Description
Ever heard of “climate justice,” “eco-justice,” or “environmental justice”?
Those and similar phrases reveal the growing alliance between environmentalists, especially climate alarmists, and the movement for “social justice.”
For well over a decade environmentalists have sought to persuade Americans that their cause is a matter of justice. Al Gore claimed that fighting global warming is “not [only] a political issue, it’s a moral issue.” The federal Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama gave millions of dollars to organizations purporting to further “eco-justice.”
Increasingly today, climate alarmists and other environmentalists have become part of a larger, older movement demanding “social justice.” What’s alarming is that what its advocates mean by “social justice” is actually the opposite of justice as defined Biblically.
Funded by anti-Christian, anti-American multi-billionaire George Soros, among others, “social justice” crusaders have succeeded in persuading even many evangelicals, especially Millennials and younger generations, to embrace “social justice” as part of their Christian faith. Sad to say, many evangelical “creation-care” organizations have led in this movement.
What they don’t realize is that they’re actually signing onto a variety of Marxism that feeds envy and resentment leading to widespread social conflict, all under the guise of seeking “justice” when what they actually demand is the opposite of justice.
I explain and support the true, Biblical meaning of justice in my book Social Justice vs. Biblical Justice: How Good Intentions Undermine Justice and Gospel. This new revision of an older book now incorporates a “Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel” issued last month by over 50 prominent evangelicals and now signed by over 9,000 people.
The book
- explains what advocates mean by “social justice” and contrasts that with what the Bible means by justice;
- refutes claims that the Bible requires wealth redistribution enforced by civil government;
- builds Biblical support for the definition of justice;
- demonstrates that Biblical justice requires four criteria: impartiality, proportionality, rendering what is due, and conformity to the standard of God’s law;
- and explains why some “rights” claimed in the name of “social justice” are not rights at all but actually violations of true, Biblically defined rights.
The book includes The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel released by Christian leaders in 2018. Social Justice vs. Biblical Justice addresses a crucial issue in America today, one on which our survival as a nation “with liberty and justice for all” depends.
Dr. Thomas Rush –
Dr. Beisner has done a great service to the Evangelical community. I highly recommend this work to pastors and laymen alike. “Social justice” is not the same as biblical justice. Knowing the difference is critical in this day and age. If you have been at a loss as to how to challenge the assertions of Progressives and their social justice agenda, this book will be a refreshing cool breeze to your soul and spirit. Every Bible believing Christian should read this book.
Chris McClain –
This book is awesome. I would recommend this book to all those who seek biblical truth.
Michael Philliber –
This wee booklet is an updated version of an earlier one. E. Calvin Beisner, Founder and National Spokesman of The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, and one-time professor at Covenant College and Knox Theological Seminary, has compiled a handy little dossier on what is biblical justice and what is its relation to society and culture. It is simple and straightforward, readable by those who have technical legal education as well as those who have moderate schooling. Older adults and mid-teens could profitably digest this pamphlet.
Beisner has thoughtfully culled Scripture, answering those who have all-too-easily misused the Bible to foster this or that economic program or egalitarian plan. He is correct to see that “the poor” in Scripture are not necessarily the economically impoverished as much as it is those who are vulnerable to injustice and oppression (30-33). Further, he takes on the different types of “social justice” concepts, parsing out what each means and which types are biblical and which are more radical-progressive. I found that his definitions and observations about equality of opportunity and equality of outcomes jive well with Jonathan Haidt in both of his recent works, “The Righteous Mind” and “The Coddling of the American Mind”. The author makes a clear case.
The only subject addressed by the Beisner that I have doubts over have to do with the seventh year (Sabbatical Year) simply being a temporary suspension of debts to be continued after the year is over (10-11). For reasons to do with other seventh-year releases, I think it more likely that the Sabbath Year was a more permanent situation. Beyond that one disagreement there are plenty of other details that will give the Christian reader good reasons to pause and take account of God’s social/economic plan to see how healthy it was intended to be. This tiny manual is ideal for a short class or discussion group. I highly recommend the booklet.
Chris McClain –
This book is the best! It really smashes through the rhetoric you hear about “social justice” in the media and gives us an undeniable truth about justice and the role it plays in humanity. I have linked this book on my website in hopes that people will find it and read it.
Kristin Coriston –
So much is packed into this book! The highlight for me was learning about negative and positive rights in light of God’s prescription for justice – I had never heard about negative positive rights before. Also, the connection between justice and grace was crucial for my understanding of biblical justice. I’m so grateful I read this book. I have recommended this to my friends and am so glad I found this website, this book, and all of these resources. To God be the glory!
E. Calvin Beisner –
Thank you, Kristin. I’m so glad you found the book helpful! I hope you’ll share it with many others!
B. Nathaniel Sullivan –
I cannot even begin to offer adequate praise for Social Justice vs. Biblical Justice! This booklet is every bit as insightful as it is practical. It is scholarly and well written, yet very easy to understand. Dr. Beisner has cut through the “feel good rhetoric” we so often hear from social justice crusaders to present a clear and understandable case for biblical justice. He shows from Scripture what justice is and is not. He shows forthrightly that social justice is no justice at all, but actually injustice. Further, he explains why the Scripture passages frequently used by social justice advocates to make their case are misinterpreting and misusing these Bible passages. Thank you, Dr. Beisner! You have performed a vital service to the church and to individual Christians as we seek to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
E. Calvin Beisner –
Thank you for your very generous endorsement!
E. Calvin Beisner –
Thank you for your very generous endorsement!