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Is Social Justice at the Heart of the Gospel?

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mwkruse
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Patheos: Is Social Justice at the Heart of the Gospel?

The Cross Examinations series encourages pastors, professors, authors, and bloggers to explore questions of import to the church in a coherent and cooperative manner. Every two weeks, a question is posed to the group, and individual responses are featured as they arrive at the Cross and Culture blog on the Evangelical Portal. One week after the question is sent, the answers are gathered together into a single article. We hope that reflecting together will stimulate thought, focus conversation, and ultimately prove more edifying to online readers and to the church more generally.

The question for this installment is:

"The nature and import of social justice ministry has been attacked and debated frequently in recent weeks.  To approach the issue constructively: what exactly IS the proper relationship between evangelistic and social justice ministries?"

Respondents to the question in this round, in alphabetical order, are:

Timothy Dalrymple, Manager of the Evangelical Portal at Patheos.

Douglas Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy at Denver Theological Seminary.

Danny Hall, Senior Pastor at Valley Community Church in Pleasanton, California.

Daniel Harrell, Senior Minister at Colonial Church in Edina, Minnesota.

Brian McLaren, founding pastor at Cedar Ridge Community Church in Spencerville, Maryland.

Kelly Monroe-Kullberg, author, campus minister, and founder of the Veritas Forum.

Mark D. Roberts, Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge.

Comments

6 responses to “Is Social Justice at the Heart of the Gospel?”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    I may not be smart enough to use the correct language or the right words like some who would comment from a more acedemic perspective. But I can tell you my thoughts are that redemption is at the heart of the Gospel. That I believe the Bible is clear about redemption of both His people and His Creation. Social Justice comes as a result of regenerated people acting out their life as being salt and light in a world captive by sin. Social Justice isn’t at the heart of the Gospel…Jesus is. Social Justice comes as His people then live their lives with two things in mind…Loving God and loving others in word & in action. I know their are those who probably think this is a very simplistic approach to a very involved issue. I happen to think it’s about faith and living it out.

    Reply
  2. Travis Greene Avatar
    Travis Greene

    At the risk of being predictable, ask a bad question and you’ll get a bad answer. The question they’re really asking is “Are sandwiches as important as altar calls?” Are we still talking about this?

    Reply
  3. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    David
    I largely agree but I do think there are systemic patterns and institutions that emerge and must be confronted. I think the error is in assuming that if we correct the systemic problem, the natural goodness of people will just spring forth.
    Travis
    Ron Sider used to talk about evangelism and the social gospel two wings of the same bird. Each gives witness to the other. There is no flight without both.

    Reply
  4. David Avatar
    David

    I agee with you Michael. There are patterns that exist and institutions that need to be confronted when it comes to living out faith in practical ways such that needs of others are met. But doesn’t the issue of meeting cultural and social needs stem from an honest relationship with a Holy God. As then God works in the hearts of his people, then they are used to really love and meet those social needs. If the questions is what is the heart of the Gospel… it has to be relationship with God first and then loving others in practrical ways. Somthing I feel the Church in a large measure has failed to accomplished. At least here in the America.

    Reply
  5. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    Daivd, motivation and action are certainly related. And it is true that when we are motivated toward something we act on it. But it is also true that actions will shift our motivations.
    Tony Campolo tells a story about a guy who came to him counseling. He said he was going to get a divorce because he no longer loved his wife. Campolo suggested that he first do one thing and then after a month they would talk again. He told this guy to think of ten things he would do each day IF he loved his wife.
    Less then to weeks later, the guy called Campolo and said “You won’t believe what has happened. My wife and I are madly in love.” So Campolo asked him what happened.
    The guy said the first day, instead of coming home smelly and dirty from the factory, he took a shower and cleaned up before coming home. Then he bought some flowers on the way home. Then, instead of coming in through the back door, grabbing a beer out of the fridge and plopping down in front of the TV, he went to the front door and rang the door bell. When his wife came to the door she broke down in tears. She said,”First I backed into a pole and put a dent in the car. Second Billy hurt his leg on the playground and I had to take him to the doctor. And now you come home drunk!” 🙂
    Campolo’s point was that by doing the things a lover does you fall in love and become a lover.Jesus doesn’t say “Where your heart is there will your treasure be also.” He says, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Our heart tends to go to whatever we invest in. Loving others in practical ways is what will take us deeper into the heart of God, changing our relationship to God. That sends us to love others more. It is a chicken and the egg relationship. I want to resist the a linear view of motivation to action. I think motivation and action are connected in a never ending cycle.

    Reply
  6. David Avatar
    David

    Thanks Michael, I like how you said this. Just maybe also are the results connected in a cycle as well.

    Reply

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