Core-Truth Ministries endorses The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel as a faithful and helpful summary of biblical convictions concerning Scripture, the gospel, justice, human dignity, sin, salvation, the church, sexuality, marriage, ethnicity, culture, and racism.
This endorsement rests on the conviction that Scripture is the final authority for faith and practice. The statement is included here as a doctrinal reference and study resource for readers seeking biblical clarity on these matters.
Original source: StatementOnSocialJustice.com — produced and updated September 4, 2018.
We affirm that the Bible is God’s Word, breathed out by him. It is inerrant, infallible, and the final authority for determining what is true (what we must believe) and what is right (how we must live). All truth claims and ethical standards must be tested by God’s final Word, which is Scripture alone.
We deny that Christian belief, character, or conduct can be dictated by any other authority, and we deny that the postmodern ideologies derived from intersectionality, radical feminism, and critical race theory are consistent with biblical teaching. We further deny that competency to teach on any biblical issue comes from any qualification for spiritual people other than clear understanding and simple communication of what is revealed in Scripture.
Scripture: Genesis 2:18–25; Psalm 19:7–10; 1 Corinthians 2:14–15; Ephesians 5:22–33; 2 Timothy 3:16–4:5; Hebrews 4:12; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19–21
We affirm that God created every person equally in his own image. As divine image-bearers, all people have inestimable value and dignity before God and deserve honor, respect, and protection. Everyone has been created by God and for God.
We deny that God-given roles, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religion, sex or physical condition, or any other property of a person either negates or contributes to that individual’s worth as an image-bearer of God.
Scripture: Genesis 1:26–30; Genesis 2:18–22; Genesis 9:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 1:21–22
We affirm that since he is holy, righteous, and just, God requires those who bear his image to live justly in the world. This includes showing appropriate respect to every person and giving to each one what he or she is due. We affirm that societies must establish laws to correct injustices that have been imposed through cultural prejudice.
We deny that true justice can be culturally defined or that standards of justice that are merely socially constructed can be imposed with the same authority as those that are derived from Scripture. We further deny that Christians can live justly in the world under any principles other than the biblical standard of righteousness. Relativism, socially constructed standards of truth or morality, and notions of virtue and vice that are constantly in flux cannot result in authentic justice.
Scripture: Genesis 18:19; Isaiah 61:8; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:17–19; Romans 3:31
We affirm that God’s law, as summarized in the Ten Commandments, more succinctly summarized in the two great commandments, and manifested in Jesus Christ, is the only standard of unchanging righteousness. Violation of that law is what constitutes sin.
We deny that any obligation that does not arise from God’s commandments can be legitimately imposed on Christians as a prescription for righteous living. We further deny the legitimacy of any charge of sin or call to repentance that does not arise from a violation of God’s commandments.