In our ordinary language we tend to label things in a way that implies sameness. Yet, we live in a world in which no two things are alike in all respects.
Look anywhere you want for two things that are alike in all respects -- two grains of sand, two peas in a pod, two fingernails, two leaves on a tree, two sticks of chewing gum. You will find many things that are similar but you will never find two things that are absolutely identical.
If we are to think maturely, we must be aware of similarities and differences, both. We will get into trouble if we act as though all men or all women are similar in all respects. We will also get into trouble if we act as though all men or all women are different in all respects...We cannot, for example, meet one or two or even a dozen people from one country and generalize about all citizens living in that same country.
The notion that all persons are equal is deeply ingrained in the modern soul. As a political notion, it is basic to a democratic society. In terms of legal and social rights, the idea of equality must be constantly asserted and defended. It can never be taken for granted.
The notion that all persons are equal is deeply ingrained in the modern soul. As a political notion, it is basic to a democratic society. In terms of legal and social rights, the idea of equality must be constantly asserted and defended. It can never be taken for granted.
The word "equality" to many people means that they have a right to say they are as good as anyone else. Too often, however, they are not so ready to proclaim that anyone else is as good as they are. Our Christian commitment to social justice is an ongoing struggle to make equality more than a fantasy in a civics text book or a political speech.
And yet we know that all people are not equal. We must be equal in political, social, legal and economic rights, but we are not all equal in mental and physical ability, in our capacity to love, in the measure of our courage, in the fulfillment of our potential. People are not morally equal. There are enormous differences and these differences have eternal consequences. That is our Biblical witness and we cannot, nor should not overlook it.
Christians and churches definitely should advocate social justice in the sense that ever sinful society needs constant moral reform. The church’s chief tool in this advocacy is the gospel itself. Redeemed humanity is likelier to care about justice than unregenerate humanity. But even the redeemed need an ethical framework for social renewal. And even the non-redeemed can be enlisted in good causes with appeals to conscience, natural law and self-interest.
A valid Christian political witness for social justice starts with the premise that all persons are created in God’s image. It also understands that the state is not the church but has a very different vocation, having been divinely ordained primarily to uphold order and restrain the wicked. Social justice should not equate all societal improvement with legislation, regulation and other coercive state action.
Instead, Christian social justice understands that most of society is not the state and includes a wide assortment of important actors, including the family, the church, other religions, businesses, philanthropies and charities, trade associations, civic groups and other human groupings, each of which ideally contributes to human order and happiness.
Social justice seeks especially to protect the vulnerable, including the very young, the very old, the unborn, the terminally ill, the disabled, the poor and the unpopular. Social justice also seeks to energize the able and the powerful towards virtue, thrift and industry. It should not seek to deconstruct but to build.
And yet we know that all people are not equal. We must be equal in political, social, legal and economic rights, but we are not all equal in mental and physical ability, in our capacity to love, in the measure of our courage, in the fulfillment of our potential. People are not morally equal. There are enormous differences and these differences have eternal consequences. That is our Biblical witness and we cannot, nor should not overlook it.
Christians and churches definitely should advocate social justice in the sense that ever sinful society needs constant moral reform. The church’s chief tool in this advocacy is the gospel itself. Redeemed humanity is likelier to care about justice than unregenerate humanity. But even the redeemed need an ethical framework for social renewal. And even the non-redeemed can be enlisted in good causes with appeals to conscience, natural law and self-interest.
A valid Christian political witness for social justice starts with the premise that all persons are created in God’s image. It also understands that the state is not the church but has a very different vocation, having been divinely ordained primarily to uphold order and restrain the wicked. Social justice should not equate all societal improvement with legislation, regulation and other coercive state action.
Instead, Christian social justice understands that most of society is not the state and includes a wide assortment of important actors, including the family, the church, other religions, businesses, philanthropies and charities, trade associations, civic groups and other human groupings, each of which ideally contributes to human order and happiness.
Social justice seeks especially to protect the vulnerable, including the very young, the very old, the unborn, the terminally ill, the disabled, the poor and the unpopular. Social justice also seeks to energize the able and the powerful towards virtue, thrift and industry. It should not seek to deconstruct but to build.
At the risk of being repetitive, social justice must safeguard essential liberties rooted in human dignity and God’s character in the form of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and protection of property. We all have a role to play, if we stop to think about it and act according to our proclaimed beliefs.
It also helps to open-mindedly take some time to walk in the shoes of people deemed to be just a little different than us by birth, circumstance or persuasion.
Everyone born on this earth needs compassion, understanding -- and love. What is there about that fact that is so difficult for some people to understand?
No comments:
Post a Comment