The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 23:2-3,
"When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit."
In the language of the day and consistent with the "cultural rot" that is eroding our society, the concept of "social justice" is predicated upon the previously "disadvantaged" getting their "fair share": what they perceive is due them due to their relative deprivation compared with others. Since others have gotten wealth to some extent and they have not, since others have gained some advantage or "privilege" they have not, they are now due some form of reparation, some form of compensation, some form of upper-hand, "social justice." It is derived from the political stream of communism.
Never mind the hard work of others. Never mind the self-denial and investment others may have made to get ahead, to get what they have gotten - simply based on the outcomes, some feel they are due. They may have spent a lifetime of alcohol or drugs, they may have spent a lifetime of demanding their pleasures be fulfilled everyday, they may have spent a lifetime of listless laziness, they may have spent a lifetime of living their lives in contrast to the wise choices presented us in Scripture, but nonetheless, they feel they are due and commensurate with "social justice", society (you and me), are to pay what is due them.
While there certainly are folks who are poor, who are disadvantaged through no legitimate fault of their own, these should be cared for by the rest of us. I have never met anyone who felt otherwise and I'll be you haven't either. Certainly the church has been given direction to do so as its expression of love in a world that pushes others aside.
However, today we have many half-wits in the church who appear to be unable to distinguish wisely what the Scriptures have to say in regard to caring for the poor and disadvantaged. Adopting both the language and the viewpoint of the world in opposition to God, they have bought into the concept of "social justice" hook, line and sinker.
Here are a couple of other references that speak to the issue from God's perspective:
"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives." 1 Timothy 5:3-6. Here, the church is instructed to only care for helpless widows based on certain conditions and not simply because she is going without (as "social justice" would require.)
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.' We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." Social justice demands we not "judge" others for why they may be "going without". Simply "going without" is grounds enough for compensation from others who have worked hard and "played by the rules".
"When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit."
In the language of the day and consistent with the "cultural rot" that is eroding our society, the concept of "social justice" is predicated upon the previously "disadvantaged" getting their "fair share": what they perceive is due them due to their relative deprivation compared with others. Since others have gotten wealth to some extent and they have not, since others have gained some advantage or "privilege" they have not, they are now due some form of reparation, some form of compensation, some form of upper-hand, "social justice." It is derived from the political stream of communism.
Never mind the hard work of others. Never mind the self-denial and investment others may have made to get ahead, to get what they have gotten - simply based on the outcomes, some feel they are due. They may have spent a lifetime of alcohol or drugs, they may have spent a lifetime of demanding their pleasures be fulfilled everyday, they may have spent a lifetime of listless laziness, they may have spent a lifetime of living their lives in contrast to the wise choices presented us in Scripture, but nonetheless, they feel they are due and commensurate with "social justice", society (you and me), are to pay what is due them.
While there certainly are folks who are poor, who are disadvantaged through no legitimate fault of their own, these should be cared for by the rest of us. I have never met anyone who felt otherwise and I'll be you haven't either. Certainly the church has been given direction to do so as its expression of love in a world that pushes others aside.
However, today we have many half-wits in the church who appear to be unable to distinguish wisely what the Scriptures have to say in regard to caring for the poor and disadvantaged. Adopting both the language and the viewpoint of the world in opposition to God, they have bought into the concept of "social justice" hook, line and sinker.
Here in this passage, God provides Israel a guideline regarding the perversion of true justice in favor of an expression of what will become today's notion of "social justice." Today's "social justice" is not justice at all. Real justice requires the expectations of God be implemented in the courtroom and the public square. It requires the equal treatment of all. Affirmative action programs, the confiscation of the wealth through taxation (or any other means) of some to transfer it to others, the unequal treatment of one group over another for any reason are all issues impacted here.
"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives." 1 Timothy 5:3-6. Here, the church is instructed to only care for helpless widows based on certain conditions and not simply because she is going without (as "social justice" would require.)
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.' We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." Social justice demands we not "judge" others for why they may be "going without". Simply "going without" is grounds enough for compensation from others who have worked hard and "played by the rules".
I have not found much of anything fomenting in our pop culture today that Scripture does not speak to, or at least provide direction on. Most of what comes to the fore in the public square today is regressive anyway. A reality found by those willing to spend time in the Scriptures. Most all of it is "been there, done that" and addressed in the pages of our Bibles.
To be on cutting edge of what takes place in our society, all anyone needs do is to pick up their Bible and avail themselves of what it is the Lord has provided us. The notion our Bibles are archaic, out-dated and out of touch with the things of the day is a thought only someone ignorant of its contents can adhere to.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment