John MacArthur's Statement on Social Justice is a Flaming Hot Mess
How does the American evangelical church reconcile justice, culture, and faith in a post-Christian age? Mike Erre is joined by author, pastor, and podcast host Skye Jethani (The Holy Post) for a provocative discussion about the recently issued "Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel" from prominent conservative evangelical leaders—and why its assumptions about sin, culture, and mission may be fundamentally flawed.
Together, Mike and Skye unpack the tensions between personal salvation and social transformation, the fragmentation of modern evangelicalism, and the theological implications of rejecting systemic sin and collective repentance. Through humor, history, and a deep love for scripture, they contrast a kingdom vision of justice and shalom with the boundary-drawing tendency of political and cultural Christianity.
Key Takeaways: • Understanding a Broken Evangelicalism – Why modern evangelicalism feels fractured and why many feel “spiritually homeless” in today’s tribal climate. • The Problem with Statements – How culture war-era declarations like the Nashville Statement and the “Gospel and Social Justice” statement reflect a dying vision of Christianity. • Justice is Not a Distraction – A biblical case for how social justice is not an add-on, but an integral part of gospel witness and the Kingdom of God. • Jesus’ Kingdom Vision – How personal righteousness and community transformation must go together for followers of Christ. • Culture and Power – Why framing some cultures as morally "better" reveals deep-rooted assumptions about privilege, whiteness, and American exceptionalism. • The Cross is Both Vertical and Horizontal – A rejection of the false split between private faith and public justice, and the need for holistic discipleship.
Guest Highlights: Skye Jethani – Former executive editor at Christianity Today, co-host of The Holy Post podcast, and author of multiple books including "What If Jesus Was Serious?" and creator of the daily devotional With God Daily. Skye brings deep theological insight with a winsome, challenging voice that critiques American Christian culture from within.
Resources Mentioned: • The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel – statementonsocialjustice.com • The Holy Post Podcast with Skye Jethani – holypost.com • Lausanne Covenant (1974) – lausanne.org/content/covenant/lausanne-covenant • Tim Keller’s Book – "Generous Justice" – [Link] • Voxology Non-ference Details – [Link]
Redefining faith means challenging power structures, wrestling with uncomfortable truths, and seeking the heart of Jesus beyond political categories. Join the conversation, subscribe to the Voxology Podcast, leave a review, and follow us on social media to stay engaged.
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As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
Our Merch Store! ETSY
Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy