4 Right Responses to Wrong in a World of Injustice
Seeing injustice on the nightly news is hard, but experiencing injustice right where you are standing is brutal. This week has been brutal. It’s been brutal whether you are black or white, male or female, American or an immigrant. Pain is no respecter of persons, and God isn’t either.
I’ve read several posts on Facebook this week that have made me cringe, and one or two that have made me pretty angry — and I don’t easily anger. Everything within me said the words I was reading were wrong and against the heart of God.
A few years ago, I read a post on Facebook that made me mad like a volcano. My anger erupted like an unending avalanche because someone’s thoughtless words hit home, and their flawed perspective disrespected someone I dearly love. I was so upset that I sat down at my computer and wrote about how wrong it felt. Today, I feel lead to res-hare this story. Because some stories we should never forget.
• •. •
Her name is Magda. At age 15, she packed a suitcase with only two outfits and left behind everything else she knew. Her parents were not able to come, so she boarded the plane alone. Once her feet landed on U.S. soil, she worked. First, she sweat it out at a factory putting labels on glass bottles. Then, she was the Avon lady. Eventually, she learned to keep the books and got an office job. At night, she went back to school. Every day, she kept reaching forward and making a better life for her family. Today, you will find her in the corner office with the initials CPA after her name.
She speaks fluent English with an accent. She pays taxes and votes her conscience. Her story is a picture of the beauty of America, the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.
My mom is one of the bravest women I have ever met.
Because I am the daughter of this brave woman, I grew up in sunny South Florida, rather than Communist Cuba. I will forever be thankful.
If you’ve ever been to Miami, you probably heard a little Spanish. My hometown is a culturally diverse city, and I attend a church that reflects that dynamic.
Sometimes, I forget that my mom is still considered an outsider by some, even though she’s been in the States for over 5 decades. Her accent gives her away.
A while back, good friends of mine moved to Georgia. They were starting fresh, and taking a step of faith. On Facebook, mutual friends shared their well wishes for the family.
One comment, however, really irked me. “Make sure you take the flag with you.”
You see in the 80’s after the Mariel Boat Lift there was a popular bumper sticker that said, “Will the last American leaving Miami, please bring the flag.”
Apparently, my mom will never be an American to some people – no matter what her passport says.
• •. •
Has injustice ever hit home for you? Maybe we should pray for God to help us not stand aloof from someone else’s pain. What if we imagined that person was not a stranger, but actually a close member of our family?
The truth is we are all children of God. We are all invited to sit at God’s table together. And frankly, as believers in Christ, we are all members of one body. God created us to be connected so that when one of us suffers, we all suffer.
So, what should be our right response according to the gopsel?
4 Right Responses to Injustice
Pour out Lament
When someone is grieving, we should mirror their response. Our prayer should always be “Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours.” May God give us His eyes to see and weep with compassion.
“Celebrate with those who celebrate, and weep with those who grieve.” (Romans 12:15, TPT)
Practice true Repentance
“I’m sorry” is always the best place to start when someone is hurting. Asking for forgiveness postures our hearts in humility and acknowledges that change is necessary. It’s agreeing with God that we are broken by sin — that our own hearts are deceitful to the core. Over and over again in the Bible, we see where the godliest person in the room lead by example and confessed the need of an entire community to repent.
“God, give me mercy from Your fountain of forgiveness! I know Your abundant love is enough to wash away my guilt. Because Your compassion is so great, take away this shameful guilt of sin. Forgive the full extent of my rebellious ways, and erase this deep stain on my conscience,” (Psalm 51:1-2, TPT)
Pursue Total Reconciliation
God has called all of us to be front line workers in the ministry of restoring relationships. We fight by persisting in listening, learning, and loving. We lead by example by turning our hearts to Jesus — because He is the only One who. saves. It’s our duty to start the process of seeking restoration with our brother or sister.
…We cannot change another person’s heart or attitude, but our desire and effort should be to close the breach as much as is possible from our side and to hold no anger ourselves even if the other person does. Regardless of who is responsible for the break in relationship-and often there is guilt on both sides-we should determine to make a reconciliation before we come before God to worship.” (Source)
“Therefore, if you are bringing an offering to God and you remember that your brother is angry at you or holds a grudge against you, then leave your gift before the altar, go to your brother, repent and forgive one another, be reconciled, and then return to the altar to offer your gift to God.” (Matthew 5:23-24, VOICE)
Promote Peace
We are called to be peacemakers, not peacekeepers. (Read that again because this one sentence is why I decided to be brave and push publish on this post.) This is not a passive activity, but a passionate pursuit. A peacemaker continually presses in with more of Jesus love and does the hard work of dismantling spiritual strongholds, resolving conflict, and building bridges. Christ prayed that we should be one, and we should be on our knees praying as well.
Where justice prevails and righteousness rules, there you will also have peace.” (Source / worth a read)
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (II Corinthians 13:11, ESV)
Friend, God has placed us here on mission to love one another in Jesus’ name. Being Jesus with skin on is hard, sacrificial work that we cannot do without the power of the Holy Spirit to show us how to live. To help you “mind your mission,” I’ve put together a list of 10 mission-minded verses to help remind you that there is work to be done. Grab a copy and spend the next 10 days focusing on how you are here to serve with humility. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
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I want to humbly confess here that I have work to do in my own heart, and I am praying for God to help me obey what the gospel says — not what Fox News says, not what my opinionated friends on Facebook say, and not what my own deceitful heart says. Lament, repentance, restoration, and peacemaking lead to change. If we call come humbly before God with hearts, healing will begin.
One glorious day to come, we will all stand before the throne of God — people from every tribe and nation — and worship together as One. But we don’t have to wait until heaven to experience the fullness of life Jesus died to provide us. We can love one another fully today and stand arm in arm together before the. King of Kings. Worshipping together with hearts united is the sweetest glimpse of heaven on earth.
The hard work of reconciliation is always a right response in a world of injustice.
The hard work of reconciliation is always a right response in a world of injustice.
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Let’s Chat: What one step will you take this week to respond rightly to wrong in a world of injustice?
Note: This is a space for us to encourage one another in what is good. If you are not in agreement, feel free to contact me privately to share your dissent if you feel it’s necessary. I will be deleting and not responding to negative. or divisive comments on this blog that express anything other than lament, repentance, reconciliation, or peace.
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