Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice: An Urgent Appeal to Fellow Christians in a Time of Social Crisis

by Scott David Allen

How will our neighbors who are in bondage to the false and destructive religion of ideological social justice know this powerful, life-changing, culture-transforming story unless God’s people clearly, powerfully, and fearlessly communicate it in both word and deed?

God redeems us to participate with Him in reconciling all things to Himself.

N. T. Wright puts it: The great emphasis in the New Testament is that the gospel is not how to escape the world; the gospel is that the crucified and risen Jesus is the Lord of the world. And that his death and Resurrection transform the world, and that transformation can happen to you. You, in turn, can be part of the transforming work.7

John Stott: “Evangelism is the major instrument of social change. For the gospel changes people, and changed people can change society.”8

If you want to reform evil structures and systems, you have to reform—or rather transform—fallen human hearts.

Grover Gunn: “Our primary means of transforming the world is through proclaiming the gospel. . . . We must today never question the effectiveness of the gospel message as the cutting edge of positive social change.”

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying: “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger, and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” (Psalm 2:1–6)

Let’s move beyond criticizing culture, to creating culture.

Darrow Miller is fond of saying, “If the church fails to disciple the nation, the nation will disciple the church.”

If we don’t like the worldview that is shaping our culture, we only have ourselves to blame.

Only biblical truth and love leads to flourishing and freedom—and

Ideological social justice is dangerous because it is false.

Nancy Pearcey is exactly right: The best way to drive out a bad worldview is by offering a good one, and Christians need to move beyond criticizing culture to creating culture. That is the task God originally created humans to do, and in the process of sanctification we are meant to recover that task. . . . In every calling we are culture-creators, offering up our work as service to God.12

To challenge the powers that be is to open yourself up to suffering and loss. The temptation to remain silent is great, but we must reject that temptation.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18).

Greg Koukl reminds us, “Those of us who trust Him are not alone in the struggles against evil and injustice. Even though we take casualties, He is with us, always, in everything. That is His promise. ‘In this world you will have tribulation, Jesus told us. But take courage. I have overcome the world.’”13

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. —Ecclesiastes 12:13