Opus 2016-160: Discernment Watch: Social Justice

I have a lot of old thoughts to get to and write about.  This one hit me as I was listening to an Alistair Begg sermon back in 2011.  Begg used the term “social injustice”.  I am used to the term “social justice” but had not heard it turned around this way.  In case you are not paying attention you might think that “social justice” is something that Christians should be all in favor of.  After all, are we not called to justice?

(Micah 6:8 KJV)  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Yes we are, but we are not called to “social” justice. 

The whole meaning changes when you add the adjective.  Social justice is a term coined by a group of manipulators who want to carve out special privilege for certain groups of people at the expense of others.  Social justice means that you take the blindfold off the statue of justice so that she can she who is on trial and adjust the results to compensate for supposed inequality.  In the last few years we have had a judge decide that a handicapped person who wants to be a professional golfer could be allowed to ride in a golf cart.  This is in spite of the rule that says all golfers must walk the course.  It is the source of the blue outlined parking spaces outside of gyms and athletic fields. 

The Biblical idea of justice is based on truth.  If you buy a dozen eggs then when you get home you should find twelve eggs in the carton.  You should not have eleven eggs.  You should not have two rocks, three marbles and seven eggs.  Justice demands twelve eggs.  If you get home and find that you only have ten eggs because the grocer knew you had high cholesterol and didn’t need the eggs and gave the two extra eggs to someone with five children, that is social justice.  If, in the process, he made you pay more for the eggs because you made more money, that is social justice.  If it just so happens that the person who is getting the benefit of this social justice is a relative or someone who’s vote you want to buy, that is also social justice.

Why do we need the adjective.  Adjectives modify nouns.  If God has given us a noun why do we feel a need to modify it?  We act like we are clarifying but often we are just watering down.  I am on a diet.  I am sure you are impressed but keep in mind, everyone is on a diet.  You modify the type and meaning of the diet by the adjectives you use.  Remember the See Food Diet.  You see food and you eat it. 

Justice does not play favorites.  Justice is.  Or it is not.  I am afraid that social justice isn’t.

homo unius libri