How should Christians think about social justice? What is a Christian response to injustice? In this video, I interview professor Thaddeus Williams about his upcoming book: Confronting Injustice Without Compromise.
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44 Comments
@January14q
Love his reminder to preach the gospel to ourselves daily. ✝️
@Shannon-k5du2
Just stop! Your fathers, faith and half your lives have been spent in a system that has supported a system of condemnation and suppression both in word and deed to your benefit. It's not that you can't have gained new insights on something you probably knew was wrong all along on some deep and fundamental level. You guys might not have ever been implicit in it, but most had to be to be and still are. To now blame the other of blanket intolerances is a bridge too far, but how can you not see that the hate is worse than ever, even with your concerns and consideration. So basically you are saying that your faith leaders know the truth and deem it lacking and that the abused are now the abusers.
@cammobox
How can you say the gospel is an indicative and not an imperative when the calls to believe and repent (which are closely linked to/identified with faith) are given many times as imperatives?
@rochellecaffee1417
Social justice is an ideology based on the “outward appearance “ of someone. People who look different or live outwardly “different , are treated with “favoritism”, Which is a sin. The whole idea of Christ’s call to receive His Spirit, is to change the “insides” of someone. A new heart is given. BUT. That new heart does not ever deny the truth. The Social Justice idea is trying to give particular attention to those who “look” different. It’s said in the New Testament that Christ “died for all”, but Jesus explained in John 17, that not everyone will receive Him. This ideology wants Salvation for everyone, but we know that, though we pray for their souls, salvation is NOT given by people. Salvation is given by God, when He “calls” us to himself. We “offer” the Gospel to everyone, and realize that if the Gospel is not accepted by someone, that says that the person is either not “ready” to hear the message of freedom in Christ, or that person is blinded by Satan, and can not hear the Truth of freedom in Christ, ALONE. Pray, yes. But do not spend time trying to convince them that Christ died for them to forgive them of their sins, and HE WAS RESURRECTED. If they hear or believe what you tell them, they are probably “called” by God. If not, shake the dust off your feet and move on. A person who does not understand and accept the Gospel, will not be able to advance in further teaching and biblical understanding. It’s the cleansing of our”consciences from past sin by the applied blood of Christ to the mercy seat IN HEAVEN” (Hebrews 9:14) is the understanding that our “insides”, our unseen souls, our hearts, are the issue, NOT HOW WE LOOK ON THE “OUTSIDE”. “BROKENNESS” is not the issue. We are all STAINED with sin. The Law was/is a mirror to show us what is expected to have a relationship with God, which He wants. Only those whose hearts are “purified” by the perfect blood of Christ, are accepted into the relationship with our Father. It comes THROUGH Christ. A Perfect ENVIRONMENT where God lives, requires a perfect cleansing of all sin, with forgiveness and purifying from all unrighteousness will allow us into our Father’s realm, heaven.1 John 1:9 do not follow your wicked and deceitful heart, UNTIL WE ARE GIVEN A NEW HEART FROM OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. AT THAT TIME your sanctification begins in which you “”grow into the Grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (.2 Peter 3:18). Our job is to “walk in His Spirit, study His. Word, and listen and obey the “nudges” of His Spirit. To follow, and do His will, at a particular and personal time. We Must. Dwell in the Word of God. Richly. “Favoritism” is absolutely wrong. Because as we learned in the Old Testament, “”people look upon the outward. Appearance,, but God looks. At the heart.” He. Is. The same, yesterday,, today, and tomorrow. The. culture is. Trying to. Guilt. Christians into. “”Acting”” on their. World point. Of. View., as they do.. God. Has called Christians away from the culture’s influence,, to live under the “”influence. Of Christ’’s Spirit. If we. Spend too. Much. Time. Trying to understand them. And. Live with them,, being. Influenced by a LIE, our. Consciences. Are going to be “desensitized” to the Spirit’’s direction. See Ephesians 4:19–24 also, this social justice ideology. Is. Teaching GROUP THINK. And how GROUPS. Are being favored.. God is about. A. Personal relationship with each. Believer. This Group think has come to our churches. We do not have a proper. New Testament. Understanding, of how our. Churches should live and share the Gifts of. His Spirit. To ENCOURAGE,, STRENGTHEN, AND COMFORT, the Body of Christ. Then, those. Who. Have the gift of evangelism, should answer the call to go. But the. Gift of evangelism is NOT GIVEN TO EVERY person saved. And part of the Body of Christ, especially. At the. Local assembly..Ephesians 4:11–13. “If. “”You have love for one another, they. Will know you. Are my disciples.” God is JUST, we must do what we are personally called. To do. Jesus said to Peter, if i want him to remain alive. Until i return, what is that to you??”we are to focus on hearing. From our Shepherd. And serve each other within. The Body of Christ to encourage, strengthening and comforting the Body, like we do our own bodies. there are many things that we should be putting aside from culture expectations. They are always coming from an “unredeemed heart and mind”. Yes, Mercy is our attitude. Toward those who do not understand us, and have a false. View. Of what we are called to. These examples are a reality of those who are under the influence of the flesh, the world system, and the devil. Forgiveness and mercy is our business, but we should always be wise about how we are to respond to. Those who are TRYING. TO DESTROY OTHERS.. DON’T CAST PEARLS TO SWINE, OR “”FOOLS””. PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. (Ecclesiastes 3) “Jesus Christ, the same.yesterday, today,, and. tomorrow.”
@dirkscott4966
It is simple do not engage at all.
@ZaharMatthew633
Very good discussion!
@brooklynnlou4
God's justice is awful. If a child shoplifts from a store and doesn't believe in God they will get eternity in Hell and if a serial killer asks to be forgiven they will get to live forever in paradise. Just awful.
@FireflowerDancer
Maybe I'm talking out of my emotions, but I'm going to have to stop listening to this conversation. It sounds like the all too familiar dialog of white men being mad that somebody with a different perspective than them should be granted a new authority to speak . . . ok I'm not going to say anything more right now, as it would not be constructove or polite. If anyone knows of a Youtube channel where they address these concerns, I'd be interested to check it out.
@FireflowerDancer
The Gospel is about justice and it's also action based: 'you have been saved, now go out today and demonstrate it to others.' If justice isn't being practiced, the gospel is not being followed. Pretty simple. Currently, I believe that social justice is a reaction from a world sick of spiritual hypocrisy. Sick of people who talk one thing and do another. It holds Christians accountable to the outside world, and the Christians really do not like that. Someone please challenge me on this. I'm open to a brighter and more balanced perspective, if the arguments are good enough.
@lindawarner7496
Excellent discussion
@benjaminhoffman3848
It isnt the role of Christians or Christianity to legislate morality or force people to live as Christians. Christians should have their own communities where they live as Christ commands. Then that community spreads the light of the gospel to surrounding areas and people. It can be done anywhere regardless of the government. Earthly governments are just human constructs. Christians live in a monarchy led by Jesus.
@barbarawinkler6427
Thanks so much! (I'm loving reading Thaddeus's book.)
@boringbiblestudy1813
Help me out here. As best I can tell, the Bible says absolutely nothing about something called social justice. It only speaks of justice which is to render a proper judgment or to give people what is owed, so why have Christians adopted the term social justice? It’s a-Biblical.
It’s also a left-wing political movement. It not an A or B thing. Social justice was created as a vehicle for left wing politics. There is no Christian social justice. Why are we taking a corrupt secular idea created by people who hate God and Christianize it?
@jocelynhylden5055
Such an important message!! Thank you!!!
@arminius504
16:55 I don’t agree with this because the data does not support the police brutality narrative or the interracial violence against blacks narrative so in a Christian world view all lives matter but singling out a race even though the data doesn’t support the claims is not helpful IMO.
@helenwilliams6773
Helen Williams from NC… I'm so glad I listened in on this conversation. SO helpful. Love your podcasts, Sean. Am a member of Southbridge where you just preached…which was AWESOME!! love your work!!
@YoKinah
I love how gospel centered this conversation is. I’ve had people try to convince me that Social Justice B AND Social Justice A was the true way. But the framing of it was always demeaning or condescending or oversimplified. You framed this so lovingly and patiently. You didn’t over complicate it but you also didn’t oversimplify. You infused it with the gospel BEAUTIFULLY. Thank you Dr. Thaddeus Williams! And thank you Dr. Sean McDowell! Social Justice A for the win. Jesus Christ for the win 🙌🏾🥳
Your dad will be at my church this weekend. Excited to hear him speak again! Love you McDowells lol
@YoKinah
So good 🙌🏾
@evanhadkins5532
In Acts when the distribution of food goes bad the response is to fix it. The names of those put in charge of distribution to the Greeks are Greek.
@evanhadkins5532
Race + other issues = intersectionality.
@evanhadkins5532
The Mosaic legislation deals with social collectives.
@evanhadkins5532
Redress is part of god's justice.
@evanhadkins5532
Jesus, in Luke, proclaimed the gospel in social justice terms – release of captives etc. There are lots of ways of describing the gospel in the gospels and letters.
@kristopherhayes1957
What does the word "indicative" mean?
@goldenboy7819
Amen. Enjoyed it.
@trinaglynntg
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! You don't know just how much this is needed. No one has unpacked this in the absolutely fantastic way you have. God Bless you x
@Shlambez
Tell him the audible version has poor reviews(sound quality), this is such an important book. Id hate for that to be a roadblock.
@Baltic_Hammer6162
Marx was a satanist. That alone explains the deception and anti-Christ built into his life and his manifesto.
@maggielantry9811
You shared the book too quickly.
Share again
@keystonetuscanred4921
🤔🤨😐
@BibleTalkwithSean
I appreciate your even-tempered understanding.
@mazza8408
I really liked this topic and discussion. However there is some frustrations that do reflect evangelical theological flaws if more Christians understood the history of evangelicalism and race then we would be much further in racial reconcilation. I wonder if Sean will do a interview with Jema tisby
@SierraTrainingGroup
Mic drop at minute 31:00 till about 31:15 – no redemption, reconciliation or restoration available for mankind ANYWHERE except, in Jesus Christ ALONE. In a fallen world inhabited by adulterous, rebellious, independently wise and proud scoffers to truth – the mantra of the day shouldn't be "No Justice, No Peace" but rather, the more salvific: "Know Jesus, Know Peace!"
@chaiman3761
Equality is not treating everyone the same but giving everyone the same opportunities.
@TheProdigalMeowMeowMeowReturns
For starters, call out dishonest claims by both BLM and its critics.
@victoriamiddleton8187
I’m soo sick of the way white people try to use trumped up statistics to disprove systemic racism. I’m disgusted.😣
@redlambbiblestories
Thank you for speaking so clearly, biblically and boldly regarding this topic!
@AKAshaw
It is disappointing and discouraging that views from Biola professors are more concerned with semantics and who the message is coming from rather than listening to what the marginalized are actually saying about injustice. The parable of the Good Samaritan seems valuable in understanding how Jesus wanted us reach across political and racial lines when people are in need.
This side a and side b argument is borderline ridiculous. There is a Side B because the Evangelical church hasn't been listening. They haven't been listening to minorities, the poor or really anyone who doesn't hold their same political view. Many in the church don't want to acknowledge there is any injustice much less do anything about it. When was the last time you heard the church talk about mass incarceration or police brutality? Or the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow laws, Denial of GI Housing loans etc… I know when I went to Biola, this was never brought up. Perhaps Side B wouldn't exist if Christians actually made it a point to listen and help.
If you are really listening as a Side A as Dr. Williams claims, then you would have to ask the question why there are injustices and what can I do to help progress the kingdom of God? Many of these injustices take massive social change which usually comes through revising our systems and institutions. Unfortunately, Christians haven't been interested in that. So how can you reach people's hearts when you have no interest in standing beside them when there are injustices?
Dr. Sean Mcdowell, I've read your post on Black Lives Matter and you say that you are listening but it seems you missed a major part of the message of Black Lives Matter which is police brutality, the lack of accountability in shootings and excessive force against black people and minorities. Have you spoken out against that? Or have you listened to minorities about the racism of mass incarceration and how the USA leads the world in total numbers and percentage? It seems like you are losing the forest in the trees and are more concerned with secondary issues rather than the main point of the movement.
@trishakoury-stoops2372
Evangelicals are giving false teachings.. they bow to trump and republicans..
@trishakoury-stoops2372
Trump is the anti christ and pence is false profit
@MrMurfle
These guys are way overthinking this. Actually, this is not that hard. 'You don't need a big book on social justice to get it. Love thy neighbor' is the Christian 'social gospel.' Love means desiring, seeking, and acting for the 'good' of another (with 'good' as defined by God and made known in Scripture). Socially, it means doing all one reasonably can to bring about the good, i.e., the flourishing, of all my neighbors wherever they are (though there is a principle of support propinquity in Scripture). Whatever disadvantages, whatever causes undue stress and suffering, to any peoples is injustice to be addressed and alleviated by the body of Christ. The bigger and more systematic the oppression, the bigger the injustice. Mostly, the Christian social gospel is an economic concern, since economics is really just the practical and material outworking of what's valued. When you have people spending on marble countertops and industrial ovens enough to lift a near-starvation family out of disease-ridden poverty for years, you have social injustice in spades.
@MrMurfle
Complicated, isn't it? Shows how important it is to use meaningfully descriptive terms as much as possible, or, at least avoid ambiguous ones. Here, everything depends on what meaning you pour into the term 'social justice,' your underlying worldview presuppositions, and how you parse things out from there. Makes productive communication and empathetic understanding between various groups difficult. No wonder we're so divided.
@johnsteven7437
I'm so thankful for brothers like you who are helping the body of Christ to stay biblically grounded.
@ladyjoy5828
If you all are buying the stuff he is saying, then you're the gullable people he's trying to reach. He is what's called a master manipulator! He's trying to use the gospel to dismiss the fact that slavery was implemented at the hands of white christians. He want you to continue to be blind to this fact. Don't buy that book. It's just a sneaky way of justifying what the masters used on the ignorance of the slaves. DON'T DRINK THE KOOLAID! This is the same teachings the masters taught!!! He is just exploiting the gospel for his gain and then he want to quote black people to back up his theory. Good psychology man! Good psychology! We are no longer buy it! Your days are numbered, so get over it.