Thoughts - Acts 28:17

“After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, 'Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.'” - Acts 28:17

I felt compelled to read this passage last night, even though I wasn't exactly sure why. What struck me there is, to me at least, fascinating, and so I thought I should share it.

It won't be news to most people that the life of the Christian is all about relationship. Obviously, the first and foremost relationship is that with God. Beyond that, the Scriptures also have a lot to say about our relationships with fellow Christians and with the world at large. There is, however, in relationship an element that, I find, is very easy to miss: identity. And in this passage, Paul subtly but effectively addresses what happens with one's identity when one joins with Christ.

First, the rather obvious, but important, background information. Paul was a Jew. Judaism had (and has) a peculiarly strong self-identity, having survived persecution, deportation, and dispersion by clinging to the knowledge of one God and to the law He had given. Beyond that, Paul was a Jew's Jew, a Pharisee who had studied under a man who is still well-noted even today, Gamaliel. In other words, Paul lived deeply into a group that took its identity very seriously. Thus it was that, when a new “sect” appeared to threaten to tear apart Judaism, Paul was zealous in trying to destroy it and save his people. His plans, however, were upset by Jesus in a very powerful way, and, in a noteworthy switch, it became his mission to reach the Gentile population with the Gospel.

After many circumlocutions and go-arounds, Paul got himself arrested in Jerusalem, and was forced to appeal to Caesar to pull his fate out of Judean politics. To appear before Caesar, one had to go to Rome, and we join the story three days after Paul got there, after a very hazardous journey. We don't know what he did those first three days, but on the fourth day, Paul called together the local Jewish leadership. It was kind of a “getting to know you” meeting, Paul's hope being to convince them to let him share the Gospel with the entirety of the Jewish population in the area. And he was successful – until he gave the actual message to the group and the inevitable split reaction and conflict broke out, that is.

The important thing to note here is Paul's way of addressing the Jews in the two messages recorded. In verse 17, they are “brothers”, fellow Jews and co-heirs of the promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets. Later on, though, when a fair number of them had decided to adamantly reject his message, Paul refers to “your fathers” (v. 25) - “yours”, not “ours”. From this, I see three important lessons.

First, joining with Christ fundamentally changes a person's identity. The change of allegiance in the spiritual realm makes it impossible for one to comfortably fit in one's old way of life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Second, this change doesn't mean that we cannot or should not reach out to our former compatriots. Paul, although he knew that his mission was really to the Gentiles, nonetheless insisted on reaching out to his people first. That's why, if you go through Acts, Paul routinely enters a city and heads straight to the synagogue. Generally, what would happen is that a significant group would reject him and start a ruckus, but he at least felt that he had to try. And, as it was, though there wasn't usually a mass acceptance of Christ, at least a few would generally be willing. I imagine this fact is what convinced Paul to keep trying in each new place.

Third, when it became evident that he had done all he could, Paul was willing to lay aside his identity with the group in favor of his identity with God. Because he recognized the fundamental conflict between being Christian and being Hebrew, when he saw hearts hardening in rebellion to God's plan he was quick to separate himself from them. It's not that he ceased to be Jewish; it's that he recognized that these fellow countrymen who refused Christ couldn't be part of his highest identity, and he had chosen to value his identity in Christ over any other.

In other words, Paul had a previous, overarching identity, and one that was, in general, a good one. Even so, he recognized that, having joined Christ, his citizenship was in heaven. (Philippians 3:20) So, while the new citizenship did not mean that he couldn't relate to his former people, it did make it impossible for him to ever again be fully accepted into that group, or to fully accept them. Until, and this is most important, he could show them and bring them into the new relationship as well. And that proved a very effective motivation for his life and ministry!

Thoughts - "Social Justice"

This was written before I really got together my format for the Thoughts. I happened to think of it this evening, so I thought I'd put it up. Enjoy!
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But What Is Social Justice?

Over recent months, I've heard the words "social justice" a lot. What's rather more amazing is just how much I've heard those particular words repeated. Actually, what's interesting in that is that the words seem to be used to the exclusion of any synonymous words or phrases, to the point that I fear the phrase has become merely a buzzword. That's unfortunate, yet understandable, because, while we talk about social justice, about how important it is, etc., what we've failed to do is say what it actually is.

Now to some it may seem rather pedantic to go over a phrase with such an obvious meaning. And, on one level, that's true. However, the more I hear it used, the less convinced I am that we have truly figured out what it means. I think we have some ideas, but nothing cohesive or comprehensive enough to be at all useful.

Connected with that problem is the problem of what do we do with what we know. To put it simply, if we don't know what social justice truly is, how on earth can we put it in practice? Sure, we have some examples, but are they the only, or even the best, ways?

Let me submit to you a candidate for a working definition. I'll take it straight from the horse's (er, Savior's) mouth: "Thou shalt ... love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matt. 5:39) Now, that may appear a little too obvious. However, I would say three things regarding that: 1) simple is good for a childlike faith, 2) for fun, I asked a random Christian to provide a synonym for social justice, and it took them a couple minutes to reach this point, so it's apparently not as obvious as it looks, and 3) it provides some important insights into the topic that should be pulled out. Let me flesh out #3 a bit more.

First, this definition says something about the scope of "social justice." Jesus did a good job of explaining who our neighbor is - see the parable of the Good Samaritan. I'll simply add that even the Samaritan didn't have unlimited resources or reach, but he did well by being ready when God did put someone in his path. We certainly can't help everyone ourselves, but we also can't help but find someone who needs the kind of love Christ commands us to give. Since none of us is a hermit, finding a “neighbor” in need shouldn't be too hard.

Second, it says something about the level of social justice. Just as most of us have no lack of love for ourselves, so we are to spread our love to as many others as possible.

So, are you feeling better now? This isn't so bad. But there are a couple of other things that need to be pulled out:

The third thing this passage addresses is how we approach social justice. Even a cursory understanding of the human condition in the Christian worldview reveals nothing deserving of love in any of us, but instead much that seems completely unlovable. But, although it flies in the face of the demands of justice, we continue to love ourselves, in a kind of self-mercy. Because of this, I find Social Justice to be a rather odd term – if we love ourselves via mercy, not justice, then what place can true justice have in our love for others? The kind of love we are called to give goes beyond, even contrary to, reason and justice – it's an extravagant love, not unlike what Christ showed to us in His crucifixion. It's a love that won't be fulfilled by putting money in an offering plate, a love that won't be satisfied with an afternoon in a soup kitchen, a concern for others that refuses to say “that's enough.” It's also, I might add, as much for myself as others, a love that not only is willing, but desires to turn the other cheek to a slight or injustice against oneself.

Fourth, and finally, it places social mercy in its proper context. As Christ Himself said, loving one's neighbor is only the second-greatest commandment (Matt. 5:39a). Social ministry never supersedes the greatest commandment, to give God His proper worship, in the fullest meaning of the term. Quite bluntly, the social gospel is no gospel of Christ's. You can feed billions, clothe millions, even save thousands from the horrors of human trafficking, and be a total failure in the greater picture. Honestly, what good will a warm fuzzy feeling for you, or a full stomach for them, do when both of you are burning in eternal torment? (see Matt. 18:9) Social mercy is pointless outside of the framework of godliness, and such a framework cannot be attained by putting God in the backseat. God demands that He be placed first and foremost in our lives, not just for His glory, but also for our benefit. Because, interestingly enough, God, in all His God-liness, loved us so much that He died to save us, the greatest act of social mercy ever to occur. If the goal of Christianity is godliness, then, as we mature in Christ, how much greater will our motivation to minister to our neighbors be, and how much more will we be able to love them in a way that can not only provide for them now, but give them greater treasures above?

When all is said and done, it is #4 that truly defines how social “justice” (really mercy) works. It's not contrived, it's not conjured up, it's not random. It's not something to just up and do either. True social ministry can only happen when we are in an intimate relationship with God. When that is the case, we'll see who we are, who we can help, and be driven to help them in a way that serves God's will. When you're working within God's will, it doesn't matter whether you're feeding the hungry, donating to a project somewhere else, or simply listening to the person down the hall – all are true social mercy, and will bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. When you leave God out of it, or use Him as a figurehead for your own ideas, the best of intentions will be misdirected, misapplied, and end up being a hindrance to God's plan.