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When I was 19, I wanted to work at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Ca. My aunt, who was an employee at the time and still is today, allowed me to put her name down as a referral on my application. She even made a phone call on my behalf to the casting department which helped me get an interview and eventually led to employment as a cast member of the magic kingdom. (After working there for awhile, the magic kingdom morphs into the tragic kingdom). Since it was her referral that got me the job, I wanted to be a good, dependable worker so that her referral was not made in vain. If I had been a lazy, unreliable worker, one, I would have made my aunt look bad and two, the casting department could have lost trust in her abilities to bring on good workers to the resort. My actions had a direct relation to her reputation as my referral.
 It’s for this reason that I am deeply concerned and saddened when disaster strikes, like what’s happening in Japan right now, and the goodness of God comes into question. Questions arise like, “If God is so good why do such horrific events take place? If God is good why do innocent people have to die?” I am also saddened when similar question arise regarding the overwhelming amount of injustices in this world. Questions like, “why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? If God cares, then why are so many people hungry and why do innocent children suffer?” If Christians took seriously the biblical mandates such as love God and love your neighbor, seek first the kingdom of God and act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God, then the injustices of this world would have no room to take root; no place to settle in and make a home in the world. Injustice would operate more like nomadic peoples, constantly on the move because justice swept it out of the area again.
One of God’s defining characteristics that is so often overlooked by the American church is justice. God so strongly desires justice that he blatantly rejects empty hallelujahs. Isaiah 58:1-5 is just one example of this. The Israelites are annoyed at God and complaining to him because when they pray, their prayers fall on deaf ears. When they fast, they don’t experience God. When they obey the laws, God doesn’t seem to care. Basically, God is ignoring them and they don’t know why. Translate that into today and it might look like going to church every Sunday but not experiencing God. Praying but feeling empty. Attending bible study but feeling lonely. Reading the bible but feeling dry. All of these acts and more, quickly become empty hallelujahs if Gods mandate for justice is not obeyed as well. Kay Warren, wife of well known Saddleback Church Pastor and author of best selling book The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren, goes so far to say if Christians aren’t caring for the widow, the orphan, the fatherless and the enslaved, they ought to think twice about calling themselves Christians. Sting! Pinch! Ouch!
Would you believe I went through a two year graduate level mission and evangelism degree program at one of the top seminaries in America and not one of my classes focused on justice and the Christian mandate to uphold it in this unjust world? Author and Pastor Mark Labberton says, “the American church is asleep.” We’re bored because we’re not in on the action of God crashing into the world with justice and goodness.
As Moses face shone so brightly he had to wear a veil to conceal the light of God that reflected off his face, may all who have declared God to be Lord of all, reflect the light of his justice and his goodness to a suffering and pain filled world. And may followers of Christ live justly and humbly so that all peoples will know that God is a good. After all, Jesus did say, “You are the light of the world.” For more thoughts on this after the Haiti quake see post called, Haitians Cry Out to Jesus; How Will He Answer Them? |
Comments
Ms. Ngangnang, you seem to have an admirably robust conception of justice. I suspect that it's a conception that just isn't shared by many of your fellow Christians, particularly of the American evangelical variety. The only sort of justice that some of these folks seem to understand or show interest in is retributive justice. So good luck to you and best wishes.
Hey C!
I can suspect where you're getting your characterization of American evangelicals, and of course to say that some evangelicals are more concerned about vengeance than true justice is quite valid. But be careful not to paint with too wide a brush...the individuals quoted by the author would fall into the evangelical camp, and I know a number of American evangelicals who are deeply passionate about issues like human trafficking, hunger, literacy, etc. Far more so than most nonbelievers I know.
As the author alluded to, you can't read too far into Scripture without discovering that part of God's design is for His people to be the extension of His character in the world, and when they turned their backs on that calling, life became extremely difficult (lack of justice to others was one of the reasons for the exile). Therein lies the hope for me. Just as it has been throughout history -- though certain individuals may still spout off about God with their mouths but fail to reflect Him in the other parts of their lives, God's design for a whole, healthy world includes justice at its center because justice is a reflection of His character.
So true. And yet how is it that such a seemingly large proportion of self-consciously devout evangelicals reject the broader concerns of justice out of some more narrow interest in "securing our borders," preserving tax cuts for the very richest, campaigning for legal prohibitions against same-sex marriage and abortion, de-funding Medicaid, and supporting "preventive" wars?
Why aren't such priorities denounced every Sunday in local churches across America?
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C. and Ellen,
Thank you both for reading the post and for your thoughtful comments. My intentions behind this blog are in no way to say that all Christians are lacking in the Justice department. Rather, just the opposite is true. I purposely remained very broad as to not point the finger of blame at Christians, rather I hoped the reader would reflect on their own acts of living lives of justice. And if I'm really honest, I was writing just as much to myself as to any one individual or group. Ultimately, I will one day be accountable for my own acts of justice and injustice towards others regardless of what others do or don't do.
Ellen you are absolutely correct in saying that a number of American evangelicals are deeply concerned about areas of injustice and who are doing incredible things about it. Thank you! I love your concluding remarks as well. Justice is a reflection of His character.
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This justice is one of the most important characteristics of God, and one that you must understand, before you can fully understand how His plan works for you. - payday cash advance
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