I don’t think it’s that people think social activism is a way to “be saved” but that it is an easier, visible alternative of living out their witness. Social justice work draws no controversy from non-believers. Everybody loved Mother Theresa’s work in India — but do you think they would like her if her pro-life views took center stage?
Hence why it’s easier to latch the faith label onto the fashionable and trendy causes of the day that we plus the secular world can all agree on...
There’s a phenomenon aptly titled “The Tragic Neglect of the Old Testament.” Western Christians today limit the character of GOD to a select few passages of the New Testament. Anything a Beatles or John Lennon song can agree with like “All you need is love.”
Everything “offensive” or “judgmental” they leave out. Even from the New Testament! Like when Jesus said:
“Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” ~ Luke 12:51
Problem: how can we truly LOVE GOD if we don’t LOVE *ALL* of Him in His fullness?
How can we appreciate our salvation in Christ if we do not grasp the JUDGMENT He is saving us FROM?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10)
Both Old and New Testaments are clear that we are to respect God, and even more important, OBEY him. And yet the most fundamental things the Bible teaches we are to obey God in, particularly our morality and behavior, especially sexual behavior, are not only ignored but mocked, especially among most Mainline church leaders. (Exhibit A: the Episcopal “Church”, although almost all the mainlines fit within this now.)
No manner of “social justice” is going to overcome the fact people are just doing those things to mask the reality they are living in disobedience to God’s commands.