Faithful Friday: Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice

Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice book cover on white doily

If you're looking for a book that evaluates social justice from the lens of the Bible, I heartily recommend Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice: An Urgent Appeal to Fellow Christians in a Time of Social Crisis by Scott David Allen. It's an outstanding look at how Christians can better understand the origins of the social justice movement and its ideology while comparing it to God's heart for the nations, His definition of justice as found in Scripture, and what it means for Christians to care for the least of these (Matthew 25:31-46).

I love that this book isn't afraid to examine critical race theory and critical social theory and get into the weeds of explaining the differences between communitive justice and distributive justice, amongst other terminology and concepts. The author does an excellent job of highlighting why regarding humanity through the sole lens of a power struggle between oppressor and oppressed is ultimately destructive, and how Christians should pursue God's perfect justice instead.

One of the reasons I continually turn to this book is because I'm professionally trained in the fields spoken of in this book, which I admit is an interesting space to be in as a Christian. While I'm well-versed in social justice vocabulary and tenets and can understand where people are coming from, I constantly have to evaluate these teachings against the Bible. That's where this book makes a meaningful difference to me both personally and professionally. The teachings that the author delves into line up with what I have learnt so there is no sensationalizing of the material, and its outcomes are accurate with what I've seen from people who operate from a social justice worldview.

I appreciate that this book does not minimize the need for Christians to respond to social crises, but that it affirms why God's comprehensive biblical justice is the mindset we should be operating from instead of the world's. This book is a thoughtful treatment of so many of the social issues facing the church today, and would be an informative read for anyone involved in ministry or curious about the subject matter.

Comments

All the Cheese

I've been coming across content within the past several weeks that has stereotyped Christian books (and other mediums) as being cheesy on Christian accounts. While this isn't a new label or even a new topic, what has surprised me somewhat has been seeing more Christian authors jump into this conversation who wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Although some authors will name others whom they believe are writing non-cheesy fiction, I feel as though the damage has been done by repeating this blanket statement. While readers have freely been engaging in this type of commentary for some time, it's been interesting to see authors chime in, where in some cases, there seems to be an emphasis on self-promotion over reflection. I'm not stereotyping and saying that all authors or even the authors I'm connected to respond with this tactic (because I really don't think they do!), but there are a few out there from my limited experience who seem to respond to this disc...

Review: A Garden Grows - Hills of Harvest #1

Just in time for the upcoming spring season, a new series launches today. A Garden Grows , the first book in the Hills of Harvest series by Karen Higgins , is one that will have you planning and desiring to plant the garden of your dreams once the weather clears up. It's a welcome reprieve after a time of dormancy, awakening the joy of seeing God's creation in all of its splendour. Many thanks to Mountain Brook Ink for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis One plucky widow, six scrubby acres, and an unlikely group of gardeners, all brought together by a long-ago promise. Fifty years is a long time to wait. Posey knows Elliot meant his promise, and oh, how he tried, but time and money didn’t grow on the sagebrush blanketing their high-desert land. Neither did life go exactly the way they planned. Now, Elliot is gone, the sound of his plea ringing in her ears ... “Build the garden, my love!” This English ga...

Christian Book Review Programs

Over time, I've been on the hunt for Christian book review programs that readers can join. As a result, I've been able to compile the following list which may be of interest if you are seeking review copies of Christian books. This list mostly applies to print and ebooks, although some publishers offer audiobooks as well. If further information is available for any of the publishers below (or any missing publishers), please let me know as I am happy to update this list—thank you! Please note that you can also search for these publishers on NetGalley and other review sites in case there are no review programs available or you don't qualify for one 😊 Christian Publishers B&H Publishing Group Previously offered the B&H/Lifeway Blogger program which has since closed Availability: Professors and instructors Link: B&H Academic Book Requests Baker Publishing Group Availability: U.S. and Canadian residents Genre: Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction Imprints: Bet...