What does Christian ethics have to say in the wider public debate about inequality? Should theologically informed perspectives be involved in a discussion that is clearly political, social, and economic? Does Christian ethics have anything distinctive to contribute? Why should, or should not, people of faith care about the inequalities described in the previous chapters?

In considering these questions, one must shift the inquiry from the empirical analysis of inequality to analyze, from a Christian ethical perspective, how such inequalities matter morally and theologically. It is conceivable for Christians to read the previous chapters and then respond that Christian faith has little direct relevance to those issues – and that conversely, inequalities have little relevance for Christian faith and practice. Indeed, the Christian commitment to the equality before God has often operated as a “spiritual truth” while offering little impetus to move Christians to denounce even severe forms of social inequality – including slavery.

How Christians interpret the “meaning” of equality is closely related to a wider theological question: what kind of involvement should Christians have in the “world's problems”? Some theologians and ethicists maintain that Christians have been sidetracked from their principal task of worshiping God by trying to “make the world turn out right.” Others disagree and promote various forms of “world-transformative Christianity.”

Finally, there is a philosophical (and sociological) question that Christian perspectives should consider if they are to engage in a wide public debate on inequality.