers.
(For an excellent review of what the Early Church Fathers said, read”Ill the Real Heretics Please Stand Up? by David W. Bercot. Scroll Publishing, Tyler, TX 1989).