Christianity has already been teaching social justice since its inception. The Bible affirms the equality and respect of all people along with helping the weak, defending the helpless, and doing right to all people. But, it is not the politically correct version of today (which I’ll get to in a bit). The Bible teaches equality, forgiveness, love, and assistance to others. Take a look.

• “You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly,” (Lev. 19:15).
• “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Reprove the ruthless. Defend the orphan. Plead for the widow,” (Isaiah 1:17).
• “For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land,’” (Deuteronomy 15:11).
• “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another,” (John 13:34).
• See Social Justice Bible verses

What is today’s Social Justice?

Defining social justice is critical if we are to discuss it. Basically, it deals with equal rights, opportunity, and treatment of all people in a society. Let’s take a look at some secular definitions.

“fair treatment of all people in a society, including respect for the rights of minorities and equitable distribution of resources among members of a community.”  dictionary.com/browse/social-justice

“The objective of creating a fair and equal society in which each individual matters, their rights are recognized and protected, and decisions are made in ways that are fair and honest..”

oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100515279

These definitions are generic. However, if secular social justice means the denigration of one people over another in order to justify the redistribution of wealth and property, along with silencing those who do not adhere to the “social norm,” then it is not biblical. The problem is not with social justice. The problem is how people misapply and oppress those who do not uphold their politically correct agenda. Furthermore, despite the two previous definitions, social justice has a range of meanings and depending on the need, it can be molded as a tool to justify most anything.

Here’s yet another definition

“Social Justice” is the “feedback and corrective” principle that detects distortions of the input and/or out-take principles and guides the corrections needed to restore a just and balanced economic order for all. This principle is violated by unjust barriers to participation, by monopolies or by some using their property to harm or exploit others.”
https://www.cesj.org/learn/definitions/defining-economic-justice-and-social-justice/

Social Justice and Socialism

What is problematic in today’s society is that social justice is being associated with socialism. Socialism reduces private property rights, enforces redistribution of wealth, and silences those who stand in opposition. It is one step closer to communism. Unfortunately, those who promote justice in society tell us that the rich must be taxed all the more to make things right. Minorities must be promoted to places of authority and power – regardless of qualification. The government must take over more and more of society’s operations to ensure what they call equity.

Invariably, socialism leads to oppression because it denies people’s rights when it silences them and confiscates their assets through legal robbery or heavy taxation. This causes the economy to slow down and eventually fail.

For more on this, see the article, What is socialism? Is socialism biblical? Can a Christian be a socialist?

Biblical Social Justice

Biblically speaking, all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Therefore, regardless of race, gender, ability, or disability, all people are worthy of respect.  As Christians, we are supposed to be considerate to people and, as much as possible, be at peace with them (Romans 12:18). However, Christians are not supposed to approve of sinful behavior, the confiscation of property, the forced redistribution of wealth, the promotion of homosexuality, abortion, or the denigration of social status simply because those in power want to reshape our country into a new moral image.

To do this, they must suppress the free speech and livelihood of those who disagree.  Therefore, the cancel culture puts pressure on the non-compliant by threatening their jobs and social status. This is abusive and is social injustice. Christians cannot participate in the approval of those sins or the suppression of freedom. We must stand up and fight against it, or it will overtake us.

Nevertheless, it does not mean we treat with hatred those who, for example, are guilty of homosexuality and abortion. On the contrary, we should pray for them and show them Christian charity. After all, Scripture says…

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will,” (2 Timothy 2:24–26).

Conclusion

So, Christians are to oppose injustice of every kind in every place, all the time. We are obligated to do this because Jesus died on the cross for our sins and we are to extend that grace to others. Because Christians, as a whole, have been silent in society, the vacuum has been filled by the secularists who are organized and motivated to promote their idea of what society, faith, practice, and attitude are supposed to be.

Unfortunately, this attitude is creeping into the church. It is dangerous. Christians should be the model and the leaders in social justice, biblical social justice. It is we who should be promoting equality, tolerance, love, and economic freedom. But, we are not to do it by oppressing others.

Christians, therefore, should be praying for the country they live in, for their leadership, and for the truth of God’s word to be the foundation of social justice, not a dystopian secularist view of the redistribution of wealth, suppression of free speech, the denigrating of Christians, the confiscation of their rights.