Conservatism and Social Justice

Early today, I got out to downtown Atlanta with a group of friends (and cool people I met for the first time today) to participate in do.justice.  This is a massive service project event that Northpoint Ministries (NPCC and Buckhead Church) held to mobilize singles to get out and make a difference in our community.  Today, 1100 volunteers provided over 3000 hours of labor to local ministries reaching out to the homeless and marginalized citizens of Atlanta... and it was truly a rewarding event.  

Coming after a week where political conversation and activity has really been top of mind for me, this event got me thinking about social justice and how it aligns with my conservative political leaning.  You know, rescuing the oppressed doesn't seem to be a huge topic of conversation among conservative talk show pundits and here I am volunteering my time to help a local homeless shelter serve their guests and give them shelter, food, clothing, and hope. 

And what's funny is that with "hope" being one of the huge themes of the Obama campaign, this issue has in some way been somewhat politicized... I'm happy that it has been brought more to the forefront of our national dialogue and people are paying attention, but why does it seem that the liberals own this issue?  

But, is it an "issue?"  In my experience, social justice isn't a political issue at all.  It is a human issue.  Social justice is not conservative; nor is it liberal.  It's just the right thing to do.  Especially as a person that follows Jesus Christ, who said that he came to "proclaim good news to the poor... proclaim freedom for the prisoners...set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor," (Luke 4:18-19) we who are to be his hands and feet have a calling within us to live this out.  We are to give hope to the poor, we are to work to set people free and give hope, we are to show them through our lives how much Jesus really does love them.  

I know that the reasons for this are very complicated (much more complicated than a simple guy's blog could possibly noodle on), but I think that two of the bigger reasons that it is predominantly a liberal issue is that 1.) liberal leaning people really seem to actually care about seeing social justice happen in our country and the world is a huge part of their political and personal world views... many I know give their time and energy to some great causes and also love Jesus with their entire heart... and sadly it is not on the top of a lot of conservatives' list - and 2.) the means of leveraging State taxation and government agencies to deliver services is fairly good about getting some good done, and you really can't argue with that.  

This is probably why the left owns this issue.  

As a conservative, I am really saddened by this... not that great things aren't getting done... they are, but because in this model the State has taken over a privilege that you and I have as an ambassador of Jesus Christ and have largely converted it into a program.  And what is sadder, the programization of social justice can (and probably does) make it incredibly impersonal.  

I really believe that a person freely volunteering their time, their smile, and their private resources will always, always beat a check from a government agency because what that volunteer gives to a person in need is a potential soul-to-soul connection that communicates love, respect, and hope.  

I only hope that, as a few of the folks at do.justice mentioned today, that what happened today in downtown Atlanta is the start of a much larger movement of people taking ownership in improving the lives of people in need around them and taking action.  Could you imagine, for just a second, if every single person who is a member of a church gave 10% of their income to their church or a local ministry... and that ministry used that money and a massive volunteer effort to feed the hungry, provide shelter for the homeless, provide free basic health care for the uninsured, help people out of work find a job... and with it bringing the love of a Savior that wants to embrace a hurting world with them?  

Wouldn't that be amazing... think about what great good we could do!  In fact, if we did... I really believe that the State could not possibly compete with that.  An impersonal agency, as noble as their cause is, cannot possibly do a better job than a person sacrificing their time and resources to bring life, help, and hope to a hurting soul.  I really believe that if Americans en-masse would go out and make it happen, even some liberals I know could probably live with the elimination of some programs that private citizens in love would make completely irrelevant through engaging with our world :-).

But, seriously.  It's not about winning on an issue, and it is definitely NOT whether you voted for McCain or Obama.  It's about bringing real hope to real people who need to know that they are loved and that they matter.  That's what I want my life to count for.  Do you want the same?

Let's make it happen.  Seriously.  Do Justice!  :-)