To be transforming in our Christian context is a process known to Methodists as sanctification. It is a call to "be holy as I am holy." (Leviticus 19:2) God wants for us to become more like him. Jason Upton, one of my favorite Christian music artists sings these words on his album "Faith" Like any son or daughter/I want to be like my Father. To be wise and strong beyond measure, gentle, and kind too, more, and more, the complete package, is indescribable.
"God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore." (1 Kings 4:29) Solomon writes many of the proverbs and at the introduction of the book of Proverbs he states that the beginning of all wisdom is the fear of the Lord. It's not like a zombie scare, or frightened by a ghost, type of fear, it is a reverence for God above all others. So that reverence is the beginning of wisdom.
Jesus says that a wise man will hear his teachings and apply them, "like a wise man that builds his house on a rock." So this wisdom that comes from taking God from the edges of our lives and putting Him in the center will lead us in our transforming. From this act all other actions follow. If you read through the book of Proverbs you also know that many of the verses are about poverty and justice. This is the way we're to behave towards one another, each interaction with great measure of wisdom and dignity.
That's what I believe about social justice. It is meant to guard man's dignity. Like Mark said there is more to come, let me leave with an example. We are to take care of the widows, but that's certainly changed with the roles of women in society changing. Many women have as marketable a skill as men so is this command null and void? I don't think so, but I do think it can be captured by Jesus' "least of these" statement. We clearly have a charge to care for the disadvantaged, whatever category they fall into.
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