Topic
Social Justice
It’s a tired trope that evangelicals only recently began caring about “social justice,” a buzzword that carries connotations of political activism and “the social gospel.” In fact, orthodox Christians have long recognized in Scripture a call to defend and uphold the dignity and well being of all persons, especially the poor and powerless. Take, for example, John Wesley, who led prison reform and abolitionists movements in 18th-century England. More recently, evangelical leaders like Ron Sider and Jim Wallis have promoted Christian engagement in anti-war, environmental, and immigration causes, while facing suspicion of falling prey to partisan politics. At the local church level, sex trafficking, fair trade, and clean water campaigns are trendy ways today for lay Christians to fight social ills, even if that means simply clicking a “Like” button.
Carl Henry Was Right
Christianity Today's first editor grasped what I as a young theologian failed to understand about church involvement in social justice.
January 27, 2010
Compassionate Evangelicalism
How a document conceived 30 years ago has prompted us to care more about 'the least of these.
December 1, 2003
Signs of the End Times
Our pursuit of justice in the present foreshadows the perfect justice of an age to come.
August 24, 2011
More on Social Justice
We Have to Touch the Problem
Discomfort is the price of making a difference in the world.
May 16, 2013
You Can't Buy Your Way to Social Justice
Why the activism of some fellow Americans scares me.
May 14, 2013
Stewards of Wealth Streams
Four Silicon Valley residents who are wielding their region's capital for good.
May 1, 2013
Andy Crouch and Gabe Lyons Define the Common Good
And discuss how Christians can revive the historically rich phrase.
April 5, 2013
Don't Let Dysfunctional Politics Override the Christian Call for Justice
Facing critics from both sides after I quit the AARP.
March 18, 2013
Live Tonight! Life and Justice Roundtable 
Watch six leading thinkers discuss the call to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Get a preview and reminder now.
March 7, 2013
Jesus Doesn't Need Help
Well-intentioned impulses can lead to modeling ourselves after the wrong Christ.
March 4, 2013
Pay-What-You-Can Restaurants Dish Up Dignity in Denver
A new business model helps close the socioeconomic gap.
January 15, 2013
Law and Les Miserables Revisited
What if the film shows us a beautiful picture of law as well as gospel?
January 11, 2013
Sibling Filmmakers Set Out to Free Austin's Sex Slaves
John and Michelle Nehme are tackling human trafficking in their own background.
January 7, 2013
Misreading the Magnificat
It's hard to find hymns that embody Scripture's sharp critique of the rich.
December 20, 2012
Church and State for the Homeless
How Denver's faith and civic leaders are working together to get families off the street and into jobs and homes.
November 13, 2012
The Problem with the #First-World-Problem Trend
Instead of inciting real change, the Internet meme just breeds guilt about legitimate complaints.
November 7, 2012
Want to Change the World? Call a Meeting
Most pivotal moments in history start with a conversation, not a retweet.
November 1, 2012
Doubting China's One-Child Policy Change
Why many advocacy groups are condemning another's optimistic report.
November 1, 2012
The Rise, Expansion, and Fall of the Evangelical Left
It may not be as dead as it seems, argues David Swartz. Maybe it even won.
October 30, 2012
How Not to Care for Widows
After her husband's death, a typical East African widow may face property theft or eviction. But faith-based advocates are turning the tables.
October 24, 2012
A Historian Decries Evangelicals' Power Politics—on Both Left and Right
But Kenneth Collins's libertarian contempt for government is not the way forward.
October 18, 2012
Justin Zoradi Believes Education Can Eradicate Poverty
The founder of These Numbers Have Faces focuses on outreach by degrees.
October 15, 2012
What's So Great About 'The Common Good'?
Why Christians need to revive the historically rich phrase.
October 12, 2012
Adoption: Not a Justice Cause But a Spiritual Reality
Together for Adoption responds to Megan Hill's recent Her.meneutics post.
October 4, 2012
Flight from North Korea
Asia's underground railroad has deeply Christian origins, says journalist Melanie Kirkpatrick.
September 27, 2012
Adopting a Kid, Not a Cause
What ever happened to adopting simply out of the desire to have children?
September 21, 2012
What Christians Can Learn from the Chicago Teacher Strikes
Lessons gleaned from the uproar now that Chicago students are back in class.
September 20, 2012
Mercy-Full Nurse
Charlotte Thrall provides free medical care to Phoenix's poor and undocumented immigrants.
September 19, 2012
Romney vs. Romney on the Safety Net
Romney's remarks at a fundraiser don't square with what he told faith leaders last week.
September 18, 2012
Class Activist
Ian Danley believes high school is where Phoenix Latinos can step out and grasp a future.
September 18, 2012
A Christian Immigrant without Papers: Ricardo's Story
How the Mexico native's shattered dreams to play football fueled a new vocational calling.
September 13, 2012
Doctrine in the Desert: How Religion Informs the Immigration Debates
Ananda Rose's new book explores the religious motivations of Southwest groups on opposite sides of the immigration question.
September 12, 2012
Meanwhile, Love the Sojourner
How Phoenix Christians are helping illegal immigrants as they wait for the economy—and the law—to change.
September 6, 2012
The Superman of Harlem: An Interview with Geoffrey Canada
The founder of the Harlem Children's Zone on why it takes a whole community to educate a child.
August 29, 2012
What Does Catholic Social Teaching Have to Do with the Presidential Race?
While Paul Ryan probably won't impact the outcome of the election, Mitt Romney's vice presidential pick will likely renew debate over the morality of the budget.
August 14, 2012
Marriage for the 99%: Seeing Family as a Social Justice Issue
How research demonstrates that marital status can predict a person's socioeconomic status.
July 13, 2012
Syria's Last Chance
As violence surges and diplomacy fails, Christians, Muslims, and Druze advocate for reconciliation and democracy.
June 27, 2012
Viewing Immigration from the Low Places: Ministry Leader Speaks Out on Controversial Law
Political sound bites lose their power when you get to know immigrants through flesh-and-blood ministry.
June 18, 2012
Miss America Has a Faith-based Platform for Kids of Prisoners
Laura Keppeler makes glamorous appearances for a most unglamorous cause.
June 7, 2012
Prison Advocates on Federal Standards to End Prison Rape: Late and Incomplete
Justice Fellowship calls the Department of Justice's decision to exclude immigration facilities from new rules "outrageous."
June 7, 2012
Amazing Grace, How Slow the Work: Why We Still Have Slaves
We often expect spiritual change to happen overnight. Sometimes it takes the course of human history.
May 8, 2012
Evangelicals Push Immigration Path
After decades of sitting on the sidelines of the debate, evangelical Christians are prodding Republican lawmakers to support a path to U.S. citizenship for the nation's illegal immigrants, based on their reading of Bible teachings (The Wall Street Journal)
Benefits changes will push children into poverty, says archbishop of Canterbury
Iain Duncan Smith hits back at Justin Welby's criticism with claim that existing system is 'not moral or fair' (The Guardian, UK)
Not so fast: Evangelicals differ with their leaders on immigration reform
Many leaders support citizenship moves, but rank and file differ. (Deseret News)
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