Though I truly believe social justice is a crucial aspect of the Gospel, this humanitarian influence in Christianity did not start with Jesus. He once said “Justice consist of not being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong.” Staying neutral in matters of oppression does not bring us closer to justice, rather we just become a part of the injustice. One of my favorite quotes concerning social justice comes from Theodore Roosevelt. For years it has been recognized that things such as racism, sexism, and extreme poverty are results of both oppressive institutions and people who are unwilling to sacrifice their own pleasures for the help of others. When I think of those who fight for social justice, I think of those who fight to make right the wrongs that have been done to people in terms of (how google describes it) distribution of wealth, opportunity, and privilege. “Justice In Terms Of The Distribution Of Wealth, Opportunities, And Privileges Within A Society.” This is the type of justice we see in the gospels. I think Matthew recognizes Jesus’ gospel as having a major concern for those who are in need of help. In this passage Jesus uses a different standard of how He will judge His followers. Though these beliefs are at the core of what it means to be a Christian, they are not the only ones. Often when we think of people who consider themselves Christians, we think of those who profess Christ as their savior and believe He resurrected from the dead.
Those on His left, the goats who aren’t described as having any of these qualities, are cast away. Jesus distinguishes these sheep by their care for others.Those who follow Jesus feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned ( Matthew 25:34-40). The Son of Man separates His sheep from the goats, putting His sheep on the right and the goats on the left. Jesus speaks to His disciples concerning the end of the age and in chapter 25, verse 31, He begins speaking about the Son of Man on the throne. This speech comes immediately after Jesus foretells the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in chapter 24. Toward the end of the Gospel of Matthew, in chapter 25, Jesus gives this long speech to His disciples.
0 kommentar(er)
