Copy of SOCIAL JUSTICE

Social Justice

In what ways does a godly presence in a society lead to social justices?

Photo credit: Gustave Deghilage - Flickr

Posts tagged history
Lessons from History that that Can Help Us Understand the Chaos in America in 2020

by Ralph D. Winter

These excerpts from Winter’s lectures for the course, Foundations of the World Christian Movement, can help us understand the historical context for American’s current social upheaval. Winter’s insights and analysis can give hope. He saw a pattern in history of chaos followed by societal flourishing, which he challenges believers to purposely work toward. A major concern of Winter’s in his last years was that evangelicals would become aware of the schemes of the evil one and engage in organized efforts to overcome evils in society as well as in the realm of disease. In this way, he strongly believed, God’s reputation could be restored and the peoples of the earth could be winsomely encouraged to choose to be part of God’s Kingdom.

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A Conversation with Ralph D. Winter about the Search for Meaning in a Secular Society

by Beth Snodderly

• Why do bad things happen to good people?
• Why has the human species been allowed full, unfettered measure of violence for so long?
• Why am I alive? Does my existence count for anything?

People are searching for meaning in their lives and answers to questions like these. Missionary-historian Ralph D. Winter highlighted this when he asked in an Editorial Comment,

How is a wretchedly poor, dispossessed family in Darfur similar to a comparatively wealthy, retired believer in the USA? In both cases they need a good reason to live. Their primary bond is not the need for food, or money, or security. The wealthy, retired person may think that with enough food and shelter he can get along. But retired people die prematurely if they do not have a reason to live (Winter 2007b).

Because the gospel is a message of hope, the poorest must see some concrete reason for hope before they can understand the gospel (Winter 2008, 338). Winter wanted mission and church practitioners to recognize that they need to lead the way in organizing specialized structures to restore God’s reputation in the eyes of the on-looking secular world. Believers must demonstrate to potential (and former) followers of Jesus that disease, suffering, wars, violence, and evil are not God’s will and are not from him.

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