Defining Economic Justice: A Christian Perspective

Abstract

The pursuit of economic justice has been confused with the pursuit of economic equality. As income and wealth inequality continue to rise in the United States, the issue of economic justice continues to come up in the public discourse as policy decisions are made. Evangelical Christians are called to stand up for justice, care for the poor, and support public policy based on a Biblical worldview. This paper looks at the concepts of economic justice and economic inequality from the perspective of secular theorists as well as Christian economists and theologians to try to find out what economic justice means, and how it is related to the concept of economic equality. A look at what scripture has to say leads to a conclusion with a personal challenge for those who live with a Biblical worldview.

            Keywords: economic justice, economic inequality, poverty