There’s a “big to-do†in the Evangelical community these days about “social justice,†with some Bible-believing, Gospel-preaching men calling themselves Social Justice Warriors (SJWs for short). The Southern Baptists are becoming quite divided over this, and groups like The Gospel Coalition and Together for the Gospel (T4G) are becoming quite steeped in Social Justice thinking. Efforts are being made to influence The Master’s College in these ways by some alumni.
Many recoil at this because “Social Justice Warrior†is a cultural term used of the far political Left pushing political correctness in its many forms. Among Evangelicals, the movement focuses mainly on racial (and sometimes gender) disparities in society, but so far has maintained a biblical view of sexuality. Regarding race in America, there are certainly issues to be discussed, and a history of discrimination to be acknowledged and repudiated. I try not to turn a blind eye to discussions about injustice in American society. I hope I am open to different perspectives on social problems and inequities caused by the “system.†But my experience with SJWs in the Evangelical community has not been good, and their methodology does not line up with Scripture. It has made me fearful for the future unity of the body of Christ.
Several big problems exist with SJWs in the church.
1) There is a strong tendency to adopt a secular view of “justice†that contrasts with the Bible. For SJWs, injustice is about group identities and unequal outcomes rather than the protection of individual rights and equal protection under the law. Often called Cultural Marxism (bringing economic class warfare into other areas of life) — an approach rampant on university campuses — this ideology pits groups against each other: race against race, women against men, sexual minorities against straight people.
This ideological lens sees everything in terms of oppressor and oppressed (a Marxist idea). The oppressors are people of European descent (colonialism), males (patriarchy), heterosexuals (heterosexism), people who believe there are two sexes (Cisgenders), etc., etc. You can’t be neutral, or an individual, or innocent if you belong to the oppressor class. And if you are in the oppressed group, you have a duty to be aware that you are a victim. If you walk around as an “oppressor,†you are guilty of oppression. The structures of society favor you. You need to get “woke.â€
Now, Cultural Marxists cannot point to oppression in law or in hiring. Their primary examples point to inequities in the criminal justice system, which should be examined. But otherwise the oppression comes in the form of opinions, or “micro-aggressions.†Today there is no “code†barring anyone from success. There are unequal outcomes statistically to some degree. But are the unequal outcomes caused by oppression?
Thomas Sowell’s helpful book Discrimination and Disparities argues unequal outcomes have many causes, and oppression is not a major factor today. Biblically, justice involves being impartial, not showing favoritism based on anyone’s race, status, wealth, or position. This is where we get the idea of justice being “Blind.†She should be! The Law of Moses is clear:
“You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.â€
– Leviticus 19:15
Impartiality is the rule. Group identity, status or wealth should not be considered in the administration of justice.
2) The second problem is the desire of Evangelical SJWs to assign guilt to people based on their group identity and expect repentance for being part of the oppressive system. This is not biblical (Ezekiel 18:20). We should indeed search our hearts for bigotry, prejudice, and racism, and if it is there, repent of it. But if it isn’t there, we have done nothing wrong.
3) My third concern is that SJWs tend to be very judgmental people. Respected preacher Matt Chandler publicly called members of his congregation who disagreed with his views on race “fools.†The “fools†(who were often in or related to Law Enforcement) say that Pastor Chandler refused to even meet with them to hear their concerns.
I am almost 60 years old, but I had never been called a racist in my life until a brother in Christ labeled me a racist recently and said I needed to repent. What had I done? I suggested unequal outcomes in the Black community in our time have more to do with cultural problems than systemic oppression. SJWs do not allow such independent thinking. This same brother scrolled through my Facebook photos and realized I loved Africans and can be seen “hugging those Asians,†but concluded I had little sympathy for African-Americans.
Fleshly attitudes generally follow worldly thinking. I could dismiss this fellow as just one silly person, but he is a disciple of a pastor leading this movement in Los Angeles on behalf of The Gospel Coalition. That pastor followed the conversation and refused to correct him. He also refused to discuss it.
4) The approval of lawlessness. Evangelical SJW Thaibiti Anyabwile (formerly Ron Burns) very recently called it “good†that vandals tore down a confederate statue on a University campus. Christians in the past have not supported the destruction of private property for being offended. Confederate statues are neither here nor there for me, though some good men deserve to be remembered. But removing them needs to be done lawfully or there will be chaos — something cultural Marxists in the secular realm want.
The Take-away: The direction of SJWs in the church is division and building walls because it adopts the world’s thinking. There was terrible oppression in America that lasted many years. It was plainly tied to the sin of racism. Knowing that history and appreciating its sinfulness is important. There are real hurts in remembering that. But justice needs to be defined biblically. And the way forward is love.
“…and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.â€
– 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
Yours in Christ,
Originally printed in The AFBC Pony Express. Vol. XI, No. 9, September 2018.