Jesus's Mission Statement Was Social Justice

“Social justice isn’t biblical,” I saw someone say on a social media post. Let’s unpack that for a minute.

The Bible contains numerous passages that emphasize care for the vulnerable, justice for the oppressed, and compassion for those in need. For example, the Hebrew prophets like Amos, Isaiah, and Micah strongly condemned economic exploitation and called for just treatment of the poor. In the New Testament, Jesus frequently emphasized caring for the marginalized and criticized systems that oppressed people.

Yes, of course, the actual term "social justice" as used in contemporary discourse is modern and encompasses concepts and applications that wouldn't have existed in biblical times.

But when we talk about specific constructs such as "bring good news to the poor, health to the sick, set prisoners free, and liberate the oppressed,” those phrases directly echo Jesus's words in Luke 4:18-19, where he reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue and applies that prophetic mission to himself. The full passage reads: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

This text is central to understanding Jesus's ministry and mission. Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus consistently living out these values by healing the sick, spending time with social outcasts, challenging unjust religious practices, and advocating for the vulnerable.

The Bible repeatedly emphasizes God's special concern for the marginalized. In both the Old and New Testaments, care for the poor, widow, orphan, and stranger is presented not as optional but as essential to faithful obedience to God. The prophets frequently condemned Israel for neglecting justice for the vulnerable.

Putting all that on hold for a moment, let’s look at some possible reasons why people might take the view that social justice is not Biblical:

1. Some may emphasize individual salvation, personal holiness, or theological doctrine as the primary biblical concerns, while downplaying passages about caring for others.
   
   
2. Particularly in the U.S., certain strands of Christianity have become closely aligned with political ideologies that emphasize individual responsibility and limited government intervention, potentially creating tension with collective approaches to helping the vulnerable.
   
   
3. Some Christians worry that secular social justice movements may be built on philosophical or ideological foundations they consider 'unbiblical', even if the outcome of helping others does align with biblical values.
   
   
4. There are those whose interpretations prioritize spiritual salvation over material well-being, suggesting that meeting people's physical needs is secondary to their spiritual condition. (I’d point out that Jesus fed the 5,000 before he preached to them, not after. He knew that it’s hard to hear a sermon over the growling of your empty stomach.)
   
   
5. Others argue that biblical instructions about caring for others were meant for individuals or the church community rather than broader social structures or government policies.

Nevertheless, the claim that "social justice isn't biblical" requires overlooking vast portions of scripture. From the Hebrew prophets' fierce condemnation of economic exploitation to Jesus explicitly defining his mission as bringing good news to the poor and freedom to the oppressed, care for the vulnerable is woven throughout the biblical narrative.

While we can certainly debate the specific policies and approaches that best fulfill these commands today, the fundamental call to pursue justice for the marginalized is unmistakably biblical. The question isn't whether Christians should care about social justice, but how best to embody these values in our complex world.

Perhaps most tellingly, Jesus himself modeled a holistic approach that addressed both physical and spiritual needs - feeding the hungry before preaching, healing bodies alongside saving souls. In doing so, he demonstrated that true faith cannot separate care for eternal salvation from concern for present suffering.

As we engage with these discussions, may we approach them with both biblical literacy and compassion, recognizing that following Jesus means embracing his complete mission of restoration and liberation. And if you aren’t a follower, but just want to put good out into the world, that’s OK too.