Is Social Justice Biblical Justice?

Social justice…it’s a huge subject these days. But are we talking about the same thing when we talk about biblical justice and social justice? People today don’t cry out for justice so much as they appeal to social justice. “Is there a difference between the two, Pastor Rob?” (I’m glad you asked.) The differences, actually, are huge. In fact, social justice is not biblical justice at all.

With all themes in God’s word, there is a counterfeit that Satan will always present to keep people away from the truth. In short, God creates; Satan counterfeits. For example, the Bible is God’s truth. Well, Satan’s lies sometimes get close, but they’re still lies. There’s the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world. There’s demon possession and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Completely different.

The power to counterfeit, though, is that it deceives someone into wrongly believing that what they have is real and true and valuable when, in fact, it’s fake and false…worthless. 1 John 4:1 says this to believers, “My dear friends, many false prophets have gone out into the world. So do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God.” So that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to dive into this weighty and somewhat divisive issue of today. I can’t cover all that God’s placed on my heart in one blog, though, so be sure to stick around.

Point of View Is Important

Now, according to the biblical worldview, people are children of God, fashioned in His divine image. According to social justice, though, we’re children of society, fashioned by its social constructions and the power dynamics that they may tame. So it seems there’s a biblical point of view and a worldly point of view.

Why does this matter? The apostle Paul addressed this very issue to the most worldly and secularized, dysfunctional church in all of Scripture, the churches in the city of Corinth.

In 2 Corinthians 5:16-19, Paul writes, “From now on we regard no one with a worldly point of view. Though we regarded Christ this way, so we do no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! All this is of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

 

If we as Christians have the just ministry of reconciliation, and this reconciliation is the goal, then we better understand if both roads—biblical justice and social justice—lead to the same place or if they don’t.

Do Our Words Really Matter?

Now, you might be thinking, “I don’t really see the difference,” or, “I don’t see why it matters. They’re both using the same words. Aren’t they both justice?” Well, it matters because it does no good to have the same vocabulary if we’re using different dictionaries. The Bible makes it very clear that the social justice of today is a strange justice. Words matter. They shape our ideas and form our belief systems. And these belief systems, in turn, drive our culture, which shapes how we think and how we behave.

Most people take words for granted. We just kind of use them and don’t think much about them. We rarely take the time to think through whether they hurt or help, and we’re unaware of their incredible power. Solomon said this about our words:

• Proverbs 11:9, “Evil words destroy one’s friends; wise discernment rescues the godly.”
• Proverbs 15:1a, “A gentle answer turns away wrath…”

That’s power.

But hard words stir up anger. That’s power too. Though there are many scriptures on this, here’s one more from Proverbs 15: “For gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the Spirit.”

The power of our words is an even bigger theme in Proverbs than justice. So when the Evangelical Church of today (intentionally or unintentionally) exchanges the biblical definition of a word as important as justice with a counterfeit, it’s really not a small thing.

So, yes, our words really do matter.

A New Ideology – Social Justice

Like it or not, words associated with justice have changed—morphed. A new ideology has emerged, and it’s called social justice. And for a lot of people, it now replaces biblical justice.

So, how can you tell the difference? Let’s start first in social justice and with the thing they call identity politics. It’s a new term, but it traces its lineage back to famous philosophers and activists, such as Emmanuel Kant, Frederick Nietzsche, and Karl Marx, among others, and their ideas have taken deep root in Western culture. In fact, over time, they’ve morphed and mutated and even merged with other things in the school of thought that contemporary academics call critical theory. It has several other names, but for our purposes today, I’m going to refer to it as ideological social justice.

Pre-order a copy of my new book, Overliked, and discover how to find the truth amidst all that social media would have you believe— about you and the world.

 

I say ideological for a reason. It’s to indicate that we are discussing something much bigger than just justice. Rather, it’s a comprehensive ideology or a worldview that helps to explain why it’s attracting so many adherents, especially millennials. Now, we need worldviews that make sense of our lives. They help us understand our identity and our purpose, and in our increasingly post-Christian (or I’d even say anti-Christian) culture, a growing number of people have no knowledge of the Bible. Yet, it was the biblical worldview that shaped the West for centuries. It provided the fundamental assumptions that supplied many generations with their identity of purpose, whether they were Christians or unbelievers. But today, with the Bible and the biblical worldview in rapid decline, ideological social justice is stepping up and filling the vacuum.

So here’s justice redefined: It’s the tearing down of traditional structures and systems, ones that are deemed oppressive, and it’s the redistribution of power and resources from the oppressors to the victims in the pursuit of equality of outcome.

This is a dangerous moment. If current trends continue, the Evangelical Church will be rapidly syncretized into a profoundly destructive and unbiblical ideology—the one we’ve been talking about–and it will do incalculable harm to its mission and the Church’s witness to the world.

Justice is one of the most important words in the Bible. It’s one of the most important concepts in any culture. That’s why we’re going to take our time with this one. Join me next Thursday for more on this critical topic. Until then, I invite you to check out my video series, Ask P-Ro, on my YouTube channel. I address many questions—some timely and others timeless—using the Bible as the ultimate source for guidance.

~Pastor Rob
Aka Ask P-Ro

(In addition to the Bible, I obtained some of the information for this blog on gotquestions.com and Scott Allen’s book, Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice.)

The First Three Chapters

Why wait until the book is released to start reading it? With your pre-order, you will receive the first three chapters immediately, so you can begin reading it right away. Pastor Rob sets lays the groundwork for all that he will be sharing, and you will get to start on his end-of-chapter “Change of Heart” exercises.

 

Out of Egypt Devotional

In this 6-day devotional, Pastor Rob will walk you through Scripture, much like the Israelites following God out of Egypt, and show you that God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and how to discern the truth over all the noise. You can also join the private Out of Egypt Facebook Group where you can connect with Pastor Rob and others in a supportive and encouraging environment.

 

Social Media First Aid Kit

Every home, office, store, church, and public gathering place has a first aid kit. Something to help patch up those bumps and scrapes we get from time to time. So it seems only appropriate that we treat the bumps and scrapes we sometimes get from social media. In Pastor Rob’s Social Media First Aid Kit, you will find valuable tools to not only treat the wound but to also prevent the wounds from coming in the first place.

 

Included in the kit you’ll find:

  • 5 Bible Verses to Look at Before Engaging Social Media Today – Get the Scriptural foundation you need before checking in with your social media platforms.
  • 3 Decisions to Make TODAY to Protect Your Mental Health When Engaging with Social Media – Having a more positive experience with your social media platforms can be as easy as 1-2-3. These three simple tips, when implemented consistently, will help keep social media in its place…and move you closer to God.
  • The Age of Narcissism – Narcissism, a personality trait that we all possess to a certain degree, has become a major problem. Not just because we’re obsessed with selfies and making sure we look—or at least appear¬¬ to look—good, happy, successful. But because the focus is on self and not God. Take this seven-day journey to putting God—and not you—at the center of your life.

 

Make It the Best Year

Everybody wants this to be the best year of their life—who wouldn’t?! But making this year better than the others means making some adjustments—changes. This 21-day devotional is the jump-start you need to do just that. Filled with scriptures, insight, and encouragement, Pastor Rob walks with you on this daily journey. Don’t wait until next New Year’s Day, make this the best year of your life…starting today!

The First Three Chapters

Why wait until the book is released to start reading it? With your pre-order, you will receive the first three chapters immediately, so you can begin reading it right away. Pastor Rob sets lays the groundwork for all that he will be sharing, and you will get to start on his end-of-chapter “Change of Heart” exercises.

Out of Egypt Devotional

In this 6-day devotional, Pastor Rob will walk you through Scripture, much like the Israelites following God out of Egypt, and show you that God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and how to discern the truth over all the noise. You can also join the private Out of Egypt Facebook Group where you can connect with Pastor Rob and others in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Social Media First Aid Kit

Every home, office, store, church, and public gathering place has a first aid kit. Something to help patch up those bumps and scrapes we get from time to time. So it seems only appropriate that we treat the bumps and scrapes we sometimes get from social media. In Pastor Rob’s Social Media First Aid Kit, you will find valuable tools to not only treat the wound but to also prevent the wounds from coming in the first place.

Included in the kit you’ll find:

  • 5 Bible Verses to Look at Before Engaging Social Media Today – Get the Scriptural foundation you need before checking in with your social media platforms.
  • 3 Decisions to Make TODAY to Protect Your Mental Health When Engaging with Social Media – Having a more positive experience with your social media platforms can be as easy as 1-2-3. These three simple tips, when implemented consistently, will help keep social media in its place…and move you closer to God.
  • The Age of Narcissism – Narcissism, a personality trait that we all possess to a certain degree, has become a major problem. Not just because we’re obsessed with selfies and making sure we look—or at least appear¬¬ to look—good, happy, successful. But because the focus is on self and not God. Take this seven-day journey to putting God—and not you—at the center of your life.

 

The First Three Chapters

Why wait until the book is released to start reading it? With your pre-order, you will receive the first three chapters immediately, so you can begin reading it right away. Pastor Rob sets lays the groundwork for all that he will be sharing, and you will get to start on his end-of-chapter “Change of Heart” exercises.

 

Out of Egypt Devotional

In this 6-day devotional, Pastor Rob will walk you through Scripture, much like the Israelites following God out of Egypt, and show you that God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and how to discern the truth over all the noise. You can also join the private Out of Egypt Facebook Group where you can connect with Pastor Rob and others in a supportive and encouraging environment.

 

Social Media First Aid Kit

Every home, office, store, church, and public gathering place has a first aid kit. Something to help patch up those bumps and scrapes we get from time to time. So it seems only appropriate that we treat the bumps and scrapes we sometimes get from social media. In Pastor Rob’s Social Media First Aid Kit, you will find valuable tools to not only treat the wound but to also prevent the wounds from coming in the first place.

 

Included in the kit you’ll find:

  • 5 Bible Verses to Look at Before Engaging Social Media Today – Get the Scriptural foundation you need before checking in with your social media platforms.
  • 3 Decisions to Make TODAY to Protect Your Mental Health When Engaging with Social Media – Having a more positive experience with your social media platforms can be as easy as 1-2-3. These three simple tips, when implemented consistently, will help keep social media in its place…and move you closer to God.
  • The Age of Narcissism – Narcissism, a personality trait that we all possess to a certain degree, has become a major problem. Not just because we’re obsessed with selfies and making sure we look—or at least appear¬¬ to look—good, happy, successful. But because the focus is on self and not God. Take this seven-day journey to putting God—and not you—at the center of your life.

 

Make It the Best Year Devotional 

Everybody wants this to be the best year of their life—who wouldn’t?! But making this year better than the others means making some adjustments—changes. This 21-day devotional is the jump-start you need to do just that. Filled with scriptures, insight, and encouragement, Pastor Rob walks with you on this daily journey. Don’t wait until next New Year’s Day, make this the best year of your life…starting today!

 

Exclusive Private Virtual Event – “Narcissism and Breaking Its Hold”

Narcissism is at an all-time high. And it’s not just because we’ve become a society obsessed with how we look and making sure we’re #1. It’s because we’ve put ourselves at the center of our lives instead of God. Join Pastor Rob in this 45-minute private event, where he will discuss the challenges facing society today and how we can make powerful changes in our lives to break the self-centered hold and embrace a God-centered life.

The First Three Chapters 

Why wait until the book is released to start reading it? With your pre-order, you will receive the first three chapters immediately, so you can begin reading it right away. Pastor Rob sets lays the groundwork for all that he will be sharing, and you will get to start on his end-of-chapter “Change of Heart” exercises.

 

Out of Egypt Devotional

In this 6-day devotional, Pastor Rob will walk you through Scripture, much like the Israelites following God out of Egypt, and show you that God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and how to discern the truth over all the noise. You can also join the private Out of Egypt Facebook Group where you can connect with Pastor Rob and others in a supportive and encouraging environment.

 

Social Media First Aid Kit

Every home, office, store, church, and public gathering place has a first aid kit. Something to help patch up those bumps and scrapes we get from time to time. So it seems only appropriate that we treat the bumps and scrapes we sometimes get from social media. In Pastor Rob’s Social Media First Aid Kit, you will find valuable tools to not only treat the wound but to also prevent the wounds from coming in the first place.

 

Included in the kit you’ll find:

  • 5 Bible Verses to Look at Before Engaging Social Media Today – Get the Scriptural foundation you need before checking in with your social media platforms.
  • 3 Decisions to Make TODAY to Protect Your Mental Health When Engaging with Social Media – Having a more positive experience with your social media platforms can be as easy as 1-2-3. These three simple tips, when implemented consistently, will help keep social media in its place…and move you closer to God.
  • The Age of Narcissism – Narcissism, a personality trait that we all possess to a certain degree, has become a major problem. Not just because we’re obsessed with selfies and making sure we look—or at least appear¬¬ to look—good, happy, successful. But because the focus is on self and not God. Take this seven-day journey to putting God—and not you—at the center of your life.


Make It the Best Year Devotional

Everybody wants this to be the best year of their life—who wouldn’t?! But making this year better than the others means making some adjustments—changes. This 21-day devotional is the jump-start you need to do just that. Filled with scriptures, insight, and encouragement, Pastor Rob walks with you on this daily journey. Don’t wait until next New Year’s Day, make this the best year of your life…starting today!

 

Exclusive Private Virtual Event – “Narcissism and Breaking Its Hold”

Narcissism is at an all-time high. And it’s not just because we’ve become a society obsessed with how we look and making sure we’re #1. It’s because we’ve put ourselves at the center of our lives instead of God. Join Pastor Rob in this 45-minute private event, where he will discuss the challenges facing society today and how we can make powerful changes in our lives to break the self-centered hold and embrace a God-centered life.

 

Exclusive Live Webinar – “How to Help Your Teen Break Free of Social Media Addiction”

While it might not (yet) be considered a clinical addition, many in society can’t go 5 minutes without checking their phone to see how many likes they have for their latest post, or how many comments people have left. And our teens are especially susceptible. After all, they’ve been all but raised with a device in their hands. How do we help this next generation deal with the debilitating side effects social media can have on us? In this 90-minute webinar, Pastor Rob will discuss the issue and provide practical ways we can help our teens navigate these formative years in a positive way. There will also be a live Q & A session at the end. (A link to the recorded webinar will be provided after the live event.)

Overliked by Rob Singleton is a tome for such a time as this. Even though I work on television, I also make a living through social media. Coincidently, right before I started reading the pre-release copy, I had checked my "Likes'" and numbers on social media! How was I doing? Were my numbers growing? Declining? Did a few drop off?  
 
It's so easy to get our self-esteem and self-worth tied to those likes and numbers.  
 
Through Pastor Rob's book, we learn how frivolous and fake it can all be and ultimately, how it can lead to a miserable and unfulfilled life if left unchecked. The tools, scriptures, and "change of heart" takeaways that Pastor Rob provides at the end of each chapter help considerably shift the focus from there…to in here. He gently, but with statistics and examples, gives us a guide us to live a more authentic life.  
 
In the book, Pastor Rob says, "Honesty is what sets us up for authentic relationships," and isn't that what we really all want? 
 
As a woman over 40 in Hollywood, the expectations have never been higher. Overliked sites that, in one 12-month period, YouTube logged 169 billion views just for beauty-related content. Beauty is good… perfection is lethal. And don't I know it? I am on high-definition TV with glaring set lights, standing next to 20- to 30-year old young women daily; it's a test to stay solid and secure in your own skin.  
 
I was posting perfectly lit and curated pictures of my "Beautiful" (heavily filtered) life; people followed and viewed but scrolled right along. However, when I let down the curtain, turned off the filter, and decided to share my real-life sorrows and struggles with cancer, the comments, words, notes, and numbers flooded. People want to see my honesty and weaknesses because they can relate.  
 
Overliked shows us that when we pretend to be perfect, the only person we are hurting is ourselves.  
 
Pastor Rob's easy and relatable storytelling draws the reader in. We find that our weaknesses become our strengths to help us touch, encourage, and heal others, not just impress them.  
 
Thank you for this very needed and essential book that helps us realize that being real is the only way to have a true connection with our Lord and our friends and family. 
 
In Overliked, through story references of David, we learn the Lord encourages us all to ignore appearance and stature. "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
 
This book is an important message for developing authenticity in our lives, which is far more critical than adding strangers, getting fake followers, and creating a heavily-filtered life experience. I promise you will really "LIKE" it.