Judging Injustice

We started the series in Genesis, and I want to end our journey together in Revelation. We’ve looked at parables and true stories – Old and New Testament. We’ve seen injustice everywhere, and heard a call for Christians to act and help those who can’t help themselves. 

There are other examples of Jesus personally sacrificing for us (I John 3:16)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

And of Him healing people such as the man at the Pool of Bethsaida (John 5:1-9)

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"  "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

And Lazarus (John 11:40-44)    

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"   So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."  When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.   Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

but look with me now at Jesus in Revelation 19:11 and 16:

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice He judges…  on His robe and on His thigh He has this name written:  King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

If not for God’s mercy and grace and the actions of people who loved me, I’d still be a lost sinner, unable to save myself.

Am I ready to take action now to save others from judgment?  Are you ready?  Are your friends and family? 

Preventing Injustice

Not all the bible stories are rated PG.  Like the story in Judges 19:16-25 (NIV):

That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was living in Gibeah (the men of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, "Where are you going? Where did you come from?"

 He answered, "We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the LORD. No one has taken me into his house. We have both straw and fodder for our donkeys and bread and wine for ourselves your servants—me, your maidservant, and the young man with us. We don't need anything."

 "You are welcome at my house," the old man said. "Let me supply whatever you need. Only don't spend the night in the square." So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.

 While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him."

 The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing. Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But to this man, don't do such a disgraceful thing."

 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go.

This man chose to take strangers as guests into his home.  Later that night, his home was surrounded by evil men who wanted to harm the guest.  The home owner tried as best he could to pacify them or to drive them away but to no avail.  Finally he offered his own virgin daughter to them for their pleasure.  Still unappeased, the guest’s concubine was pushed out the door, and left for the men to abuse throughout the night.  This act protected the man who was traveling, but it certainly wasn’t a good thing for the young woman.  (And it got even worse for her if you read the rest of the chapter.)

Am I willing to do all I can to prevent injustice to strangers?  At what cost? 

Resolving Injustice

Another of my favorite Old Testament stories is David & Goliath in I Samuel 17: the simple shepherd boy against the evil giant. 

Then [David] took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.  Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

Picture the boy delivering pizza to his brothers in the army winding up facing the one intimidating an entire army in front of an audience of thousands.  The Israelites were paralyzed.  The king was not leading, but trying to bribe someone else to take care of the problem (first historical attempt to hire mercenaries?).  Someone had to take action.  David wasn’t able to do this on his own, but as God’s servant, he was and he knew it.  With five small stones (and I love the humanity displayed when he picked up four more than needed) he resolved the problem. 

Am I willing to be used by God in intimidating circumstances to do impossible things?  Are you?

Recognizing Injustice

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37 was one of my favorite stories as a child.  

Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.  "A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'  "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"  "The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded.   Jesus said, "Go and do the same."   msg

It still is.  Today we’d say the poor traveler was mugged or carjacked - probably selected at random, and fortunate to have survived the attack.  Then the plot get’s interesting – respected people who are normally expected to help don’t.  A great church leader sees the need, and asks his GPS for an alternate route.  A well known church lay leader comes on the scene, and checks her BlackBerry as she passes the scene.  The drama swells as we await a hero.  And then a “Samaritan” (plug in a group you choose here – a fundamentalist, a Muslim, someone from the other political party, – get the idea?) recognizes the problem, and takes action. 

I have two challenges – one is to open my eyes and really see the needs around me.  The second, harder one is to take helpful action at some cost to myself.  How about you?

Understanding Injustice

The topic “Act with Integrity” has me thinking about my responsibility to act and care for those who can’t care for themselves. As I ponder that challenge, my mind drifts back to Old Testament stories learned so long ago. I love those stories and the rich lessons they hold. Today, let’s look in on God’s conversation with Cain in Genesis 4:13-16.

13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." 15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.  NIV

Note that after God confronted Cain, He also put His mark on Cain to protect him. At this point in Cain’s life, there was nothing he could do to protect himself. He was paying the consequence of his actions, and the cost was potentially life ending. But God, in his compassion and mercy spared him. I need to see those who are suffering from their choices and throw them a life line. Is there someone in your family or circle of friends who needs your intervention?

Jim...