You may already know that there are many gospels. Just as every religion and cult has its own version of Jesus and/or God, they each have their own gospel. “Health and Wealth,” “God wants you happy,” and “Name it and claim it,” are just a few. There are also some gospels that are not attached to any certain religion. “Save the Planet,” is one example.
But the one that trips up a lot of Christians - the one that distracts them the most - is what’s called the “Social Justice Gospel.” On the face of it, it sounds noble, honorable and right. You could spend your whole life fighting for the rights of ___________ (fill in the blank).
But what did Jesus say? “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.” The context in which he said this is at a dinner in Bethany, recorded in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9 and John 12:1-7.
Jesus and his disciples are having a meal. During the meal, a woman opens a jar of very expensive perfume and pours it on the head of Jesus. Seeing this, the disciples, led by Judas, become indignant. They protest that instead of wasting the perfume, it should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus rebukes them, as he often did, and helps them get their priorities straight.
He was right. The human condition has not changed. Because of that, we will always have poor people. We will always have those who suffer and those who inflict the suffering. Without Jesus, the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.
So, what’s the answer? We have a great many laws based on the Ten Commandments, and yet people still lie and steal and kill. We still treat each other unfairly. The answer is not to pass yet another law. It's impossible to legislate righteousness.
The only answer to any injustice is Jesus. We must go back to basics. We must return to the true gospel. In humility and love we must preach the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ. Once a person is saved, the Holy Spirit can begin to bring about real change. Salvation through Jesus is the only path to true social justice.
Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-18 "He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."