Social justice... How do you respond?

Alright… I’m already in trouble.  Why? Just for daring to offer a comment about social justice and other related issues.  If I completely support and celebrate the politically correct stance on these issues, I’d be fine, but if I veer even in the slightest, I am automatically wrong, insensitive, intolerant, bigoted, homophobic, ignorant and not deserving of holding or voicing an opinion.

​How’s that for an opening statement?

I recently was alerted to a banner that has become increasingly popular with many people.  You may have seen one yourself. A copy appears to the right.
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The banner conveys several statements covering various issues that are constantly in the news and the topic of discussion across the country.
Fairly often, movements take on phrases that are catchy and sound reasonable at first glance. The situation can make it a bit more difficult to issue a coherent response.  The challenge exists because the statements don’t accurately represent what the movement is really all about.
This short article will attempt to offer a very brief (and obviously non-comprehensive) response to each of these statements.  It is intended to give a bit of a boost, not to thoroughly address each issue. A huge caveat… I do not expect that any of what I share here will significantly affect persons holding these politically correct views.  My responses are mainly intended to help Christians think through these issues

Black Lives Matter
Absolutely! I couldn’t agree more!  Black lives do matter!  However, the only reason black lives matter, is because “lives matter.”  It’s kind of like saying, “Red bulldozers are heavy.”  Yes, they are, because bulldozers are heavy.  The fact that they are red does not contribute in any way to them being heavier than some other color.  Additionally, we all know the “Black Lives Matter” movement is Marxist-based and has little to do with the belief that “the lives of blacks matter.”  The movement is using the black population to achieve their goals.  If it was truly about the lives of blacks in general, there would be an uproar regarding all the murders of blacks by other blacks around the country.  Also, there would be an uproar about the lives of black police officers, black conservatives and especially the huge number of black babies lost because of abortion! We can all help reduce racism, but I don’t see this movement going about it in a helpful or effective way.  It’s actually causing more division.

Women’s Rights are Human Rights
What’s wrong with women having rights?  Oh, wait a minute.  I know what this is about.  It’s about a woman’s right to choose!  Wait another minute!  That’s an incomplete sentence.  The right to choose what?  Oh, to choose to have an abortion.  I don’t have time to unpack this here, but it can be shown unequivocally that abortion ends the life of the unborn, which was scientifically alive right at conception and is fully human!  The “unborn” is just in an earlier stage, just like infants, toddlers and teenagers are earlier stages of a mature adult.  So, yes, women should certainly have rights, but all of our rights come with limits, and taking the life of another defenseless human being is not a right anyone should have, ever!

No Human is Illegal
I agree that no human is illegal.  No one believes a human is illegal!  However, a human who commits armed robbery would be a human who has done something illegal and must be tried as a criminal.  It’s not rocket science!  Someone can either come into our country by obeying laws that we have voted on or they can violate those laws while attempting to enter.  If it’s acceptable for them to enter by violating our laws, what right do we have to impose laws once they are here?  What right do we have to enforce our laws for those who already legally live here?  We are the most generous country in the world, but there are limits.  We call them laws.  Without laws, we have anarchy, and that is never a good basis for running a country.

Science is Real
Do I have to comment on this?  It’s so hard to be brief!  Science is NEVER the problem.  The problem is always decisions made in response to various scientists’ agenda-driven opinions!  This is how it works.  Decide what you want to promote, find some brilliant scientists who also believe as you do or at least are willing to support your narrative and then ostracize all others and accuse all dissenters of “denying science!”  Sorry, I just have to leave it at that or this will turn into my second book!

Love is Love
What they really mean is anything anyone says is love, is love.  If it’s alright for two men to “love” each other (and get married), why not three men?  Why not three men and an eight-year-old girl?  Why not three men, an eight-year-old girl and a porcupine?  Who is anyone to say that certain things are not allowed?  It all comes down to asking, “Whose world are we living in?”  God created this universe and He gets to set the rules (and definitions).  He’s been pretty clear on that last time I checked.  If people are upset about that, they might want to create their own universe because the one they’re currently in belongs to God! (I’m not trying to be snarky, but it sure sounds like it when you tell the truth and are straight-forward.)

Kindness is Everything
Now we have something I can relate to a bit more.  However, like some of the other phrases, this one doesn’t really mean what it appears to on the surface.  You cannot discuss kindness without referencing some sort of standard.  Some people think it’s kind to not always be honest.  For example, saying, “Sure, that dress looks good on you,” (when you don’t believe that for one second) as opposed to, “No, that dress does not look good on you at all!”  That’s a very minor, but practical example.  Yes, we are to be kind, but kindness includes wanting people to know the truth and not letting others live in perpetual deception, especially about eternally-significant issues.

I know all of this was way too brief, but I wanted to at least make an attempt to address issues that are becoming more and more prevalent in society. We need to be prepared to engage in rational conversation, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our words, which should be seasoned with grace.

If you have any questions about this or any other issue, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
  
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