Women of the ELCA
Commentary and reflections on issues, events and trends in our church, society and world, as seen through the lens of our mission and purpose and our ministries.
So what does “social justice” mean?
If you’re Glenn Beck, it’s code for communism and Nazism. On one of his recent radio and television shows, he said, “I beg you, look for the words ‘social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church website. If you find it, run as fast as you can. … Social justice and economic justice, they are code words.”
So if my church teaches the heart of the gospel—feed the hungry, care for the sick, love your neighbor as yourself, and so forth—I should head for the nearest exit?
Good thing I don’t look to a political commentator for theological insight and deep reflection on the gospel message. I leave that to my pastor.
Whenever we start to move beyond simply giving and serving—basic Christian charity, which is hard to argue with—and head toward addressing the structures, systems and practices that unjustly perpetuate inequalities, I guess it’s bound to get political.
But social justice is a broad, complex thing. It often gets associated with “lefty” church folk, but that’s as much an oversimplified characterization as Beck’s insinuation that preaching about social justice is code for communism and that your church is trying to force Democratic—no worse, socialist!—ideas on you under the guise of faith.
Jesus connected his ministry to the call for justice that began with the Hebrew prophets when, at the beginning of his ministry, he proclaimed in the synagogue these words from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free” (Luke 4:18).
The ELCA social statement Church in Society (which doesn’t use the term social justice, by the way) puts it like this:
“The church must participate in social structures critically. Not only God but also sin is at work in the world. Social structures and processes combine life-giving and life-destroying dynamics in complex mixtures and in varying degrees. The church, therefore, must unite realism and vision, wisdom and courage, in its social responsibility. It needs constantly to discern when to support and when to confront society’s cultural patterns, values, and powers.” (Section D, third paragraph)
I like this simple statement from The Catechism of the Catholic Church too: “The equal dignity of human persons requires the effort to reduce excessive social and economic inequalities. It gives urgency to the elimination of sinful inequalities.” (#1947)
Christians should be outraged—and many, many are—that anyone would call attending to issues of social justice a “perversion of the gospel.”
Can we all just agree to reject rhetoric that does not lead to constructive dialog or have as its goal finding common ground?
Deborah Bogaert is content manager of Women of the ELCA’s website and editor of the organization’s newsletters and program resources.
![[ ]](http://www.elca.org/~/media/Images/Common%20Images/1x1backgroundclear.gif){kind=spacer}
on March 12th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
When I feed the poor, they call me a saint.
When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.
Dom Helder Camara,
Archbishop of Recife, Brazil
February 7, 1909-August 27, 1999
on March 17th, 2010 at 9:18 am
We just returned from Panama which, like so many Central American countries, has much poverty as well as much wealth. Political corruption was the main reason nothing is being done to address the problem. The rich get richer because of the poor people. I was appalled by the warnings to stay off the public streets, ring a doorbell to get into our hotel, insert a card into the elevator to reach our floor in the hotel. All of these precautions were for safety and were probably necessary. But no one was doing anything to help the people who lived in this area. Our fancy hotel was in the midst of this, and it didn’t even hire the locals.
on March 18th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Your blog post – and much I have read in the media on this topic – is clearly from people who do not actually listen to Glenn Beck. What you wrote significantly misrepresents what he said by taking it out of context. I am disappointed in the ELCA.
What Mr. Beck was speaking against at the time was that, in some churches, the congregation is told who to vote for and what the government should look like, and that this is usually in support of government redistribution of wealth, cloaked by words that sound worthy, like social justice. He believes that politics don’t belong in church, that we should instead be following God’s teachings.
Glenn Beck *never* said – nor implied – that if your church tells you to “feed the hungry, care for the sick, love your neighbor… you should head for the nearest exit.” If you actually listen to the program you will hear him regularly talk about the importance of generosity and of helping those less fortunate – he just insists that this must be voluntary. He regularly features philanthropists like John Huntsman and helps to raise money for philanthropic causes. Granted he is very much a “teach a person to fish” proponent, but I happen to think that is a wise distinction. As Mr. Beck has many times pointed out, only in a country where Bill Gates or John Huntsman can build wealth through their ingenuity and hard work can you have people who are able to demonstrate the generosity that these men do in caring for others.
I am disappointed that the ELCA website is bearing false witness against Glenn Beck.
(I am a member of an ELCA church, former church council president, and I worship regularly.)
on March 22nd, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Sorry, but the ELCA is getting its just deserts because it started this verbal feud with Beck by engaging in a campaign (funded by union goon George Soros) to limit free speech and urging Americans to boycott conservative talk shows like Beck’s. See ELCA news release: ELCA Communication Services Joins ’2009 Media Violence Fast,’ October 19, 2009. It’s telling that they singled out the conservative hosts for the boycott, but overlooked the liberal Keith Olbermanns, Rachel Maddows and Chris Matthews of the world. I say, you go Glenn. All’s fair in love, war and politics.
on March 24th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
I am so glad to see you take a STRONG stand against Glenn Beck.
So many churches in TN have been strangely silent, as if they don’t know that social justice is the core teaching of a God that came to heal the sick and feed the poor…or they are too AFRAID to take a stand and DEFEND the gospel.
I think it’s clear what Jesus thought about money & stuff: Acts 4:32 “All the believers were of ONE heart and mind; they SHARED everything they had and there was NO poverty among them.”
The above commentators should read the good book, instead of waving it like a flag. Giving is a commandment:
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/poor.htm
Too many Christians are unaware that they are to be the hands and feet of God; they are unaware of the call to social justice because their PASTORS remain mum on the issue.
No one will ever want to be a Christian, if all they see are mean-spirited people like Glenn Beck telling them to do a mass exodus from to churches that care for neighbor as self.
There’s nothing Nazi-like or communist about it. “GB listener” above, GB offers NOTHING of value to those who call themselves Christians. You cannot put garbage into your mind and expect to do the will of God.
on April 4th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
The ELCA ceased being a church decades ago. This post and the supporting comments prove without a doubt that the ELCA has devoleved into a mere political debating society.
on May 3rd, 2010 at 11:30 pm
I am thrilled to see Glenn Beck defended, he has relentlessly urged America to return to the values of faith, hope, and charity the way our founding fathers did and as the bible says. the social justice that is being pushed by many leaders in all denominations, not just the ELCA, has nothing to do with the work of God but is the corruption of scripture to eventually implement a socialistic government here in America. In Acts 4:32 the believers gave of their own valition, not by government mandate via taxation. It is not charity if you are compelled to give by the threat of fine or imprisonment by the IRS.
Democracy and social justice, two things that absolutly do not mean what you think they mean when uttered by the current leaders in Washington and now the pulpit.
LONG LIVE GLENN BECK!!!
on May 20th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
I also am pleased to see honest people stand up for the message Glenn Beck is bringing to us.
Sadly, many of us have lost our roots in the founding of this nation. A founding in which the founding fathers saw the hand of Almighty God. (Such a thing has never before has been seen in the history of civilization.)
But, who can blame the authors of this article? For, if they received their education post FDR, their education–like mine–did not contain anything about the founding. Rather, the school system had already been taken over by the Progressives and their secular teachings. We didn’t know.
There is a saying: Give a hungry man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime.
The progressives are like the former. They do it in order to create an attitude of dependency; of the government as provider. When Jesus came upon the blind man, did he prevail upon the Romans to provide for him? No, to the contrary, he gave the man sight so he could do for himself. And, we should do likewise.
Do you see someone in need? Help him yourself. LSSI is administering to wards of the State. Prisoners. Illinois cannot pay because their wastrel ways have drained the public purse. Shall you prevail upon the government to pay? Or, should you shoulder the burden yourself?
I am Howard Larson and I am a member at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Schaumburg, Illinois.
on May 22nd, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Glen Beck is not qualified to “preach to me”. He is in this for the profit and fame. I feel this will end badly for him personally and I am trying to be true and pray for him. I am having difficulty with it. Odd from reading these posts that the men seem to see him differently than the ladies. Could it really be a perceived “fall” from power and really not related to religion and faith at all?
on May 24th, 2010 at 11:12 am
I am a woman and I wholeheartedly agree with the men. If you think that Glenn Beck is bringing up social justice for power and fame, then you have not listened to him. If you could see the video of his keynote address at Liberty University, you would know that this man loves God and this country and is willing to put his life in jeopardy to speak the truth. I greatly admire this man
I belong to the ELCA but over the last year I have become disillusioned with them. I want to believe that my church is principled in finding the truth and upholding the truth no matter what, just as Luther did. He went against the powerful catholic church for his belief of the truth, and defended it at the risk of his life. I admire Luther for his principled stand. I wish the ELCA was just as principled in searching for the truth and standing up for it, no matter what.
I think the ELCA members need to debate the issue of social justice vs. equal justice without attacking Glenn Beck, but by looking at the merits of both sides. I believe that open, honest and heartfelt debate is what is needed to find the truth.
Janet Gardner
on July 20th, 2010 at 11:41 am
I have not yet seen anyone quote Jesus: “give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s; give unto God what is God’s…” Jesus made the distinction. Why is the church getting into bed with “Caesar” these days?
on August 25th, 2010 at 12:54 am
Looking back at the comments people have made since I wrote mine, I can only say this; we are a long way off from Acts 4:32: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” And we truly need another prophet to come down to earth to soften the hearts of the hard-hearted people who profess to believe in Christianity, but really love MAMMON.
on September 4th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
What you people are missing is the fact that Glenn Beck is talking about the government programs that help the so-called poor in the USA from the 50% who actually pay those taxes Government programs enable the “poor” to become lazy, and they lose their self respect, and self worth. Our country is heading for bankruptsy because I say the Democratic Party has used these programs to insure they get the votes from the “poor”. Why would anyone want to work for a living when they can just suckle at the government teet. Our Founding Fathers expected the churches to do this work until they are ablt to get back on their feet again. Government handouts become a lifelong living at the expense of the people that want to work to carry the burden. I am with Glenn Beck on this one!
on September 28th, 2010 at 7:00 am
Terry posted “Our Founding Fathers expected the Churches to do this work until they are able to get back on their feet again. Government handouts become a lifelong living at the expense of the people that want to work to carry the burden. I am with Glenn Beck on this one!” I agree! Glenn never says the government shouldn’t help, but our entitlement society has gone too far. The massive bureaucracy has to end. Individuals and local Churches should be helping the needy. I am serious considering leaving the ELCA.
on October 5th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
I’m with Glenn Beck too. Charity is something we’re asked to do voluntarily…not by force or redistribution. I had no idea this website/group even existed. My mother moved yet has been giving to the Lutheran church in Iowa for over 30 years and just happened to ask me what they stood for now. I’m certainly glad I visited this sight and found out what the Lutheran church stands for for myself. I will be sure to let her know so she can give her donations to other organizations besides yours.
on December 23rd, 2010 at 1:28 pm
What several miss in their comments is that biblical based social justice in society is to be fostered at multiple levels; e.g. individual compassion and charity, congregational ministries (e.g. my church, Luther Place in DC founded N Street Village, a large complex serving formerly homeless women), and government systems. As Jim Wallis of the Sojourners stated in a recent article responding to Beck and others who question church and government role in social justice: “The biblical prophets, in their condemnations of injustice to the poor, frequently follow those statements (about individual charity) by requiring the king (the government) to act justly (a requirement that applied both to the kings of Israel and to foreign potentates). Jeremiah, speaking of King Josiah, wrote, “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well” (22:16). Amos instructs the courts (the government) to “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts” (5:15). Clearly the prophets hold kings, rulers, judges, and employers accountable to the demands of justice. Individuals, families, and congregations are needed to minister to the “least of these,” but the Bible says that kings, rulers, judges, employers, and governments also are held biblically accountable to the requirements of justice.”