by Joel V Webb | Mar 6, 2024 | Uncategorized
There is a deep tension in our society right now when it comes to the issue of race and racial relations. Up until recently, I have found many of the methods to identify and answer these questions to be severely wanting. They would either deny there is a problem or take the problem so far as to think racism permeates every single part of life, separating people into classes originally devised by Marxist ideology.
So what are we to do? How can we address these questions thoughtfully and realistically while still remaining faithful to the framework of Scripture? One thing the dominant perspective gets right is stating that there is a problem. The thing it fails to do is offer the only true answer to the problem: the ultimate atonement for sin on the cross.
In Tony Evans’s book, he lays things out frankly and honestly. He does not pull punches in seeing how the Bible addresses the issues of racial tension we are seeing today. And this goes for both sides of the aisle. Racism is real, and it does exist, and those who are followers of Jesus deny the basic reality of a person being an image bearer if they are racist. There is no room for racism in God’s Kingdom. Likewise, he leaves no room for those who seek to divide us by our melanin levels, as is with the derivatives of critical theory. He shows that in the gospel, there is a unity in Christ that bridges all divides and brings true reconciliation.
At the end, there is a provided list, particularly for black and white Christians, of serious questions to be considered. I found it challenging and hopeful. While it certainly pressed points of things I have not considered before, it is done wholly in the love and grace of Jesus, and it does so for both lists. Whoever reads it will feel challenged to do better and to love more.
I highly recommend this book. It provides a path forward that is not found at the whims of questionable philosophical origins and frameworks, and is wholly built upon the transformative power of the gospel. Unlike some of the other options that are out there to wholly focus on what makes us different and always left me feeling misunderstood or angered, Evans’s take points us ultimately to the cross that reconciles us all together to God. If the divide of sin and death could be resolved, so can our divisions over race as well.
You can find the book here – https://a.co/d/aT1WgNE
by Joel V Webb | Jan 10, 2024 | Uncategorized
What is Biblical Justice?
This is often a hot button issue of discussion. Many Christians completely ignore issues of justice and don’t involve themselves in transforming the world around them through the gospel. While others take concepts of justice with almost no discernment or differentiation from political ideologies that are antithetical to Scripture and hiw we are to see the world.
Here are some points I have found helpful in assessing how we enact justice.
If a view of justice blames all evil on external systems of oppression while ignoring Solomon’s pride-deflating insight that our own hearts are full of evil and moral insanity (Eccles. 9:3) then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview sees evil not only in systems (Ps. 94:20), where we ought to seek justice, but also within the twisted hearts of those who make those systems unjust. All the external activism in the world won’t bring about any lasting justice if we downplay our need for the regenerating, love-infusing work of God through the gospel.
If a view of justice deconstructs relationships in terms of “power differentials” and argues that all such hierarchies are oppressive and must be abolished in the name of “equality” then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview totally opposes the sinful abuse of power, but sees many hierarchies, like the parent-child, rabbi-disciple, elders-congregation, teacher-student relationships, as part of God’s good design for human flourishing.
If a view of justice interprets all truth, reason and logic as mere constructs of the oppressive class, if it encourages us to dismiss someone’s viewpoint on the basis of their skin tone or gender, then it is not true justice. The Greatest Commandment calls people from every ethnicity and gender to love God with our whole minds. A mind that loves the Father assesses ideas based on their biblical fidelity, truth-value and evidence, not the group identity of those articulating it.
If a view of justice encourages rage and resentment toward people groups as a motivator for social activism then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview calls us to overcome evil with good, love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Family and reconciliation among every tongue, tribe and nation, not intertribal warfare, is the Bible’s model for justice.
If a view of justice breaks people into group identities, generating a spirit of mutual suspicion, hostility, fear, labeling, offended-ness and preoccupation with one’s subjective feelings then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview champions a unifying kind of love that “is not easily offended,” and offers us the fruit of the Spirit like joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.
If a view of justice treats individuals as exemplars or ciphers of their identity groups, attributing goodness or guilt on the basis of skin tone, gender or social status, then it is not true justice. A Christian worldview assesses everyone as guilty based on our group identity “in Adam.” This guilt can be erased only by finding our new and deepest group identity in Jesus, “the second Adam.” Rather than condemning people for ethnic or gender group identity, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
If a view of justice seeks behavior modification, often through intimidation, speech codes and ideological re-education, then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview seeks character transformation not through political coercion but through the in-working power of the Holy Spirit, the discipleship of the family and the local church.
If a view of justice teaches that the human telos (i.e., our ultimate purpose and meaning) is defined by the creature, and that anyone who challenges our self-defined telos is an oppressor, then it is not true justice. A biblical worldview teaches that our telos is defined by the Creator and the sinful refusal to live within that God-defined telos brings oppression to ourselves and those around us. Real authenticity and freedom don’t come from defining yourself and “following your heart,” but from letting God define you and following his heart.
(taken from Thinking Biblically About Social Justice – Talbot Magazine – Biola University)
