Why Is It So Hard for Christians to Talk About Justice and Greed?

BNR32FAN said:

What was the point of the statement? Get the beam out of your own eye then you will see clearly enough to take the speck from your brother’s eye.

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I think it’s important to see what Jesus is actually addressing in Matthew 7:3–5. When He says, “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the plank in your own eye?” and “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye,” He’s not talking about social justice or political activism.

The focus here is personal, not societal. Jesus is warning against hypocrisy and self-righteous judgment. He wants us to examine our own hearts and confront our own sins first, rather than assuming the role of the world’s moral arbiter. Social justice—while it may have good intentions—positions us as judge over what is “right” or “wrong” in society, which is exactly the danger Jesus is highlighting.

The goal of the Christian life is spiritual clarity and gospel-centered action, not being a social justice warrior. We are called to help others in humility and love, but always with our own hearts in the right place (Luke 10:33–37, 1 John 3:17–18). Our first mission is to point people to Christ, because eternal life—not temporal justice—is what truly saves souls (Mark 8:36, Matt. 28:19–20).

In short: Matthew 7:3–5 isn’t a call to political or social activism; it’s a call to deal with our own sin first, so that any help we offer to others is rooted in humility, grace, and the gospel.

timothyu said:

Yes but most forget that. Power takes over the mind. Look what happened to institutional Christianity

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It's a danger for us all. Wherever you find a society of one or more you'll find division, conflict, sin, because even individuals are divided interiorly due to the Fall-and rebirth doesn't immediaterly resolve that issue-not until we're "perfected in love", presumably not fully completed until the next life. So, within insitutional Christianity you'll find girls and boys behaving badly down through the centuries, with others displaying a quite exemplary holiness. The real question revolves around the teachings to begin with. Teachings may be perfect, spot on, but whether or not anyone is actually following them at any particular point in time is another matter. The principle is expressed in Matt 23:1-3:

"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach."

Mercy Shown said:

You make an important observation about the real injustices that occur in human societies. Scripture is not blind to oppression—God hears the cry of the afflicted (Exod. 22:23), condemns exploitation (Isa. 10:1–2), and calls His people to acts of mercy (Mic. 6:8). Whenever it is in our power to relieve suffering, the love of Christ compels us to do so (1 John 3:17–18). Compassion is not optional for the Christian.

But at the same time, we must remember what Christ actually commissioned His Church to do. Jesus did not send His disciples into the world to proclaim a program of social reform. He sent them to proclaim the gospel—the good news of repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name (Luke 24:47), and to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18–20). Social justice—however noble—is temporal. It may ease suffering for a season, but it cannot save a soul. Only the gospel “is the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1:16).

There is also a spiritual danger in making social justice our primary mission. When we begin to define and enforce what we believe is “just,” we risk stepping into the very role Scripture warns us against. Jesus cautions us not to judge by our own standards (Matt. 7:1–5), and Paul reminds us that human wisdom is always limited (1 Cor. 1:20–25). Political activism can subtly shift our trust from Christ to our own sense of moral correctness. In trying to fix society, we may lose sight of the only One who can truly transform hearts.

Jesus Himself asked, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). Even if we managed to create a perfectly just society—a world free of exploitation, inequality, and suffering—without the gospel, people would still die in their sins. Christ’s mission is eternal; earthly justice, at its very best, is temporary.

So yes, we should relieve suffering when we can. The Good Samaritan is our model for personal compassion (Luke 10:33–37). But we must not confuse compassion with commission. The Church’s calling is to lift up Christ, not to become the world’s political judge. If we lose our grip on the gospel in the name of justice, we risk giving people a better world—while they lose their souls.

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Social justice should never be our primary mission, and yet it's an intirinsic part of it which cannot be dismissed because if we're ignoring our neighbor's needs, not doing for "the least of these" (Matt 25), then we're not really loving them, which means we're not truly a child of God. Preaching the gospel to someone whose children are starving may not impress them. And judging some social/political structure as just plain wrong that commits genocide or engenders starvation is just plain right.

If there is a way around loving all as self, people will find it.

Mercy Shown said:

Yes, but we are called to preach the gospel, the solution to all problems. We are called to alieve suffering and injustice where we can. It is to be a personal private and direct hands on action. The problem for us is how do we define social Justice? For some it is paying restitution for slavery. For some it is vilifying a certain race or gender or both as oppressors. For some it is scapegoating other people for their own problems.

Once we identify true injustice we must ask what can I do for these people directly. And we should do it without public fanfare.

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I absolutely agree that Christians are called to care about suffering and injustice—but always in a way that flows out of the gospel itself. Jesus sends us first and foremost to proclaim the good news that heals the human heart (Mark 16:15; Romans 1:16). The gospel is the root from which all true justice and mercy grow.

Scripture is clear that we are to relieve suffering whenever it is within our power to do so. Jesus praised the Samaritan who acted with practical compassion (Luke 10:33–37), and James reminds us that “pure and undefiled religion” includes caring for those in need (James 1:27). But the New Testament consistently portrays this as personal, humble, hands-on obedience—not public performance or moral grandstanding (Matthew 6:1–4).

And that leads to the real challenge: how do we even define “social justice”? The phrase means very different things to different people. For some, it means financial restitution for ancestral wrongs. For others, it involves vilifying whole groups as oppressors based on race or gender. Still others use it as a way to blame others for the problems of the world. These modern frameworks often go far beyond anything Scripture commands.

So the Christian question becomes simpler and more faithful: Where do I see real, biblical injustice—and what can I personally do for the person in front of me? When we discern a genuine wrong, our call is to act in love, quietly and sacrificially, just as Jesus taught. “Whatever you wished others would do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). And we do it without fanfare, because our Father “who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:4).

In short, the gospel is the solution, and compassion is our fruit. We preach Christ, relieve suffering where we can, and do it all with humility, sincerity, and love.

Mercy Shown said:

So the Christian question becomes simpler and more faithful: Where do I see real, biblical injustice—and what can I personally do for the person in front of me? When we discern a genuine wrong, our call is to act in love, quietly and sacrificially, just as Jesus taught. “Whatever you wished others would do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). And we do it without fanfare, because our Father “who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:4).

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The only thing I'd add is that, in order to really get the things done that justice and love demand, people with those personal objectives must often join together, in a social context and united effort IOW. And with no grandstanding required or desired.

fhansen said:

The only thing I'd add is that, in order to really get the things done that justice and love demand, people with those personal objectives must often join together, in a social context and united effort IOW. And with no grandstanding required or desired.

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Yes, a community as the original Way following a principle, not a human authority/government. The people supported each other, not some self declared HOA.

timothyu said:

Yes, a community as the original Way following a principle, not a human authority/government. The people supported each other, not some self declared HOA.

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Most down through time have been moved by the love of God and neighbor, whether or not they may have heard about that love through some HOA. The result was thousands of hospitals, orphanges, schools (the church developed the educational systems, upper and lower, that we know today in a world where few if any were educated at all even before the dark ages, charity work: feeding the hungry clothing the naked, the promotion of the arts and sciences and excellence in general while proclaiming eternal meaning and justice and order and hope to a more or less chaotic and unjust and hopeless and dark world, very different from our own even if we seem to be sliding backwards these days.

As often as not many of these efforts received their initial beginnings via the inspiration of a single person, themselves inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit.

fhansen said:

As often as not many of these efforts received their initial beginnings via the inspiration of a single person, themselves inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit.

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Humans have always had the ability to do good and serve God and each other, but most prefer to serve themselves, their other option. It was the understanding that our will is the cause of our problems and God's will was the remedy, that was the basis of the Gospel of the Kingdom, His Kingdom come, His will be done in earth. The HS was considered to be a guiding wind that would keep them on a track they had accepted in following the will of God, not man. Without understanding, they had no reason to follow the will of God no matter how many commandments were given.

timothyu said:

Humans have always had the ability to do good and serve God and each other, but most prefer to serve themselves, their other option. It was the understanding that our will is the cause of our problems and God's will was the remedy, that was the basis of the Gospel of the Kingdom, His Kingdom come, His will be done in earth. The HS was considered to be a guiding wind that would keep them on a track they had accepted in following the will of God, not man. Without understanding, they had no reason to follow the will of God no matter how many commandments were given.

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Yes..and that's where the church came in -to reveal the will of God.

fhansen said:

Yes..and that's where the church came in -to reveal the will of God.

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The church was truth from the Father, and yes, part of that truth was servitude over selfishness. A movement, not an institution.

joechristianwarrior said:

I’ve been reflecting lately on how often Scripture warns us about greed and how closely that warning is tied to God’s call for justice and care for others. Jesus speaks about money and the dangers of wealth more than almost any other topic, yet many Christians today find conversations about justice uncomfortable or “political.”

So I wanted to ask the community here:
Why do you think discussions about justice and greed create such tension among believers?
Is it a matter of theology, culture, politics, or something deeper in the human heart?


I’m preparing a video on this topic and would truly appreciate hearing a range of Christian perspectives!

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It's only a phenomenon in USA and countries with strongly "Judeo-Christian" leanings".

-The idea of "Social Justice" is right next to communism.

-We all can't be rich at the same time and this is a fact. Yet many Christians believe God makes people rich but in order to make this happen, some must become poor. This means, not trying to eliminate poverty, just let it be. Help the poor to look good but not enough to solve the problem permanently..


Ironically, except for Communist nations, the most nonreligious nations have also the least poverty rate.

The most Christian nations by % of Christian citizens also happen to have one of the highest poverty rate, crime rate, corruption, etc.

If you're wondering why USA does not have very high crime and poverty rates yet, like a 3rd world country, well... USA is not one of the most religious nations in the world yet!

Christians can be delusional/hypocritical about criticizing countries that are losing their religion, belief/fear of God, yet these countries are also doing something way more about the poor, social justice and even helping foreigners (usually poor immigrants) unconditionally.

Ironically, the countries who are losing religion, losing their belief in God, Jesus, are the ones reflecting the Lord's heart!! Something must be terribly wrong with Christianity if the religion is pulling people away from the heart of the Lord, making people love the things the Lord tells us that we should hate, and hating the very people we should love!

joechristianwarrior said:

So I wanted to ask the community here:
Why do you think discussions about justice and greed create such tension among believers?
Is it a matter of theology, culture, politics, or something deeper in the human heart?

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Hello Joe! Greed affects us all, it makes people feel uncomfortable to talk about it because we are all greedy by nature, by the sin nature. Even in the church selfless people can be rare.

As for justice I thought of this scripture:

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit (Judge 21:25)

People don't agree on what justice is, or how to get there, they do their own thing. The Apostle Paul said that in the Last Days even people in the church would be unable to abide truth, but would follow preachers who tickled their ears. Until the Lord Jesus returns it will be an unjust world.

God Bless You

timewerx said:

Yet many Christians believe God makes people rich but in order to make this happen, some must become poor.

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Ironically, if the rich were to spread their wealth among all the poor, they would have it back again in no time. Even the poor (unless in spirit) have no concept of how to beat the system.

timothyu said:

Ironically, if the rich were to spread their wealth among all the poor, they would have it back again in no time. Even the poor (unless in spirit) have no concept of how to beat the system.

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When we attended Calvary Chapel of Honolulu in the early 90s, the pastor had done a couple of things that worked together. One, he had established a "widows and single mother's list" to make sure he had an answer for the Lord when asked, "How did you care for widows and fatherless children." That wasn't a list for financial handouts, it was a list of women deemed especially vulnerable to many kinds of calamities in life who could be expected to need some attention from time to time. For instance, when we got a hurricane alert, the men in the congregation had the assignment to get them moved to safety if they were in an evacuation zone or help them get their houses secured otherwise. Then we checked on their welfare after the storm. Basically, as though we were attentive sons and brothers.

The pastor had also urged everyone in the congregation to pray for the Holy Spirit to alert us to our excess resources of any kind as well as our needs and make them known to the elder. He said, "Every member has a resource, every member has a need." An "excess resource" might be a young person with extra time or an empty nest couple who had an empty room to spare for an emergency.

So, we had one member who owned a Chevron service station with three service bays. The Holy Spirit had instructed him to volunteer a service bay once Saturday a month, paying for any parts or supplies needed to service cars in that bay that day. His chief mechanic volunteered his labor for the day. Some of us who were decent shade tree mechanics (as well as a couple of professional mechanics) also volunteered our services.

The pastor thought that was an excellent use for the widows and single mother's list, in that automobile breakdowns were a big problem for such women. So, all the women on the list were scheduled for quarterly service work. They just had to bring their cars in, and we would provide whatever service was needed.

The station owner said that he expected to consider the cost of the bay and services as a donation to the church. But he said in the first year as he calculated finances...he hadn't lost any money at all. In fact, his overall business had increased more than enough to cover the cost.