SJW = Social Justice Warrior. This term is used to identify the zealous drive that has become popular in western culture to make the world right because of injustice. While noble on the face many times this zealous undertaking includes obnoxious, violent, and manipulative ends justify the means tactics. SJW comes in all kinds and degrees. Pet rescue, Climate change, champion for homelessness, LGBT rights, minimum wage, denouncing white privilege, Black Lives Matter, equal pay for women, vegetarian, immigration, alt-right, and the list could continue. Society is breaking down into social tribes of people who are at war with each other and seek only to champion their own cause. In all of this yelling the real injustice that should be addressed seems to be lost. Jesus speaking of the signs of the end of the current Church age describes a world where hate rules and people stop loving others.
10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:10-12 ESV
While society may not be at that point Christ described a case might be made that we are seeing the frothy edges of an unloving bubble. Images of people attacking and saying despicable things at each other over the presidential campaign is illustrative that at the heart of man is a great evil. Very little love is on display in the current social climate. A battle to control the sword of government is underway. Forcing people to bake cakes for weddings or chants of lock her up have become the preferred rally cries. Will the sword of government be used to force people to help the poor? Can the country survive such division? Paul in his letter to the Church in Corinth provides a detailed description and definition of love. True love. Not selfish lustful love that the world champions. Paul describes the nature of God in this famous chapter. Love is patient, love is kind. But at the intro he provides why love is needed in any action and in our SWJ world this is something to dwell on.
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV
If one finds themselves sucked into taking part in an SJW protest my question is why and for what purpose. Why does one protest? The answer might be because of the injustice against those who are poor or disenfranchised. But what motivates one to champion that cause? Anger at the people who ignore poverty? Anger at the corporation that supposedly stole from the impoverished person? Or can an SJW movement claim to be genuinely broken and hurting because of love for the person in need? Does the SJW movement love the person that they want to help? Paul says you can give up your very life for people in need but if you do not love then you gain nothing.
So where does love come from and how do I champion justice in love verses frustration, anger, and manipulation? Love that Paul speaks of can only be sourced from one place. That kind of love cannot be manufactured in the heart of a man. That kind of love cannot be purchased at any price affordable to mortals. Love that Paul speaks of can only come from an overflow of its original author.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 ESV
Not only is true love sourced from God Himself it is the essence of who our Creator is. God is love. Love comes from God alone. This is why Paul tells the church in Corinth that if they die for a cause but do it without love, without God, then they have gained nothing. It is a harsh truth about our nature and relationship with God. He created us to be loved by Him and to then in turn love others. We however take up the SJW cause not in the love of God but in the selfishness of man.
10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11 ESV
We stand at a crossroads all who are reading this. Do we move forward in love or do we stay unaccomplished fighting against oblivion. If you do not have a relationship with the author of love then it is time to submit to Christ, who is the ultimate act of love, who died for our naked hate in order to establish a relationship with God the original source of love. If you do have the saving faith from God and are living a life of selfish anger at the world, then now is the time to seek Christ about breaking your heart to love your neighbor in an honest, faithful, and giving way.
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 ESV
