Misguided sociological, psychological and political theories have long fostered biblical misinterpretation. We wish to address untruths this document proclaims: Any treatise that says social justice is incidental to the gospel badly misunderstands both.
statementonsocialjustice.com
statementonsocialjustice.com
I. Scripture
While divinely inspired, we deny the Bible is inerrant or infallible. It was written by men over centuries and thus reflects both God's truth and human sin & prejudice. We affirm that biblical scholarship and critical theory help us discern which messages are God's.
While divinely inspired, we deny the Bible is inerrant or infallible. It was written by men over centuries and thus reflects both God's truth and human sin & prejudice. We affirm that biblical scholarship and critical theory help us discern which messages are God's.
II. Imago Dei
We affirm that God created every person in God's own image. Accordingly, we deny that vitriol directed towards people because of how God made them (i.e. sexual orientation or gender identity) is in any way faithful, biblical or godly.
We affirm that God created every person in God's own image. Accordingly, we deny that vitriol directed towards people because of how God made them (i.e. sexual orientation or gender identity) is in any way faithful, biblical or godly.
III. Justice
We affirm that justice is central to God's liberative mission. Moreover, we affirm that God enacts that justice through humans, helping us correct millennia-old sins that permeate both Church and culture. We deny that critical theory is irrelevant to this mission.
We affirm that justice is central to God's liberative mission. Moreover, we affirm that God enacts that justice through humans, helping us correct millennia-old sins that permeate both Church and culture. We deny that critical theory is irrelevant to this mission.
IV. God's Law
We affirm that God's law, as summarized in the two great commandments, should guide Christian morality. However, we deny that wisdom accrued in the centuries since Bible's inception can't help us understand what it means to love one's neighbor as oneself.
We affirm that God's law, as summarized in the two great commandments, should guide Christian morality. However, we deny that wisdom accrued in the centuries since Bible's inception can't help us understand what it means to love one's neighbor as oneself.
V. Sin
We affirm that all people, systems and institutions are affected by sin. We deny, however, that we are only responsible for our own, personal sins. God calls us to understand how we benefit or are harmed by structural oppression, and break sinful systems down.
We affirm that all people, systems and institutions are affected by sin. We deny, however, that we are only responsible for our own, personal sins. God calls us to understand how we benefit or are harmed by structural oppression, and break sinful systems down.
VI. Gospel
We affirm that the gospel is revealed through Jesus, and that liberation was central to Christ's mission. In his own life, however, Jesus demonstrated that works—living justly in the world—are every bit as foundational to the gospel as faith: They cannot be separated.
We affirm that the gospel is revealed through Jesus, and that liberation was central to Christ's mission. In his own life, however, Jesus demonstrated that works—living justly in the world—are every bit as foundational to the gospel as faith: They cannot be separated.
VII: Salvation
We deny that salvation is only found through Christianity, that God's salvific grace is exclusive to any single faith or religion. Moreover, in God's eyes there is no difference in spiritual value or worth between those who are "in Christ" and those who aren't.
We deny that salvation is only found through Christianity, that God's salvific grace is exclusive to any single faith or religion. Moreover, in God's eyes there is no difference in spiritual value or worth between those who are "in Christ" and those who aren't.
VIII: The Church
The primary role of the Church is to serve God. Certainly, that service includes preaching and administering sacraments, but we deny that political or social activism shouldn't be viewed as integral to this work. Laws may not change hearts, but they save lives.
The primary role of the Church is to serve God. Certainly, that service includes preaching and administering sacraments, but we deny that political or social activism shouldn't be viewed as integral to this work. Laws may not change hearts, but they save lives.
IX. Heresy
We affirm that heresy is a denial of God's will, but furthermore affirm that certain heresies have long concealed themselves *inside* the Church, corrupting it from within. Heresy ought to be condemned, regardless of whether those espousing happen to be ministers.
We affirm that heresy is a denial of God's will, but furthermore affirm that certain heresies have long concealed themselves *inside* the Church, corrupting it from within. Heresy ought to be condemned, regardless of whether those espousing happen to be ministers.
X. Sexuality and Marriage
We affirm science and theory's confirmation that God created humans to live into various sexual orientations and genders—the spectrum of human sexual experience attests to God's expansive love. We deny that any love that does no harm should be rejected.
We affirm science and theory's confirmation that God created humans to live into various sexual orientations and genders—the spectrum of human sexual experience attests to God's expansive love. We deny that any love that does no harm should be rejected.
XI. Complementarianism
We affirm that this doctrine has long been used to propagate Christian patriarchy—it amounts to "separate but equal" cloaked in religious language. We deny that women are unfit to lead as pastors, and know the Church desperately needs their leadership.
We affirm that this doctrine has long been used to propagate Christian patriarchy—it amounts to "separate but equal" cloaked in religious language. We deny that women are unfit to lead as pastors, and know the Church desperately needs their leadership.
XII. Race and Ethnicity
We affirm that, while race is a social construct, that doesn't lessen the pernicious effects of racism and white supremacy. We deny that anyone can be truly committed to undoing racism if they "reject any teaching" that analyzes how oppression operates.
We affirm that, while race is a social construct, that doesn't lessen the pernicious effects of racism and white supremacy. We deny that anyone can be truly committed to undoing racism if they "reject any teaching" that analyzes how oppression operates.
XIII. Culture
We deny that any document which states "we affirm that some cultures operate on assumptions that are inherently better," really believes that "divisions between people...[don't belong] within Christianity."
You can't denigrate cultures without disparaging people.
We deny that any document which states "we affirm that some cultures operate on assumptions that are inherently better," really believes that "divisions between people...[don't belong] within Christianity."
You can't denigrate cultures without disparaging people.
XIV. Racism
We affirm that racism is a sin which has long badly corrupted Christians, and caused people to justify some of history's worst atrocities in Christ's name. Moreover we affirm that white evangelicalism has done much to elevate one ethnic group and subjugate another.
We affirm that racism is a sin which has long badly corrupted Christians, and caused people to justify some of history's worst atrocities in Christ's name. Moreover we affirm that white evangelicalism has done much to elevate one ethnic group and subjugate another.
