Rev. Dr. Mark David Albertson
I guess if I were to put a subtitle on this essay, it would be, “The Intersection of Faith, Equality and Embrace.” As I learned in seminary so many moons ago, theology is the study of the nature of the divine and religious beliefs. Everyone’s theology, whether they admit it or not, is seen through their own personal lense. For me, that lense has never been static. Following my “renewal” of my faith eight years ago, that lense for me has been a progressive one. Because I follow Christ, I try very hard to see the world as Jesus saw it, which means for me, grappling with the issues of justice, equality and human dignity. If I could repeat Jesus’ teachings they would be simple and focused on these two things above all else:
Love your neighbor, especially your neighbor who doesn’t look like you, who doesn’t think like you, who doesn’t talk like you, who doesn’t love like you, who doesn’t pray like you, who doesn’t vote like you. No exceptions.
Second, and like that, is found in Matthew 25:
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
For me, social justice and radical inclusion are all about making things fair and welcoming for everyone. Social justice means fixing the big issues that keep people, especially those who are often left out, from having the same chances and resources as everyone else. Radical inclusion is about more than just putting up with differences; it’s about truly accepting and bringing in all kinds of diversity. When you put these ideas together, they shake up old religious views and have pushed me to rethink how I practice and believe in my faith.
When I read the Bible, I see the roots of social justice in my theology, tracing back to the prophetic traditions of the Hebrew Bible. Prophets like Amos, Micah and Isaiah, who emphasized justice and righteousness, and highlighted the importance of caring for the poor and the oppressed. Jesus’ teachings stress the importance of social justice even more. His ministry focused on favoring the poor, and marginalized, healing the sick, and challenging the social and economic systems that created inequality.
During seminary, we spent a lot of time discussing the concept of the “Imago Dei,” which means that every human being is made in the image of God. This is a key theological belief that supports the pursuit of social justice and is something I deeply believe in. It affirms the inherent dignity and worth of every person, no matter their socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. Mahatma Ghandi put this very well: “If you don’t see God in the next person you meet, you should quit looking.”
I also lean towards Liberation theology, a movement that started in Latin America in the mid-20th century. This perspective emphasizes that theology should be rooted in the real-life experiences of the oppressed and actively work towards their liberation.
I think of radical inclusion as going beyond just accepting different kinds of people; it means actively and intentionally welcoming everyone, especially those who’ve been left out or pushed aside in the past. This idea comes from Jesus’ inclusive ministry, where he often broke social norms by hanging out with and sharing meals with sinners, tax collectors, women, and non-Jews.
The early Christian communities, as we see in the Acts of the Apostles, also practiced this kind of radical inclusion. They created places where Jews and non-Jews, men and women, slaves and free people could come together as equals. The apostle Paul summed it up well in Galatians 3:28 when he said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Social justice and radical inclusion are different ideas, but they go hand in hand and support each other. To achieve social justice, in my ministry, I need to include everyone and appreciate the variety of experiences and identities in a group. In the same way, radical inclusion means I need to be dedicated to fairness and breaking down the barriers and inequalities that stop people from fully joining in and thriving.
I believe I have a bit of a window into how these ideas connect in real life. For instance, tackling racial justice in a church or your place of worship isn’t just about pushing for fair rules and actions; it’s also about making sure everyone, no matter their race or background, feels welcomed and valued. Similarly, fighting for gender justice involves not only taking down unfair systems but also making sure women and gender minorities get the same chances to not just participate, but be an inseparable component, and leaders.
I really take to heart what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Pursuing social justice and making sure everyone is included in our theology and our practice of our theology in our lives isn’t just the right thing to do; it shows how faith can truly change things.