Reflecting on the meaning of Christianity this Christmas, I ponder the relationship between Christianity and social justice. Although Christmas is laden with commercialism, the true meaning of Christmas and what Jesus stood for emerges.
Christ had a simple message:
30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31 New International Version (NIV)
So, if Jesus lays love at the foundation of everything we do, Christianity and social justice must go hand-in-hand. This becomes even clearer when we read Mary’s Song:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
Luke 1:46-56 New International Version (NIV)
Christians can be in no doubt that Christ stood and stands for love and social justice, on a small and large scale, within families and neighbourhoods as well as throughout the world.
As Albert Einstein put it:
If I were to remain silent, I’d be guilty of complicity.”
Source: Good Reads
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