It is the single greatest story of social injustice of our time.

It is the civil rights issue of our era.

It is the only issue that is a greater stain on our national character than the legacy of slavery.

And yet when its repulsive face was thrust front and center in recent days, those who masquerade as the socially conscious voices of justice in our society revealed themselves to be posers.  Posers for profit.  Posers for power.  Posers for politics.

Given the disappointing reality that these are the activists never hesitant to tattoo the name of Jesus upon their agenda, quick to condemn conservatives for lacking compassion for the “least of these,” eager to rush before cameras and behind microphones to proclaim themselves to be the leaders of a new evangelicalism that actually promotes Christlike social policy, it is important to name names:

Jim Wallis and Sojourners.

Shane Claiborne and Red Letter Christians.

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and the Poor People’s Campaign.

Reverend Dr. Barber and Repairers of the Breach.

New York State repealed legal protections for human babies that survived abortion attempts and were born alive.  A law was proposed in Virginia that brazenly normalized the barbaric dismemberment of a 9-month human baby about to enter the birth canal.  The Governor of Virginia mused publicly about keeping born infants comfortable as infanticide was considered.

And they all remained silent.

Claiborne couldn’t bring himself to raise his voice in opposition of the injustice perpetrated against innocent children, but remarkably he did mourn the same day about the death of murderer Robert Jennings who was executed for having shot and killed a police officer in cold blood.

Reverend Barber couldn’t bring himself to raise his voice in opposition of the injustice perpetrated against innocent children, but remarkably he did retweet a video the same day condemning “environmental injustice” that included the ironic line, “our babies are worth fighting for!”

Hartgrove couldn’t bring himself to raise his voice in opposition of the injustice perpetrated against innocent children, but he did lament often that day about “white evangelicalism” that he dubs the “slaveholder religion” – somehow missing the chilling parallels between the slaveholders who claimed Christ while ignoring the inhumanity of slavery with those who claim Christ today while ignoring the inhumanity of abortion.

Wallis couldn’t bring himself to raise his voice in opposition of the injustice perpetrated against innocent children, but he did mention that day the financial pain being experienced by the poorest among us – apparently oblivious to the physical pain being experienced by the most defenseless among us.   

Let’s not be kids about this.  All of these “voices of justice” were fully aware of the news that day.  All were active on their Twitter feeds reacting to the stories that fit their agenda.  Sadly, the horrific injustice being legally committed against God’s tiny image-bearers did not peak their interest. 

Justice indeed.