Building on the American Heritage Series - Social Justice

What if our culture’s hottest causes are colliding with the Bible’s clearest assignments? We dive into the contested space where faith meets public life and ask a sharper question: who did God actually task with justice, mercy, and protection—and what happens when we hand those duties to the wrong institution?

We start by mapping jurisdiction. Romans 13 gives government the sword to punish evil and defend the innocent; Scripture gives charity to individuals, families, and the church. That simple divide changes everything about social justice. From the Tower of Babel’s bricks to the image of living stones, we push back on one-size-fits-all systems that flatten human dignity. Then we zoom out to the 613 biblical laws and the Ten Commandments—the tenor of God’s law—to ground public priorities: acknowledge God, protect innocent life, and safeguard property against theft and coveting.

With that foundation, we test modern claims. On poverty, we compare government delivery rates with private charity and surface research connecting higher state welfare with declining church engagement. We highlight a local, relational model of aid that mirrors biblical gleaning: mercy with dignity, participation, and paths out of poverty. On the environment, we separate wise stewardship from policies that elevate creation over people. We examine shifting climate projections and the staggering tradeoffs of spending hundreds of billions for marginal temperature changes while clean water could save millions now.

Throughout, we explain why life and marriage remain top-tier issues—not because other concerns are trivial, but because God’s priorities shape how we order everything else. The takeaway is a roadmap for engaged believers: keep compassion high, keep government within its lane, and keep biblical hierarchy at the center of voting and civic action.

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