Follow

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[Matthew 5:3-10]

Still trying to defrag the Gospel tonight, I was looking for scriptures that talk about social justice.  There are plenty of places in the Word that address social issues and causes.  In fact, my friend TJ Reid recently put together a list of all the instances where the poor and needy are addressed in the book of Proverbs alone.  You could say a very important part of God’s work is social work.  God has always been in the business of redeeming humanity and making things right where they are wrong.  Poverty, human trafficking, unfair trade practices, racism, hate-crimes… are, to God, very important issues.  Today, I read through Matthew 5.  The Beatitudes, as they are known, are foundational to the message of social justice.  They describe the character of a righteous human being.  In these lines we see just what Jesus was talking about when He said, “the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

He was talking about himself.

He was near.  He is near.

I recently heard of an interview with Rick McKinley of Imago Dei Community in Portland, Oregon regarding his involvement in social justice initiatives.  The interviewer commented that social justice is not just a Christian thing, but that anyone can take part in it.  Rick’s response was, “Sure, anyone can take part in it… but it’s our story.”  What does that mean?  While social justice can be championed in a telethon, an eBay auction, a book, a song, a campaign… it starts in the heart… a new heart.  When Jesus unpacked these nine statements he was revealing his own character and the character of those that would truly take up their cross and follow.  It is with Christ and in his presence where our hearts of stone are softened and the selfish appetites of our skin and bones give way to an unnatural kind of love.  This love leads us to seek justice, to fight for the helpless, give to the need, and to be the answer to the problem.  This is our story - that God came to earth and lived a life before us that imaged purity, love, and mercy - then he went to the cross.  At the cross Jesus took onto himself the weight of stone hearts so those who would come and follow him could live as he did - poor in spirit, mourning injustice, broken and humble, hungry for righteousness, full of mercy, pure in heart, making peace in the midst of strife.  Jesus even said those who follow him this way will be blessed with insults and persecution because of him.  This is what he meant: “Live for justice because of me and you can be sure the world will see me.”  The is no greater justice or mercy than to hear the name of Christ and have the chance to follow him.

One of the articles that emerged on Digg this week is one about indigenous teenage girls in the central areas of Australia selling themselves as prostitutes to men that drive up offering cigarettes, alcohol, and maybe a few bits of loose change. These girls have no idea that they have a Father in heaven that desire so much more for them as His daughters. Someone needs to tell these girls that there is more to life than alcohol, smoking, and getting whatever you can from the white man. Someone needs to stop these men in their cars and fight on behalf of these young girls. Someone needs to fight for justice! I’m overcome with grief when I think of this situation. Not because it’s an insurmountable situation, but because it is one of so many all over this world. I never used to understand why justice is so important to God in the scriptures, especially in light of Heaven and how every tear will be wiped away there. Why can’t we just live with injustice now, and wait patiently for that great and glorious day? One reason I didn’t get it is because I have no idea what it’s like to live with this kind of injustice. Another, I suppose, is that I had not yet understood God’s heart and just how His heart breaks for those of us that suffer in this life with no end in sight for the next life. You see, Jesus desires justice and peace because He is always seeking the lost. Living life as a Christian is really a taste of Heaven before we get there (at least it should be) and Jesus knows that those people He is seeking have more of a chance of being found if they get to experience a little bit of Heaven on earth while they’re still living. What these girls and millions of people bearing the image of God on this earth are tasting instead is a preview of Hell? Jesus died and rose again so that no one would even have to taste Hell and if we are drawing near to the heart of Christ, we will have a heart for justice. God, I pray for these young ladies in Australia and I ask that by whatever means, you bring justice to their lives like a sun rising for the first time after a long, long night. I will be still and wait with them in my prayers and I ask that you make me a channel for this kind of justice in the world.