Preliminary Validation of the Sanctification of Social Justice Scale

This study presents psychometric results for the initial validation of the Sanctification of Social Justice Scale (SSJS). We conceptualized the sanctification of social justice as how strongly individuals connect working for social justice to an expression of God's will and what it means to be Christian. Across 4 studies including over 1,200 Christian college students, an exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, and convergent validity results all provide psychometric support for the 1-factor 5-item SSJS. This study extends sanctification theory to the previously unexamined domain of working for social justice and provides preliminary validation of a scale for use in research, intervention, and collaboration with Christian individuals and organizations. Limitations and implications for future research and use of the SSJS also are discussed.