The next chapter in Ben Corey's Undiluted that I'm
going to comment on is 'Undiluted Justice' in which Ben shares some of his
thoughts on social justice. And again he uses his own story to get at it.
Ben begins by referring to a course that he took in seminary
titled 'Biblical Global Justice'. And it sounds as if one big reason taking
this course was so significant in Ben's life was the instructor, Dean Borgman.
Before meeting Dean, I was sure
that the problem with American Christianity was that we had lost sight of just
how pissed off God really is. Instead of being honest about an angry God who is
so fed up with our abortions and same-sex marriages that he frequently sends
his justice upon us by way of natural disasters and terrorism, I was convinced
that we had diluted our idea of God’s justice to make him seem a little too
loving and a little too merciful.
That's the 'before' picture of Ben. Here is the 'after'.
Justice, as it turns out, isn’t
so much about God’s anger as it is his love. I discovered justice not as God
throwing a violent tantrum, but God’s passion for restoration, liberation,
healing, and wholeness. Justice was no longer something to be feared, but
something I wanted to participate in with every fiber of my being. In order to
arrive at this place however, required me to set aside an obsession with
retribution in regards to the concept of justice, and forced me to enter the Kingdom
like a little child— willing to rethink and relearn.
He then spends a little time exploring some of what the
Scriptures have to say about social justice.
In Deuteronomy chapter 15, we
find God prompting Israel for what it will be like to live in the Promised
Land. God tells them that as a nation they will have enough wealth and
resources for everyone, and that as a result, “there
should be no poor among you.”
He also includes comments on what Job and some of the
prophets have to say about the care of the needy. After that, Ben turns to the
New Testament. First, there's John the Baptist.
The crowds asked, “What should
we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you
have food, share it with those who are hungry” (Luke 3:10-11 NLT). Biblical
repentance, as taught as a gateway introduction to the message of Jesus, was an
invitation to be generous toward the vulnerable, honest in our dealings, and
content with what we have.
He also comments on Matthew 25 where Jesus talks about the
critical importance of caring for the hungry, the naked, the sick and
imprisoned.
In all of this Ben makes some really good points. The
Scriptures are clear about how those who have are to aid those who don't. And
this is something that we all need to be careful about since it is easy to
neglect this, especially in our Western culture. But is it as bad as he says?
Are Christians actually that calloused about caring for those in need? In my
years in the Church I have encountered some very generous Christians who cared
very much for those in need. Is it possible that Ben is actually reacting to
the particular sub-culture that he grew up in more than American Christianity
in general?
Ben also writes this.
Often we sponsor a child for $39
a month and write letters four times a year and call it good. But I think Jesus
is looking for something a little more radical—a little more counter to our
culture. Jesus, I think, wants more.
There are Christians who do exactly this. But what if this
is all that they can do?
That leads me to this question. What is it that Ben wants us
to do? He has been quite clear when it comes to what he is against. But what is
he for? What should we be doing? And why should we be doing those particular
things? There is less detail when it comes to this.
God has called us to love and
care for [those in need] with reckless abandon.
What might that look like?
There are many Christians who are caring for some of the
needy around them in very quiet ways, ways that aren't intended to be noticed.
For some it's volunteering at the local food bank. For others it's bringing
over a hot meal for the family next door that's going through some trauma.
Sometimes it's sitting with a cup of coffee and just listening to someone unburden himself. There are many other quiet ways that
Christians are helping those around them who are in need. Do these
count for Ben?
Then Ben writes this.
People who do undiluted justice
are simply the people who are trying to make the world a little less broken.
A little more reconciled.
A little more
whole.
A little more
beautiful.
I am so for a world that is a little less broken and a
little more reconciled, whole and beautiful. That desire is one reason I am a
pastor. But those things won't happen unless Jesus is at the center of it all.
Ben didn't say much of what he is for so I don't know what he thinks about
this. But it seems to me that what we need to do is deal with the whole person,
body and soul. So, there are, to be sure, physical needs that must be met. But
what good is that if the needs of the soul aren't also met? People need food
and clothing. But they also need a lively trust in Jesus. In fact, they need
that more. So, I don't talk about social justice. To my ears
that sounds too large, a little flashy and programmed. I would rather
talk about people caring for people: meeting them where they are and seeing
what they need. And then, doing what they can to help them meet those needs,
needs both of body and of soul. This includes things like being at the food
bank each week, sharing a dinner or simply listening:
showing Jesus by your life. But then, it's also talking about Jesus with your
words. This is small (something one person can do), ordinary (no flash here)
and not at all programmed (no need for someone to organize it). But I think
that this is how the church in its early days (as well as in some later times)
changed the lives of so many.