Justice and Economics
“The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
For he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor …”
Jesus, quoting the prophet Isaiah, and announcing his mission.
These words disturbed the comfortable listeners of his day. They continue to disturb.
Jesus did not say
“He has sent me to bring the good news to the middle class …”
Yet that is how he is often interpreted.
On this page we hope to help you grapple more deeply with this core part of Jesus’ message.
Theology
Within the church there has been a long tradition of prophetic voices calling for both society and the church to pay more attention to economic injustice that leads to poverty. Such voices include St Basil, St Francis, St Clare.
In the 20th century this theological stream was represented by many voices such as Walter Rauschenbusch, Martin Luther King, the Niebuhrs and Walter Brueggemann in the US, Gustavo Gutierrez and the liberation theologians of South America and beyond, the Moltmanns, Simone Weil and Jacques Ellul in Europe, Desmond Tutu in Africa. There was also the strong influence of Jewish thinker Abraham Heschel.
In the 21st century there has been the increasing realisation of the relationship between economic injustice, colonialisation and racism. These were issues taken up by thinkers such as Helder Camara and James Cone in the 20th century but more thoroughly developed this century by people such as Willie James Jennings.
The next two sections have economic analysis that goes beyond that usually offered by the mainstream media.
The final sections have statements and reflection on economic injustice from theologians and church bodies.
Understanding justice and economics better
A starting point for understanding is to listen to people who are experiencing poverty. Too often when economics is discussed we only hear the voices of the rich, the powerful and the technocrats.
Kristin O’Connell from the Antipoverty Centre addressing an Against the Wind forum.
The Antipoverty Centre https://antipovertycentre.org/
Australian Council of Social Service https://www.acoss.org.au/
Public Policy and Social Equity
One of the best research groups publishing work in this area is The Australia Institute (TAI). Richard Dennis from the TAI is an excellent communicator and has helped make clear how poverty in Australia is a policy decision
The Australia Institute website.
Why democracies need to collect more corporate tax. Upcoming webinar from TAI. Feb 11, Richard Dennis, Joseph E Stiglitz and Ebony Bennett
Ross Gittins contributes excellent economic analysis via the Sydney Morning Herald and elsewhere
The Saturday Paper often has solid and reliable economic analysis from a justice perspective.
Contemporary theological and church commentary
Why should Christians care about economic justice, Matt Darvas, micah, 11 March 2024
Economic Justice, World Council of Reformed Churches
Ancient church commentary
“The bread you store belongs to the hungry. The clothes you accumulate belong to the naked. The shoes that you have in your closet are for the barefoot. The money you bury deep into the ground to keep it safe, belongs to the poor. You were unfair to as many people as you could have helped and you did not.”
St Basil