We had an interesting Scripture reading in church this morning. Our pastor, bless his Republican heart, managed to preach a sermon on the text without mentioning Social Justice. But that message is pretty clear.
Listen to what Isaiah says:
" 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect to be heard on high.
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter --
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk..."
(Isaiah 58:3-9 NIV)
Our pastor preached on the general point that external shows of piety do squat to impress God; that he wants us to share his love with our neighbors. But look at the specifics.
Isaiah specifically condemns those who exploit the people who work for them -- you know, the Job Creators -- and people who start arguments and are violent; the "finger-pointers" and the trolls.
Better, the prophet says, are those who loose the chains of injustice, and free the oppressed from their burdens; who share their food with the hungry and provide shelter to the indigent.
There is an argument I've heard from some Christians that God wants individuals to do these things, voluntarily; but that it's wicked when the Government does these things for us; as if God didn't give a wet slap whether the hungry are actually fed, just if the givers of charity do so in the right state of mind.
That's bull.
God wants us to use our blessings to the benefit of those around us who need them. We can do this directly through acts of kindness and mercy; we can do this through charitable contributions; we can do this through our taxes. None of these exclude any of the others. And whether you believe in God or not, I think we all will agree that these are simply The Right Things to Do.