Just Holy (Part 1)

Holiness must include helping the poor and oppressed says Danielle Strickland

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Psalm 97:2

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:24

There’s been a bold surge in the social justice space in the last decade. New emerging campaigns have been spreading the truth about the desperate need of many global issues that are worthy of paying attention too and lending a helping hand.

Far from a new idea, the global church has a great Christian tradition, a long ancient track record of social reform. Exposing the evils of the slave trade, and helping to end it, campaigning for equality and women’s rights, health and welfare reform, the care of prisoners and the reforming of prison systems around the world, education and employment options, the support of unions and workers rights. On and on goes the list of Christians who with a strong understanding of biblical theology embraced lives of social justice.

Far from being separate from purity and holiness movements, many of them were fueled by the fire of holiness preachers and revivals. Jim Wallace (in “Seven Ways to Change the World” )  suggests that those same hungers that fueled the revival fires of past great awakenings are alive and well today,  “Two of the great hungers in our world today are the hunger for spirituality and the hunger for social justice. The connection between the two is the one the world is waiting for, especially the new generation. And the first hunger will empower the second”.

Alongside our glorious past though, we also have shameful traditions. Exploitation of the poor, shaming the sinner, colonial support, power bases that relied on Christian ethics of submission to government authorities to continue their oppressive regimes, support of slavery and the inequality of women and minorities that are still allowed to continue within the Christian church at large.

The strength and weaknesses of our Christian tradition has its place for a discussion around holiness. Proponents of holiness would suggest it’s the answer to any problem and supporters of justice would suggest it has come woefully short in changing the world.

Is holiness simply the establishing of a ‘christian culture’ a ‘holy club’ that not only segregates itself from the world but maintains the exploitation of the poor?

The outcome and history of spiritual awakenings and revivals throughout history paint a different picture. Far from polarized, righteousness and justice are like twins, inseparable and from the same source. Psalm 97 suggests that both (together) are the foundation of God’s presence in the world. Isaiah 9:7 speaks prophetically of Jesus, “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

Isaiah 16:5 describes Christ’s reign, “In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it- one from the house of David- one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.”

In Matthew 12:18 God the Father declares His delight in Jesus and the fulfillment of His purpose on earth, “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology explains the intimate connection between righteousness and justice by breaking down the root of righteousness in the Bible, “The appropriate background to bear in mind for understanding the teaching of both John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ on righteousness/justice are two of the dominant ideas of the Old Testament. When we translate the Greek words based on the stem dikai- into English we make use of two sets of words based on the stems, just and right. So we have just, justice, justify and right, righteous, righteousness, rightwise (old English).”

Writer: Capt. Danielle Strickland is currently the Social Justice Director of the Southern Australia Territory. She digs traveling, reading, running, speaking, basketball and movies. Her passion is grace, mercy and justice… and all the stuff in between. Her favourite question is ‘how hard can it be?’ and most of her days are spent answering it.

1 Comment to Just Holy (Part 1)

1. Hi, just wondering about your thoughts on the upcoming marketing campaign to attract people to church, sources indicate the budget is close to $1,000,000…

   Could the money be spent on the poor instead ?

   http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/02/2674056.htm

   http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2663262.htm

   p.s. The ads are currently being reworked to minimise references to Jesus, God and the Church after research showed people tune out when presented with overt religious themes !
John Duthie on September 6th, 2009

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