Our Biblical Call to Social Justice
The United Methodist Church has a long history of advocating for social justice.
During university, John & Charles Wesley and their Oxford 'Holy Club' visited the local prison and tutored neighborhood children.
The early Methodists expressed their opposition to societal ills such as slavery, smuggling, inhumane prison conditions, alcohol abuse, and child labor.
Today United Methodists work, march and pray for racial justice, environmental care, and fair treatment for everyone.
(All scriptures are from the Common English Bible (CEB), unless otherwise noted.)
Micah 6:8
The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demand: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern and humbly obey your God.” (CEV)
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
Zechariah 7:9-10
The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims: Make just and faithful decisions; show kindness and compassion to each other! 10 Don’t oppress the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor; don’t plan evil against each other!
Proverb 31:8-9
Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. Speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.
Jeremiah 22:3
The Lord proclaims: Do what is just and right; rescue the oppressed from the power of the oppressor. Don’t exploit or mistreat the refugee, the orphan, and the widow. Don’t spill the blood of the innocent in this place.
Psalm 82:3
Give justice to the lowly and the orphan;
maintain the right of the poor and the destitute!
Matthew 7:12
Therefore, you should treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you; this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 22:37-40
He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to liberate the oppressed,
and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
1 John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
During university, John & Charles Wesley and their Oxford 'Holy Club' visited the local prison and tutored neighborhood children.
The early Methodists expressed their opposition to societal ills such as slavery, smuggling, inhumane prison conditions, alcohol abuse, and child labor.
Today United Methodists work, march and pray for racial justice, environmental care, and fair treatment for everyone.
(All scriptures are from the Common English Bible (CEB), unless otherwise noted.)
Micah 6:8
The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demand: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern and humbly obey your God.” (CEV)
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
Zechariah 7:9-10
The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims: Make just and faithful decisions; show kindness and compassion to each other! 10 Don’t oppress the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor; don’t plan evil against each other!
Proverb 31:8-9
Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. Speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.
Jeremiah 22:3
The Lord proclaims: Do what is just and right; rescue the oppressed from the power of the oppressor. Don’t exploit or mistreat the refugee, the orphan, and the widow. Don’t spill the blood of the innocent in this place.
Psalm 82:3
Give justice to the lowly and the orphan;
maintain the right of the poor and the destitute!
Matthew 7:12
Therefore, you should treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you; this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 22:37-40
He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to liberate the oppressed,
and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
1 John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.