Rev. Don Campbell
Leviticus 19-21
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE BIBLE
In today’s reading, a broad range of topics are covered: respecting parents, keeping the Sabbath, offering peace offerings, punishment for child sacrifice, forbidden sexual relationships, the conduct of the priests, and social justice. We will focus on the last because it is relevant to many discussions—arguments, perhaps—that fill the airwaves and social media sites today
First, note two statements in Leviticus Chapter 19: “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God” (vv.9-10). “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (vv.33-34). In discussing social justice, we must not confuse it with socialism. Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, Centennial Fellow – Centennial Institute, at Colorado Christian University has done a much better job discussing this than could I. I am sharing two statements from him, as well as a link to the full article.
In contrasting socialism and social justice, Samuel-Burnett wrote: “To put it another way, unlike socialism, social justice can be a manifestation of democracy fully at work. But the essential element of social justice is rights and duties. Whereas, the essential aspect of socialism is control. For socialism to work, it requires that the state own, manage, and dictate what happens not only to the means of production, but also to the products, and to whom they are distributed. It is not about individual rights and duties from the government, but about duties to the government in the context of state controls.”
Samuel-Burnett points out the guilt both in the Conservative camp and the Liberal camp: “By avoiding social justice, Conservatives and Christians are creating a vacuum for disadvantaged in our society. And by embracing socialism (or at least misapplying the idea of socialism), Liberals and others are deconstructing the democratic principles that can support those that are disadvantaged. With clarity of definition and purpose, Liberals, Conservatives, and even more so, Christians have an opportunity to be champions for everyone in our society, particularly for those who are disadvantaged. By learning from history in general, the Cold War in particular, and engaging social justice not socialism, we can begin the work of addressing the very real human rights concerns of our society.
Neither unfettered capitalism nor unfettered socialism is the answer to any nation’s problems. In unfettered capitalism, money is the nation’s god. In unfettered socialism, the government is the nation’s god. Those leaning toward unfettered capitalism are fond of Paul’s injunction: “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living” (2 Thess 3:10-12).
Those leaning toward unfettered socialism love to quote James: “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you” (Jam 5:1-6). In context, both passages are addressed to believers, not to governments. Be that as it may, it is not professed unbelievers who flee to these passages to support their ideology, but professing Christians.
CONNECTIONS – Matthew 5:14-16
1. Jesus said that disciples were to be a city set on a hill, resulting in glory to God (Matt 5:14-16). What happens to our light when we equate Christianity with either the Conservative or Liberal ideology?
2. Jesus warned the disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees (conservative party) and that of the Sadducees (liberal party), meaning their teachings. If we take seriously the example of Jesus, will we not at least avoid equating one party as the party of God and the other as the party of Satan?
