Twisted Tuesday – Justice Socialized: Introduction

While the title of this new series, beloved, is meant as a play-on-words the topic is very serious. The infiltration of Social Justice within doctrinally sound churches has been as shocking as it is sobering. While it’s long been preached from liberal pulpits, and many pragmatic teachers had adopted the language, it was those whose Biblical stands in the past had been uncompromising, which I was surprised to see using this language. Due to this, and the sinfully hate-filled push back on social media from those who call themselves Social Justice Warriors as well as professing Christians, I’m going to spend a few Twisted Tuesday’s talking about the subject. Unfortunately, this movement does indeed twist Scripture.

This is not surprising, as socialists throughout the 20th century often used Gods Word to justify themselves. Never in proper context, of course, but frequently mingled in with other quotes you’d hear varies Verses twisted in. I’ve discussed Social Justice in the past, warning about the dangers therein. However, it was brief, as I had assumed the movement would be utterly rejected by believers. Since then, it has been accepted by many hook, line, and sinker. It brought along all of its friends, as well, and now troubles the youth of our churches, who already face a myriad of evolutionary, and societal push back at school.

This is, per my usual series style, just an introduction. However, I wanted to, in the very least, give some definitions and an urgent warning. First, the latter. Beloved, do not ignore this. Address it. Even if it’s never been mentioned in your church, address it. Refute it, before it can even make headway. You might not, yet, hear it taught in the pulpit, in group meetings, or Sunday school, but those brothers and sisters your sitting next to are hearing it everywhere. They may not even realize what they’re hearing is Social Justice jargon. Perhaps some of their favorite preachers and teachers to listen to during the week are slipping, or down right diving, into this ditch. It might be subtle, but once the dam breaks rerouting the flood is very difficult. If you’ve not already done so, discuss this with your teens, and preteens, and youth groups.

What is Social Justice? The dictionary defines it in this way “justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.” Currently, this is viewed through the lenses of Critical Race Theory. The definition of CRT, or Critical Race Theory, is “the view that race, instead of being biologically grounded and natural, is socially constructed and that race, as a socially constructed concept, functions as a means to maintain the interests of the white population that constructed it.” Along side SJ, or Social Justice, and CRT, is the idea of reparations. This is defines as “the making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged.” When you put these three points together, you end up with groups, or sections, which brings us to the last definition I want to give, intersectionality. Webster’s defines this term like this “the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups“.

I know that’s a lot of information to take in, and that this is going to be a very difficult, and frustrating topic to address. Please, bare with me over the next few weeks as we flesh this out together. It’s imperative that we are all aware of this movement, which is no longer creeping its way into churches, but making a full on attack. It’s a dangerously divisive movement, which purposefully sets groups against one another. If the left and right leg won’t go in the same direction, the body goes nowhere. We must hold to unity with believers, regardless of race, sex, or class. We are one body, in Christ. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.