Biblical Ethics and Social Change

by Stephen Charles Mott

This scholarly synthesis of biblical studies and Christian social ethics is designed to provide a biblical argument for intentional institutional change on behalf of social justice. Stephen Charles Mott provides a biblical and ethical guide on ways to implement that change.
The first part of the book, providing the biblical theology of intentional social change, deals with the central concepts in biblical and theological grace, evil, love, justice, and the Reign of God. Christian social change must be rooted not only in justice, but in the grace received through the death and resurrection of Christ.
The second part evaluates ethical and theological methods for carrying out that intentional social change. It offers a study of evangelism, counter community, civil disobedience, armed revolution, and political reform. It shows the contribution of each as well as the strong limitations of each used in isolation.
A recurring theme of the book is the scriptural insistence on the priority of justice as taking upon oneself the cause of the oppressed. Justice is understood on bringing back into the community those who are near to falling out of it. Political authority has a vital role in social change for justice. It is essential that a Christian use all available and legitimate means of meeting basic needs by providing for all what is essential for inclusion in society.
In this revised edition, Mott updates the contemporary illustrations and includes his own further reflections in the last thirty years on this topic.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Christianity

264 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2011

Reviews

[Rose Schrott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mott writes from a strong evangelical perspective while emphasizing God’s call to social justice. His exegetical work in explaining the biblical call to justice is helpful. I will return to it in speaking with people who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible. This emphasis, at times, also feels limiting and disconnected from the world as we experience it. I would argue that Christians need to go to the disposed and learn about God and justice from them. That’s not where Mott starts and that’s not where he takes the argument. Still, a helpful read.

[Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mott starts off very strong, but I found that the quality of his arguments and models for biblical ethics really dropped off as he progressed (particularly the last three chapters). My evaluation could stem from my disagreements with his overall arguments in the latter half of the book, but I just felt the ending was not nearly as compelling or satisfying as the beginning chapters.

One of the strongest characteristics of this book is that it does give you the biblical and theological language to engage ethics. Ethics do not feel derived from an outside source that divorces your external life from your spiritual life. One issue I find in Protestantism is either a strong personal ethic without any social ethical concerns or a strong social ethical concern that seems to neglect Christian theology or tradition. I think Mott does a quality job of showing how the Bible and Christian theology can speak to our sense of responsibility to a just and loving social order.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who wants to walk through a comprehensive theological explanation of how the church is called to engage in social justice. Very readable and well written.