Social Justice Vs. Evangelism
I have read several articles that address the issue of whether missions should involve social justice or evangelism. Social justice is meeting the needs of people and evangelism is telling others about Jesus. The following is a blog I wrote on the topic and I reference an article by Tim Hoiland throughout the blog. The citation of his article is below.
A recent article by Tim Hoiland had the tagline was "How can Christians move past the tension that was never supposed to exist?". It starts by showing the shift in Christian mission from the 80's and 90's to present day. In the 80's and 90's there was a lot of preaching on the streets, and Christians were characterized by "WWJD" bracelets. Now the modern Christian can be characterized by TOM shoes. One focused more on the Gospel, and one focuses more on social justice. So which is right? Both are, but Christians struggle to find the balance between the two. I know for a fact that a main reason Christians are worried to share the Gospel is to seem "too pushy", but Christians can't just do social justice without the Gospel. It doesn't work. Jesus said, " What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36). We can go and serve, and that is great, but only paired with the Gospel. It is no good to just give people food and clothes;while leaving their eternity to hang in the balance. Non-Christians do that, and they do a good job at it.Hungry people need tangible food yes, but they also need their souls fed with the Gospel. However, the Bible makes it clear that talk alone is cheap.
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:14-17
Christians are called to spread the Gospel and be ambassadors of Christ. When Jesus walked the Earth He not only talked about the love of God; He showed it. Christians are also called to show their faith with actions. To give their time, money, resources and themselves away for the sake of the Gospel.
So the problem Christians seem to have a hard time with today is finding a balance. The article says that the problem is the two were never meant to be separated, but to be combined. Missions are supposed to be both social justice and evangelism It's part of God's redemptive plan. Before the fall of man there was no need for social justice or evangelism. Now, living in the post-fall world, both are needed.
So as Christians go and do mission work it's important to find the balance between the two. To go and serve others, and to spread the Gospel. Together it makes a beautiful picture of the love and grace God has given to us.
Hoiland, Tim. "Serving Justice vs. Saving Souls | RELEVANT Magazine." RELEVANT Magazine. N.p., 04 Dec. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2012. <http://www.relevantmagazine.com/reject-apathy/worldview/serving-justice-vs-saving-souls>.
A recent article by Tim Hoiland had the tagline was "How can Christians move past the tension that was never supposed to exist?". It starts by showing the shift in Christian mission from the 80's and 90's to present day. In the 80's and 90's there was a lot of preaching on the streets, and Christians were characterized by "WWJD" bracelets. Now the modern Christian can be characterized by TOM shoes. One focused more on the Gospel, and one focuses more on social justice. So which is right? Both are, but Christians struggle to find the balance between the two. I know for a fact that a main reason Christians are worried to share the Gospel is to seem "too pushy", but Christians can't just do social justice without the Gospel. It doesn't work. Jesus said, " What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36). We can go and serve, and that is great, but only paired with the Gospel. It is no good to just give people food and clothes;while leaving their eternity to hang in the balance. Non-Christians do that, and they do a good job at it.Hungry people need tangible food yes, but they also need their souls fed with the Gospel. However, the Bible makes it clear that talk alone is cheap.
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:14-17
Christians are called to spread the Gospel and be ambassadors of Christ. When Jesus walked the Earth He not only talked about the love of God; He showed it. Christians are also called to show their faith with actions. To give their time, money, resources and themselves away for the sake of the Gospel.
So the problem Christians seem to have a hard time with today is finding a balance. The article says that the problem is the two were never meant to be separated, but to be combined. Missions are supposed to be both social justice and evangelism It's part of God's redemptive plan. Before the fall of man there was no need for social justice or evangelism. Now, living in the post-fall world, both are needed.
So as Christians go and do mission work it's important to find the balance between the two. To go and serve others, and to spread the Gospel. Together it makes a beautiful picture of the love and grace God has given to us.
Hoiland, Tim. "Serving Justice vs. Saving Souls | RELEVANT Magazine." RELEVANT Magazine. N.p., 04 Dec. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2012. <http://www.relevantmagazine.com/reject-apathy/worldview/serving-justice-vs-saving-souls>.