bluegrassrambling's blog

Evangelical churches have always had their buzzwords, a unique insider's language that lets everyone know where you stand in theology and in relationship to God.

But mainline and liberal churches have their own discourse and keywords, and chief among the words we like to throw around is "social justice." The word has been used so frequently that I'm frankly tired of it. Whatever inspiration it once had, has now drained from it. Not only that, but I don't think it conveys what we want it to, which certainly complicates the ability of progressives to get across their point. To some, it is unjust to take from the rich and give to the poor. To some, it is unjust to work for equality and fairness. To some, the word "justice" implies a negative, as in getting what one deserves.

But Jesus isn't about giving us what we deserve, but about opening us up to each other in radical ways.

I would much rather hear us talking about "social redemption" instead of "social justice." We as Christians should be working to redeem society, offering a path toward transformation and the ability to realize that the redemption we seek will redeem us as much as the thing we seek to redeem. What do others think? Has the buzzword been played-out? Does it convey what we want it to convey? Does social justice really capture the message and ministry of Jesus?

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This is from a short talk I gave to a group of ministers last week and thought I'd share it here as well.

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom."

-- Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. --

Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

-- In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus came to his disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?” --

"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

-- a smoldering wick he will not snuff out --

" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "

-- Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." --

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived.

In Appalachia, there is an issue where all the progressive Christian interests meet, but an issue I haven't heard a great deal about. In some of the least wealthy, but gorgeous areas of the United States, the land and its people are being literally obliterated for the profit of big coal companies. Here is an issue that combines the least of these with creation-care and a little bit of corporate exploitation that we as Christians would do well to recognize.

Plus in 50 years, I want to retire in the Blue Ridge Mtns of N.C. and I'd like there to be some mountains left to admire, some peaks on which to meet with God.

http://www.ilovemountains.org/

http://unorthodoxology.blogspot.com

Recently, I was leisurely browsing the "Religion" section of a bookstore when the title of a new book by Bart Ehrman caught my eye. "God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question -- Why We Suffer" is not a titled to be overlooked, if for no other reason than it's Job-like austere sincerity and rawness.

Not many who consider themselves religious will own up to this idea, though I suspect many might think it in the secret places of the soul. Of course, Ehrman, a UNC (Go Heels!) professor of religious studies, isn't religious, at least not anymore. With a pedigree that Dwight Moody and Billy Graham would envy, Ehrman, the more he studied, found his faith unravelling, essentially over one of the oldest and simplest questions: How could a good, divine God allow suffering so great in the world? In his book, he essentially argues that there are certain categories of explanations the Bible offers to explain this question. These are theodicies, or, to the layperson, all the excuses we make up for when God fails.