Executive Summary

This article examines whether faith leads to the social virtue of justice by drawing on both classical political philosophy and contemporary social science research. Beginning with Jean Bodin’s foundational assertion that faith underpins all justice in commonwealths and associations, the article traces a theological understanding of justice as the administration of God’s law. It then bridges this concept to the modern democratic context, where citizens participate in lawmaking through voting—itself an act of justice.

Contemporary research from Gerber, Gruber, and Hungerman demonstrates that regular church attendance correlates strongly with higher voter turnout, while Barna Group data confirms that practicing Christians vote at significantly higher rates than the general population across all major racial groups.

Together, these findings suggest that Christian faith does indeed lead to measurable expressions of social justice through civic engagement.

Introduction

The relationship between faith and justice has occupied theologians, philosophers, and political theorists for centuries. From Augustine’s City of God to the social gospel movement of the nineteenth century, Christians have understood their faith as demanding righteous action in the world.

But can this connection be demonstrated systematically? Does the practice of Christian faith actually produce the social virtue of justice?

The Administration Of The Law Of God Is His Justice

Does faith lead to the social virtue of justice? Yes, “faith is the sole foundation and prop of that justice on which all commonwealths, alliances, and associations of men whatsoever, is founded”, wrote Jean Bodin. Here, Bodin was referring to the justice of God. Justice, in faith, regards God as the sovereign. The sovereign is the authority, or law maker, to which a member of a society yields in order to gain his liberty. Liberty is one’s freedom of physical action within the limits of the law prescribed by the sovereign – in this case, the law of God. The administration of the law of God is called His justice.

Therefore, we can safely say that, yes, faith does lead to the social virtue of justice.

In Democratic Nations, Voting Is Justice

In this corporeal world, though, justice is administered by governments – sovereign nations – as required under the laws of the nation. In democratic nations, laws are passed into action by the citizens of the nation through some sort of voting mechanism.

As voting is one’s direct action in the lawmaking process, let’s consider the connections between voting and faith.

Connections Between Voting And Faith

According to Gerber, Gruber, and Hungerman, regular church attendance is strongly associated with a higher probability of voting. They state, “There are strong correlations between the degree of religious observance and a wide variety of pro-social behaviors” and “there is a well-known positive association between attending religious services and political participation; those reporting regular church attendance are much more likely to vote.” When controlling for socioeconomic characteristics, age, gender, and political conditions, “those who report attending church weekly are between 10 and 15 percentage points more likely to vote, a difference roughly equal to the gap in turnout between a presidential and midterm election,” Gerber, Gruber, and Hungerman determine.

Further, according to a study, “the percentage of practicing Christians who failed to vote in the 2016 presidential election [was] significantly less than for the general voting-eligible public, although this effect varie[d] across each of the four major racial groups”. See below a modified version of the study’s Figure 1 reflecting the statement above. This data demonstrates that practicing Christians consistently participate in elections at higher rates than the general population—a tangible expression of civic justice rooted in their faith commitment.

Final Thoughts

The connection between faith and justice extends beyond theological concepts into measurable social impact. As we’ve seen through empirical data, those who actively practice their faith demonstrate higher civic engagement—a fundamental component of justice in democratic societies. When faith grounds our understanding of justice in something transcendent, it provides both the moral framework and the motivation for active participation in creating a just society.

The act of voting, while just one expression of civic duty, serves as a tangible measure of how faith communities contribute to the broader pursuit of justice. Perhaps more significantly, this relationship suggests that nurturing faith communities isn’t just a private good, but a public one.

In an era of declining civic participation and social fragmentation, the role of faith in fostering justice becomes ever more vital. The question isn’t whether faith leads to justice—the evidence clearly shows it does—but rather how we can better harness this connection to build more just and engaged communities?

As we move forward, let us recognize that faith and justice aren’t competing values, but complementary forces – each strengthening the other in the ongoing work of building a better society.

Thanks for reading!