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Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

enslaved, and abused? The book of The concept of social justice and
Amos provides a diagnosis of this community rights
lamentable reality and some wise advice Justice is a virtue defined as the rights
on how to alleviate it. and duties of people to each other,
their collective well-being, and the
The call for social justice lies deep at community that brought them forth.
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the heart of the Bible. Even before the Justice implies the notion of fairness, fair
time of Prophet Amos, social justice deal, moral integrity and righteousness
and accountability promises were extant in the dealings of humankind with one
and fully operational through the Ten another and the affairs and transactions
Commandments (the Decalogue) and of social life. This way, social justice
the law of Moses (the Torah), as traced believes everyone deserves equal
in Exodus 20:1ff. That is why the call economic, political, and social rights
for justice became vital in the book of and opportunities. It is related to a
Covenant, found in the Book of Exodus, fair balance in distributing wealth,
Chapters 21 and 22. opportunities and privileges within a
society where individuals’ rights are
Both the Old and New Testaments recognised and protected.
believe that God is the ultimate source
of good. That is why Christians insist One of the distinctive features of the
that any person making decisions about Israelite religion was the interconnection
right and wrong should follow God’s between the relationships to one’s
teachings and submit to his will. Bible neighbour and God as established by the
believers believe that God makes moral covenant. Indeed, the quality of one’s
instructions through the Scripture. To relationship with God depended on how
be a true Bible believer means living one related to fellow members of the
according to God’s moral code, which is covenant community. Amos connects
found in the scripture and taught by the the injustice that he sees around to a
Church. society bent on wealth, prosperity and
structural exploitation while being

To build an intrinsically balanced reckless and forgetful of the true love
and morally grounded society whose for God and others.
structures are fair to everybody, we must
uphold four tenets of accountability: As justice was denied in Amos’ time,
reading and obeying the teachings of it is also being denied in contemporary
the Bible, devoting ourselves to the society. We see such social, economic,
teachings of our faith community, political, and religious injustices in
observing local and regional human various countries. Some Tanzanians
rights, and using our moral traditions to should learn to practise social justice
decide what is the most loving thing to and respect human rights, as demanded
do in a given situation. in the book of Amos.

Form Five Student’s Book 83