The Justice Issue

 As you search through the scriptures, you will find the issue of justice from the book of Genesis all the way through Revelation. In the pro-life movement, there is a common phrase that states, "social justice starts in the womb". We believe this to be absolutely true, however it doesn't end there.

 In the declaration of independence there is a phrase, "life, liberty and the justice for all". Unfortunately in America today that simply is not true, and in most of the rest of the world it really isn't true. If you were to travel the world you will find unspeakable injustices that are beyond words. Injustices that documentaries only paint a small piece of the bigger picture. The injustices in the earth are an invitation for us, as believers in Christ, to be moved to compassion. In the New Testament, Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another as He as loved them (see John 15:12). The word commandment in that verse actually means "prescription". Love is both preventative and prescriptive. Love is the solution to a problem and if done properly can actually prevent future problems.

When God gave the law to Moses, there were special commandments given to be conscience of those who were less in society and to leave some of the edges of the crops for the poor. Here God is commanding that we care for others who are less fortunate than ourselves. When God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, one of the reasons he gave was that they didn't care for the poor and show indifference to those suffering. God judged them because they were complacent and indifferent about something that truly mattered to God. As a matter of fact, Jesus said, in the New Testament, whatever you have done to the least of these you have done to me. It seems that God takes it pretty personally. It is important to truly know what God requires of you, especially if you have a heart to do His will. In the book of acts, it says the David was a man after God's own heart. David's heart was set on fulfilling all that God wanted. In the book of Micah, God makes it perfectly clear what he wants. "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8 KJV) In this verse, God makes it very clear what he requires or what he wants from his people. I just want to let you know that he has never changed his mind. There are three things this verse maps out for us. The exact expressions of God's will for your life fits within the context of these three requirements. It is the Holy Spirit that gives you the what, where, when and how concerning the will of God.

Within the framework of God's will there is a desire that he has to be in relationship with us. He desires to know us through experience. The consummation of a wedding is when a husband and a wife get to know each other intimately and personally. A wedding becomes a marriage through experience. All fruitfulness flows from the place of intimacy. When we are intimate with the Lord and we walk with him, we start to care about what He cars about. In Micah 6:8 we are commanded to walk with the Lord. Walking is a verb, that means actually doing something. That is where doing justice comes in. Part of loving our neighbor requires doing justice. "But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream." (Amos 5:24 NKJV) Jesus said to his disciples that out of there belly rivers of living water would flow. I want to propose to you that perhaps God desires to establish righteousness and justice through his children. The establishment of righteousness comes through the preaching of the gospel. Justice is established when we live out the gospel and we obey Jesus's commandment and love our neighbor. Our neighbor is not just someone who lives next door, our neighbor are those who are created in the image of God. The hope for the world is the Christ in you. The Christ in you wants to flow from you establishing righteousness and justice in the earth.

All over the world, people are suffering and dying unnecessarily. From the womb of the inner-city of America to brothels in Thailand to slums in India to war torn villages in Africa to prostitutes in the streets of Brazil. Since you are free, the question is now are you going to set others free? Jesus commanded his disciples to go and bring forth fruit, but in reality if you don't go anywhere how exactly are you going to bring forth fruit? When we become willing to go we are now positioning ourselves to bring forth fruit. The fruit of the gospel is righteousness and justice. Righteousness is us being in right standing with God, justice is us being in right standing with people. Now is the time for God to establish justice. When his kingdom comes justice is established. The question that we must ask ourselves is are we willing to love mercy enough to put ourselves in harms way for others that Jesus commanded us to love? Jesus took our place on the tree do we cannot die for anyone's sin. However we can live a life for other people's freedom. True intercession is standing in the gap between God and man. There is prayer that is supplication, that is a request to God. Then there is intercession which is prayer in action. Now is the time where we must stand in the gap between justice and injustice. That is what God requires. That is what Jesus did in our behalf. That is what you are called to. Jesus said my mother and my brother are those who do the will of my father. Jesus is the justice of God, according to the scriptures he is our justification. Jesus, who is our justification, wants to establish justice through you. To do so in a sustainable way you must forgive people for the injustices that you have suffered.

Compassion is about seeing the afflicted and doing something about it. Now is the time for you to do something about it. Here are practical ways that you can do something about it: www.shoresofgrace.com , www.impactnations.com. I am challenging you to do something about those who are suffering. If you child was suffering you would do anything you could to help him/her. God's children are suffering, what will you do? The rest is between you and God. Thanks for taking the time to read this blog. May the Holy Spirit lead you from the place of compassion to action.