Is Social Justice 'Sexy'?

IT WAS AN average afternoon in the college town of Northampton, Mass. I was sitting at a local coffee shop sipping a latte when I overheard the conversation between two students comparing laptop decals.

“I’m really into the whole child soldier thing. This sticker is about that,” explained one young woman. The other pointed to an emblem on her laptop, remarking, “I’m more interested in the issue of sex trafficking, but I guess everyone is.”

“Yeah,” the other girl responded, “It’s kind of the sexy social justice issue.”

An intense interest in social justice has been a hallmark of the Millennial generation thus far. Within the church, there has been a clear departure from the traditional emphasis on evangelism alone to a broadening conversation about the necessity of addressing physical needs and human rights. Millennials have made great strides in engaging some of the world’s most pressing issues, but is the popularity of social justice a completely good phenomenon?

The Good

As a result of globalization, my generation is more aware than ever about the plight of those Jesus refers to as our “neighbors.” This awareness has heightened funding for NGOs, mobilized willing volunteers, and built pressure for better public policy. We have more knowledge regarding the injustices that people face all across the globe, and we’re often not content to simply cross to the other side of the road. It’s trendy to know and talk about justice issues, and this popularity has often led to action.

A powerful sense of shared purpose between people in the church and those outside of it has also characterized much of this movement. Individuals from various religions, those without any religious affiliation, and followers of Christ from all denominations have come together in remarkable ways to fight for the rights of the marginalized. These new partnerships have created far more unity than what was possible when individuals focused on divisive issues and dividing lines.

Awareness, enthusiasm, and unity are all important fruits of this generation’s work toward justice. But has concern for the marginalized been watered down by the trendiness of justice? Much can go wrong when justice becomes not just the right thing to do, but mainly the cool thing to do.

The Bad

When church small groups and college ministries place a large emphasis on “rescuing people” from injustice, the temptation arises to forget that Jesus alone does the true saving. Until each of us comes to an understanding of how unjust we are, we can never be full participants in God’s love for the oppressed. If we fight for justice apart from the God who created justice, then we set ourselves on a pedestal and put ourselves into the role of the hero.

Another negative facet of the social justice trend is how slogans and generalizations have reduced real people and issues to caricatures. One can never know each individual’s story, but it is especially hard to hear diverse narratives and varied experiences when we clamor to hear only about issues that satisfy our desire for drama.

For example, many films about human trafficking depict helpless young girls being sold into sex slavery in some Third World nation, only to be saved by a tough white man from the U.S. Though this may actually happen at times, such films overlook the reality that trafficking is not just about sex, that boys and men are also sold, that many types of trafficking occur here in the U.S., and that survivors often play a huge role in their own escape. These facts are often ignored because they don’t make for a sexy Hollywood blockbuster. As a generation, we have made it clear which issues we think are cool, so how can we expect to receive reliable information when we’ve allowed injustice to be reduced to another entertainment trend?

The most problematic aspect of my generation’s interest in justice is the lack of long-term commitment. The work of justice is not “sexy.” Jesus’ call to justice is often found in sleepless nights, messy relationships, monotonous details, and persistence even in the face of failure. The vision for real social justice found in the Bible requires a commitment to the long haul.

I witnessed this strange juxtaposition of good intentions and limited investment while at the 2013 Passion Conference in Atlanta. Leaders in the anti-trafficking field spoke about the reality of modern-day slavery, and the conference attendees responded enthusiastically when challenged to be the generation that would end this injustice. Students could donate to myriad organizations fighting trafficking, and a massive amount of money was raised.

I was entirely caught up in our generation’s involvement until I overheard several acquaintances’ remarks—and here came the problem: They wished they could give, they said, but they were saving up for concert tickets. I noticed that there seemed to be a never-ending line for Starbucks, while the line to donate contained only a handful of students taking selfies in front of the anti-trafficking signage. As a generation we have passion, but do we have real commitment? Are Millennials willing to give up anything for others, including perhaps our creature comforts and cappuccinos?

Now What?

Throughout the Bible, Jesus repeatedly challenges his followers to seek justice and condemns religious leaders for being showy and missing the point. We are not called to pursue a faith that looks good. We are, instead, called to be living sacrifices and to take up our crosses.

Millennials have been inspired by the commitment of our early church fathers and mothers, talk enthusiastically about the idea of total abandon, and genuinely want to be seekers of justice—so why have we contented ourselves with the outward trappings: the cool T-shirts, fair trade coffee, relevant tattoos, short-term mission trips to exotic locations, Toms shoes, and the latest inspirational books? None of these things are bad; however, they cannot be the center of any real kingdom movement. As in the story of the widow with the mite (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4), God cares more about the heart than the amount of sacrifice. But the point is that God expects sacrifice.

The Millennial generation has played a significant role in the resurgence of social justice in the church and continues to address many real issues in meaningful ways. But now is the time for self-reflection. We must consciously resist getting caught up in the trendiness of the mission we have the privilege to be a part of.

If this movement is going to have any lasting impact, then as young believers we must decide if we are willing to count the cost and take up our crosses for the long term. That doesn’t mean each one of us is called to give our lives overseas as missionaries or work at NGOs. But it does mean that we must make a choice to be faithful in the small things, live with truly open hands, and take the time to really get to know the God of justice. As it says in 1 John 3:18, “Let’s not just talk about love, let’s practice real love.”