In the aftermath of Derek Chauvin’s trial (the man convicted of killing George Floyd) many of us are wondering What is our role as followers of Jesus in all of this?  Is social injustice an important enough cause to join forces with the world to overcome? Are we in fact negligent in our Christian duty if we don’t join the marches and demand change?

In this devotional I obviously can’t answer cover everything related to these questions. But I want to offer a scriptural perspective that will hopefully give us a framework for consideration. We know from biblical history how compassionate, loving, and merciful God is. Although He was deeply grieved by mankind’s sin and rebellion, He continued to reach out to us, inviting us back to enjoy His fellowship. Not just a few of us, but everyone – people from every “nation, tribe, people and language” as it says in Revelation 7:9. From the beginning He had a plan for reclaiming us: He would send a Savior into the world who would deliver us from sin and death.

As Israel’s Messiah, Jesus became the means (the door, the way) by which everyone could be reconciled … brought back into fellowship with God. This blessing wasn’t automatic, of course. It was bestowed by grace, through faith, as individuals – regardless of their ethnicity, gender, lineage, or status in society – placed their confidence in Jesus. As John 1:12 declares, “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” This announcement became known as the Gospel … Good News for all who were “without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12).

Yet, in the New Testament accounts we see Jesus doing more than simply declaring the Good News. He performed miraculous signs and broke down social barriers as well, showing by His life how tribal hatred and warring factions among men could be overcome. He extended honor and respect to the marginalized (women, children, outcasts) and addressed the needs of those suffering from physical, emotional, and spiritual problems. His touch healed them all.  

In Acts 10:38 it says Jesus “went about doing good.” Reading through the New Testament letters, we discover He expects His redeemed people to do the same. The apostle John wrote (1 John 3:17-18): “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” James concurs in James 2:14: “What good is it if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?” In 1 Peter 4:10 Peter writes, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

The early church put all these principles into practice. They cared for their own by freely sharing their lives and material possessions while also finding ways to show compassion to people outside their fellowship. Here’s how the apostle Paul summed up our Christian calling in the social arena: “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10).

Some critics today argue that after the first century the church failed to care for the less fortunate in their communities. While we can find lots of examples of this, and there’s always room for improvement, I think they’re overstating the case. When we look at church history without bias, we find many faithful followers of Jesus working tirelessly to alleviate suffering and combat injustice in their day. Some, like William Wilberforce, led the charge against slavery. Some (like Lucretia Mott) advocated for women’s suffrage, while others were involved in causes like free public education, prison reform, and child labor laws. Christians were at the forefront of establishing universities, hospitals, orphanages, adoption services, foodbanks, homeless shelters, and more. Church leaders like John Wesley and William Booth (who with his wife founded the Salvation Army) consistently preached the need for Christians to “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3).

Admittedly, many church leaders did not oppose Hitler. They turned a blind eye to what was happening in Germany in their generation. But some bravely spoke out, hid Jews in their homes, and helped them escape. Some Christians even went to concentration camps themselves because they publicly denounced the evil regime. Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis. Today, the work being done by Christians to alleviate injustice and suffering continues through many nonprofit organizations and churches. The examples are too many to mention. Seeing the needs of others and seeking to meet them in Jesus’ name is a vital part of our Christian lifestyle. Titus 2:10 tells us why. Christians – by how they live and serve others – “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”      

As important as doing good works is, we must remember that it is not a replacement for the Gospel message. The Gospel – which proclaims Jesus Christ as the only One who brings hope to the world – is still God’s plan for reconciling the world to himself. Its power reaches further and impacts the human heart in ways that the tactics of the world cannot. What the world offers to bring about change – demands, threats, bullying, destroying property, and shaming those who disagree with them – will not bring about true and lasting change. Let me quote one of the best-known proponents for social justice, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (taken from his book Strength to Love): “Only through an inner spiritual transformation do we gain the strength to fight vigorously the evils of the world in a humble and loving spirit. Racial justice, a genuine possibility in our nation and in the world, will come … when enough people open their lives to God and allow Him to pour his triumphant, divine energy into their souls.” Unless hearts filled with hatred and pride are cleansed and filled with God’s Spirit, the social problems in society will never be eradicated. Each generation will battle the same enemies.  

Here’s another problem when we partner with the world to combat injustice: By adopting their tactics we forfeit our spiritual power. “Though we live in the world,” Paul reminds us, “we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with … have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). Jesus hanging on a cross didn’t look like victory to the watching world, but in His death and resurrection He was making it possible to overcome sin in the human heart, no matter what form it takes. Peter declared in Acts 3: “You are the heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant [Jesus] he sent him first to you to bless you by TURNING EACH OF YOU FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS” (vv. 25-26, emphasis added). Simply put, sin is the culprit and Jesus is the solution – this is God’s definitive word to us. His blessing will follow repentance.

So what’s the takeaway for us today? As followers of Jesus we should “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” in how we love and serve others around us. But this is not the end of our social obligations. We’ve not truly loved our neighbor as ourselves if we’ve not faithfully shared the Gospel with them. Presenting Jesus … not politics, legislation, education, or material affluence … as the hope of our generation is not a popular message, but it is the truth that brings real and lasting change to every human heart. That’s why Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).