Jesus lived with, ate with, and associated with the socially ostracized (Matthew 9:13); Raised the son of a poor widow (Luke 7:11-16); Showed great respect to the immoral woman who was the social outcast (Luke 7:36); Spoke with women in public but resisted sexism of the day (John 4:27); Refused to go along with racism of his culture (Luke 10:26); Showed special attention to children (Luke 18:15); Reached out to the lepers and healed and touched them (Mark 1:41, Luke 15:13); Called his disciples to give to the poor (Mark 12:42-43).
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
- Luke 4:18-19
Conservatives tend to favor “compassionate, responsibility based” interventions that can appear nannying and lacking in understanding, whereas liberals’ fight against systemic injustice that can be divisive and stir up social unrest. Both views are self-righteous, either overemphasizing individual responsibility and blaming the poor for everything, or underemphasizing individual responsibility and blaming the rich and powerful for everything.
- Tim Keller
Care for the vulnerable by seeking mercy and justice for individuals and systems through relationships in a manner that promotes and upholds equity, fairness, and generosity regardless of race or social status so that people and systems can experience flourishing in the way that God intended through his vision of dignity, peace, harmony, and holiness.
- Tim Holley, definition of justice and mercy through a biblical lens
