An Ethical Framework for Christian Engagement in Justice Advocacy: An Exegetical Study of Proverbs 31:8–9, Micah 6:8, and 1 Peter 2:13–17

Authors

  • Giovanita Ellen Prasetya Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Kharisma, Bandung, Indonesia
  • Yanto Paulus Hermanto Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Kharisma, Bandung, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33856/kerusso.v11i1.544

Keywords:

Peaceful Advocacy; Christian Digital Ethics; Biblical Exegesis; Social Justice; Political Theology

Abstract

This research is motivated by the escalation of socio-political dynamics in Indonesia in 2025, which underscores an urgent need to determine the scope and forms of Christian engagement in advocating for justice within the public sphere. The objective of this study is to formulate a theological-ethical framework that is rooted in biblical texts while remaining relevant in responding to contemporary social injustices. Employing a qualitative method based on library research, this study applies a historical-grammatical analysis and a canonical approach to Proverbs 31:8–9, Micah 6:8, and 1 Peter 2:13–17. The analytical process bridges the historical meaning of the texts to the reality of the modern public sphere through theological contextualization. The results indicate that the framework for Christian engagement can be mapped into three main dimensions: (1) four ethical boundaries (integrity of faith, nonviolence, legal compliance, and the rejection of hate speech); (2) four forms of engagement (peaceful advocacy, interfaith dialogue, service to vulnerable groups, and the responsible use of digital spaces); and (3) three implementative prerequisites (digital literacy, Christian character, and ethical leadership). The novelty of this research lies in the integration of historical text exegesis with the discourse on digital communication ethics a dimension that remains under-explored in Indonesian Christian political theology. Consequently, these findings offer a conceptual foundation for Christians to contribute constructively to social justice and societal cohesion in an era of information disruption.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Barker, A. (2018). Teologi, Studi Biblika, dan Misi. Indonesian Journal of Theology, 5(1), 99–131. https://doi.org/10.46567/ijt.v5i1.36

Bestari, N. P. (2025, 30 Agustus). Kronologi Demo 25-29 Agustus: Demo DPR Melebar Jadi Amarah ke Polisi. CNBC Indonesia. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20250830145726-4-662882/kronologi-demo-25-29-agustus-demo-dpr-melebar-jadi-amarah-ke-polisi

Boimau, S. H. C., & Panjaitan, F. (2024). Gereja di Antara Kemiskinan dan Kesejahteraan Umat dalam Perspektif Yeremia 29:7. Jurnal Apokalupsis, 15(2), 157–173. https://doi.org/10.52849/apokalupsis.v15i2.210

Briggs, R. S. (2022). Premodern Interpretation and Contemporary Exegesis. Dalam The New Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation (hlm. 301–317). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108859226.020

Britannica. (t.t.). Exegesis | Definition, History, Criticisms, & Facts. Diambil 20 September 2025, dari https://www.britannica.com/topic/exegesis

Chiarot, K. (2023, 23 September). First Peter: Ethics for Exiles. Biblical Perspectives Magazine, 25. https://reformedperspectives.org/articles/kev_chiarot/kev_chiarot.1Peter2.11-17.html

Chung, M. (2021). Are we Woke yet? Hermeneutics and the Politics of 21st-Century Social Justice. Dalam Hermeneutic Approaches to Interpretive Research (hlm. 191–213). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003140177-15

Clem, S. (2023). Christian Ethics, Religious Ethics, and Secular Ethics: A Contemporary Reappraisal. Journal of Religious Ethics, 51(1), 11–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/JORE.12422

Cortes, R. Z. (2020). A critical evaluation of Clifford Christians’s media ethics theory: a précis. Church, Communication and Culture, 5(2), 157–186. https://doi.org/10.1080/23753234.2020.1765694

Elizabeth, E., & Mikaere, G. (2025). Christian Service Ethics in Facing the Challenges of the Digital World: A Theological-Ethical Perspective on Digital Engagement. Ministries and Theology, 2(2), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.35335/2jna6x92

Fawzy, N. (2018). Paul Ricoeur’s Literary Hermeneutics and Biblical Exegesis. ????, 7(3), 217–255. https://doi.org/10.21608/HERMS.2018.71680

Fee, G. D., & Stuart, D. (2014). How to read the Bible for all its worth (Edisi ke-4). Zondervan Academic.

Gorman, M. J. (2020). Elements of biblical exegesis: A basic guide for students and ministers (Edisi ke-3). Baker Academic.

Hayes, J. H., & Holladay, C. R. (2007). Biblical exegesis: A beginner's handbook (Edisi ke-3). Westminster John Knox Press.

Hendrik, I., & Mangililo, I. D. (2023). Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with God as A Form of True Worship: A Reading of Micah 6:8. BIA’: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristen Kontekstual, 6(1), 31–41. https://doi.org/10.34307/b.v6i1.495

Human Rights Watch. (2025, 3 September). Indonesia: End Crackdown on Protesters, Arbitrary Detention. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/09/03/indonesia-end-crackdown-on-protesters-arbitrary-detention

Jacob, Y. K. (2022). Diakonia transformatif sebagai aktualisasi missio dei dalam membangun jemaat. KURIOS: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen, 8(2), 574–583. https://doi.org/10.30995/kur.v8i2.264

Kivimäki, T. (2025). Who Needs to Turn the Other Cheek? Developing a Rational and Practical Christian Ethic of Violence. Studies in Christian Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1177/09539468251355240

Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/278730

Labobar, K. (2024). Misi dan rekonsiliasi: Merevitalisasi fungsi gereja di tengah konflik sosial. KURIOS: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen, 10(2), 501–510. https://doi.org/10.30995/kur.v10i2.1145

Leki Tamukun, A. Y., Labatar, D., Bria, Z., & Firman, K. (2025). Teologi di Era Post-Truth dan Tantangan Gereja dalam Menyampaikan Kebenaran di Tengah Hoaks dan Disinformasi. Jurnal Masalah Pastoral, 13(1), 32–47. https://doi.org/10.60011/jumpa.v13i1.178

Leonard Buan, Y., & Wiesye Elena, H. (2023). Peran Gereja dalam Membangun Kesejahteraan Masyarakat: Respons terhadap Disrupsi Sosial Masyarakat Kristen. YADA: Jurnal Teologi Biblika & Reformasi, 1(2).

Lovin, R., & Daniel, M. (2021). Public Moral Discourse. Religions, 12(4), 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/REL12040255

Mangero, G. D., Tamba, I., & Benu, R. N. (2022). Spiritualitas dan Hermeneutik Alkitab bagi Kehidupan Sosial. Matheo: Jurnal Teologi/Kependetaan, 12(1), 43–54. https://doi.org/10.47562/MATHEO.V12I1.267

Margaret, C. (2019). Pendekatan Interpretasi Teologis Kitab Suci dan Prasuposisi-Prasuposisi Teologis di Baliknya. Veritas: Jurnal Teologi dan Pelayanan, 18(2), 141–160. https://doi.org/10.36421/veritas.v18i2.330

Maringan Hasiholan, A. (2023). Spiritualitas dan Teologi Sosial Pentakostal Asia. Manna Rafflesia, 10(1), 47–59. https://doi.org/10.38091/MAN_RAF.V10I1.314

Martha, J., Wihardja, E. W., & Ardianto, P. A. (2024). The Role of the Church in Enhancing Social Media Literacy for Generation Z in Indonesia. Kharisma: Jurnal Ilmiah Teologi, 5(1), 73–87. https://doi.org/10.54553/kharisma.v5i1.233

McCaulley, E. (2020). Reading while Black: African American biblical interpretation as an exercise in hope. IVP Academic.

Nistor, P. P. (2023). Christian Values and Ethical Values in the Professionalized Social Work Practice. Logos Universality Mentality Education Novelty: Social Sciences, 12(2), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.18662/lumenss/12.2/96

Osborne, G. R. (2006). The hermeneutical spiral: A comprehensive introduction to biblical interpretation (Edisi ke-2). IVP Academic.

Pandie, R. D. Y. (2022). Literasi Digital Berbasis Pendidikan Kristiani sebagai Sarana Pembentukan Karakter Era Disrupsi Teknologi. Edukatif: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 4(4), 5995–6002. https://doi.org/10.31004/edukatif.v4i4.2964

Pardede, H., Lumingkewas, M., & Simangunsong, A. (2023). Teologi Keadilan (Mishpat) dalam Kitab Mikha dan Relevansinya terhadap Keadilan Sosial bagi Orang Kristen di Indonesia. EKKLESIA: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristiani, 2(1), 83–101. https://doi.org/10.63576/ekklesia.v2i1.39

Pattinaja, A. A. (2025). Menyuarakan Keadilan Sosial di Tengah Kebisuan: Kajian Teologis Kepemimpinan Kristen berdasarkan Amsal 31:8-9. Jurnal Arrabona, 7(2), 102–124. https://doi.org/10.57058/juar.v7i2.141

Pax Christi International. (t.t.). Nonviolence nurtures hope, can renew the Church. Diambil 16 September 2025, dari https://paxchristi.net/nonviolence-nurtures-hope-can-renew-the-church/

Petrus, J., & Ice, D. (2023). Social justice counseling sebagai fungsi pastoral di Indonesia. KURIOS: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen, 9(1), 95. https://doi.org/10.30995/kur.v9i1.631

Pomeroy, S. (2020). Patristic and Early Christian Biblical Exegesis: A New Tool for Historians, Theologians, and Philosophers. Modern Theology, 36(4), 884–899. https://doi.org/10.1111/moth.12630

Precept Austin. (2024, 31 Mei). 1 Peter 2:13-17 Commentary. Precept Austin. https://www.preceptaustin.org/1peter_verse_by_verse_213-25

Rahayu, Y. F., & Yasin, H. (2024). Etika Kristen dalam Platform Digital: Upaya Meningkatkan Moralitas dan Karakter Kristiani. EPIGRAPHE: Jurnal Teologi dan Pelayanan Kristiani, 8(1), 36–44. https://doi.org/10.33991/epigraphe.v8i1.326

Rahel. (2024). Pendidikan Agama Kristen Sebagai Sarana untuk Mempromosikan Toleransi dan Persatuan dalam Masyarakat Majemuk. Metanoia, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.55962/metanoia.v6i1.130

Rope, T., Sujatmoko, S., & Carlos, J. (2023). Relevance of Christian Ethics in Addressing Corruption and Social Justice Issues in Indonesia. International Journal of Education and Literature, 2(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.55606/ijel.v2i2.68

Rumondor, M. Y. Y., Mawikere, M. C. S., & Raintung, A. (2025). Following Christ, Not Trends: Christian Ethical Formation for Adolescents in the Digital Age. International Journal of Education, Information Technology, and Others, 8(3.A), 128–139. https://jurnal.peneliti.net/index.php/IJEIT/article/view/12673

Saputra, M. R. (2025). Public Ethics and the Legitimacy of Indonesian Democracy: Protests over DPR Allowances, Elite Conflict, and Civil Response. Journal of State Democracy (JSD), 1(1). https://jurnal.cerdaspedia.com/index.php/JSD/article/view/36

Siregar, E. M., Rangkang, O., & Agus, A. (2025). Prinsip Oikumenis dan Keadilan Sosial: Analisis Berdasarkan Kitab Mikha 6:8. ICHTUS: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristiani, 6(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.63830/hm2vrf15

Strollo, M. F. (2023, 29 Januari). Commentary on Micah 6:1-8. Working Preacher. https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-after-epiphany/commentary-on-micah-61-8-5

Thiselton, A. C. (2009). Hermeneutics: An introduction. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Waruwu, S., Gultom, R. A. T., & Damanik, D. (2025). Study of Social Justice Theology in the Bible for God’s People. Socio-Economic and Humanist Aspect for Township and Industry, 3(2), 312–324. https://doi.org/10.59535/sehati.v3i2.498

Winarjo, H. (2022). Etika Kebajikan Kristen di Ruang Publik. Jurnal Abdiel: Khazanah Pemikiran Teologi, Pendidikan Agama Kristen dan Musik Gereja, 6(2), 163–178. https://doi.org/10.37368/ja.v6i2.426

Wynn, M. (2022). Truth and Christian Ethics: A Narratival Perspective. Studies in Christian Ethics, 35(1), 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1177/09539468211049732

Zai, N., & Gulo, J. (2024). Panggilan Kristen dalam Politik: Melayani dengan Integritas dan Kasih. Imitatio Christo: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen, 1(1), 30–45. https://doi.org/10.63536/imitatiochristo.v1i1.4

Published

2026-03-31

How to Cite

Prasetya, G. E., & Hermanto, Y. P. (2026). An Ethical Framework for Christian Engagement in Justice Advocacy: An Exegetical Study of Proverbs 31:8–9, Micah 6:8, and 1 Peter 2:13–17. Jurnal Teologi Dan Pelayanan Kerusso, 11(1), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.33856/kerusso.v11i1.544