The Bible and Social Justice Quotes

“First, social justice is a standard that Yahweh holds his people to. Throughout the prophets, how a nation or ruler upholds justice—often seen in how they care for the needy—is the measure by which Yahweh judges them.”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call

“To take seriously the prophetic demand for justice ultimately means to follow the example of Jesus in word and deed and to become his disciple. There is no greater calling in the way of justice.”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call

“Acceptable religion before Yahweh cannot be divorced from justice. In fact, God desires his people to exhibit the virtue of justice, and their religious life should cultivate that. In the future, beyond judgment, God will establish justice in all the earth, and this hope should be a prime motivator to pursue justice.”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call

“Those who seek justice must believe that one day Yahweh will establish it on the earth through Messiah (cf. Isa 11:1–11; 42:1–9). With that hope, the just today, as in ancient Israel, can persevere in doing the right, promoting and protecting it in this fallen world.”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call

“To engage in religious activity without practicing justice was to misconceive what acceptable worship of God was about. To ignore the demands of mercy and compassion rendered rituals useless and a stench before Yahweh (5:21–23).”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call

“The national ideology did not acknowledge that social justice was part of the essence of true religion in the sight of Yahweh (5:24), a stance echoed in other prophets”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call

“God’s emotional engagement with the cause of justice and his punishment for its violation are fundamental to our own involvement in issues of justice. Righteous anger at injustice is grounded in the person of God. This should not be surprising. Humans are made in the image of God, so indignation within our own beings at the absence of justice is to be expected.”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call

“The book of Proverbs addresses the responsibility that a king has to rule with integrity and uphold justice (cf. 20:8). A king should not betray justice or decree erroneous judgments (16:10b; cf. 29:12). It is by justice that a king provides stability for a country but the one who accepts bribes (perversion of”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call

“The CC used “motive clauses” that appealed to God’s authority, called for compassion, reminded Israelites how God saved them in the past, and exhorted Israel to emulate God’s concern for the vulnerable in society. Such “motive clauses” are completely appropriate to similarly motivate Christians today.130”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call

“Even a cursory reading of the CC reveals that it is deeply concerned with those who are most vulnerable in society (the poor, foreigners/aliens, widows and orphans, and slaves).”
― Cynthia Long Westfall, The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call