3RD QUARTER COMMENTARY

“The Least of These”—Introduction

 

In reading through this quarter’s lessons, I find a puzzling purpose expressed repeatedly as “justice” and “seeking justice”. I can’t tell if it’s talking about justice in terms of making things right, or if it’s leaning more toward social justice which is the current catchword and politically correct concept.

If that’s all the author means, it’s disappointing to say the least. As the Body of Christ, our calling is not to correct an unjust legal system or to land on society’s current buzzword ideas, but rather to spread the good news of Jesus sacrifice for us and the eternal life He gives. 

On the other hand, sometimes the use of the word “justice” in this lesson seems to be more in line with another one of the definitions of the word in Mirriam-Webster:  “the quality of being just, impartial, or fair”.

As such, this would be a good use of the word as it applies to the preferred actions of a Christian. While we can’t possibly correct all of the injustice in the world, right all the wrongs or remake laws into our own concept of justice (in the legal sense), we can display this justice in our own behavior towards others.

The author seems to move freely between these two different uses of the word which is confusing and, at times, disappointing.

Here in the introduction to the quarter, we find some statements that are questionable if not outrageous. For example:

“In other words, along with proclaiming the great truths about salvation, the sanctuary, the state of the dead, and the perpetuity of the law, we are to minister to the needs of others.”

All four of those cherished Adventists doctrines are clearly contrary to the Bible’s teachings, and they are in no way the gospel. In spreading these doctrines, there is no effort to tell people about Christ but, rather, to convince them to accept the Adventist 28 Fundamental Beliefs and the Adventist version of salvation.

Then we read this:

“No question, by seeking justice and goodness in the world, we are rehearsing the kingdom of God (see Luke 4:18, 19) in a way that is at least as faithful, valid, and perhaps as effective as preaching it.”

Since when is “seeking justice” as valid a form of evangelism as “preaching it (the gospel)”?

Nowhere in the New Testament do we find Paul or Peter telling us that “seeking justice and goodness in the world” is an effective alternative to preaching Jesus and Him crucified? 

In fact, in 1 Corinthians 2:2 Paul said:

“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

He didn’t say he came to find justice for them! He did affirm that he would “remember the poor”, as he affirmed in Galatian 2:10, but that was a corollary to preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised. Moreover, in the Old Testament, Isaiah said this in chapter 52:7:

“How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news,

Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

It is all about our God who came and died for us, was resurrected, and now reigns forever. The good news we are to bring to the world is not about making lives better here in this fallen, sinful world. 

There is nothing wrong with also working towards that goal to correctly and lovingly treating the poor and downtrodden with Christ’s love, but it is in no way “at least as faithful, valid, and perhaps as effective” as preaching salvation. †