The God of Social Justice

by Peter Starr & Lisa Lockett

Christians generally seem to think about the Old Testament and the New Testament as entirely separate works. Most often, it is generally felt that the God of the Old Testament was mean-spirited and quick to anger. In contrast, Jesus in the New Testament is the essence of love, tolerance, grace and compassion. Separated by over 3,000 years of culture, the Older Testament (often called the law) can be difficult to understand or comprehend. Because of these challenges, the God of the Old Testament gets a bit of a bad rap! In Bruce Almighty, Jim Carrey sums up the feelings of many of us when he throws up the ultimate challenge to God – “Smite me, oh mighty smiter!”

But the law is still worth a look, for woven all throughout its pages are wisdom that transcends time and culture, and social justice that is as radical as any that is championed today. This is the way it has to be, because the God of the Old Testament and the compassionate Jesus of the New Testament are really one and the same. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 7:12 that “But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.” So within the pages of this mysterious book is the essence of the love, grace and compassion that came to it’s fullness in Jesus Christ.

So what are some of the gems hidden in the Old Testament?

Respect for parents

Leviticus 19:3 Every one of you should honour and respect his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

What can we say? All parents would love this one! Parenting has become a million-dollar industry as parents try (and fail) to raise the perfect kids. God understood that a family environment of love, boundaries and respect is good for parents and kids, no matter what their age.

Protection for the disabled

On a recent trip to Cambodia we witnessed Christians educating and caring for kids with disabilities. They had set up places to give mothers much-needed support. On closer investigation we found out that the prevailing culture believes that these kids are born cursed, and deserve such a fate and therefore no one should seek to help them. We’re glad that Moses got it right with the following:

Leviticus 19:14 you should not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but should fear your God: I am the LORD.

Protection for the poor and disadvantaged

In most of our world the poor are ripped off and just used up by the rich. Through God’s good provision the world has enough resources for all, but the problem is in the distribution, which is really the greed of man. Below is just one example of providing for the poor:

Leviticus 19:10 and you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Other poverty fighting initiatives included cancellation of debts after 7 years and zero interest on loans – who wouldn’t love that?

Loving treatment of all – the world’s best immigration policy

Many people have difficultly comprehending the Old Testament’s instructions for war – they are pretty ugly. War has always been ugly by nature; no country, if honest, could claim any sort of virtue in this regard. But look what the Bible says about those who have been displaced by war, or have sought refuge in another country – the compassion in this next verse is quite striking:

Leviticus 19:34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

The world’s first feminist?

Many think that the battle for equal rights for women was a battle that only really began in the last century, and in many respects they are right. But all those who battled for women’s rights had a kindred spirit in Jesus, who was the forerunner for justice for women. Whether rescuing a woman from death (found in John chapter 8), or engaging with women from different cultures (check out his conversation with the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4); Jesus was consistently defying the culture and authorities of the day to give dignity and respect to women.

Throughout history, whenever Christians have left these principles of justice by the wayside their ventures have led to disaster. Righteous intentions have, without grace and mercy, become murderous endeavors. The tragedy is that that there are too many examples. And yet, for every misstep and mistake, there are many more Christians whose drive to follow the loving example of God has led to many great works. It was Christians who started orphanages and hospitals. Others were at the forefront for the abolition of slavery or education during the middle ages. Many Christians have lost their lives in the pursuit of this kind of social justice. This is the history that every Christian should build on; the history that started with the God of the Old Testament, and the Christ of the New. Some things in the Old Testament are pretty difficult to understand to our modern minds, but the God of the Bible really is a God of social justice, one who has always “so loved the world,” and desires to see His love and justice at work in the world today.