The Bible makes us uncomfortable when it comes to social justice, creating problems of conscience, shaming us, condemning us. Of all our sins and crimes, the lack of social conscience is the most collective, the least recognized, and the cause of the greatest tragedies, ranging from famine to wars. The call to social justice is in the whole Bible.
From a Biblical perspective, helping the people who face injustice means repairing the situations of injustice that led to that condition. This is not an act of charity, it is an act of justice and an ethical obligation of God’s people.
If we want to be true followers of Jesus, regardless of where we live, in addition to reaching out to those who are fallen, we need to be outraged and raise our voices against any system or structure that promotes inequality and death.
Acting with compassion and hope, fighting for justice, and engaging in actions that promote equal opportunity are not optional tasks for Christians. These are, in fact, marks that show our faith and our commitment to Christ are true.
“Stop your noisy songs; I do not want to listen to your harps. Instead, let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a river that never goes dry.” (Amos 5:23-24) Good News Translation
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
The righteousness of God, which is taught in the Bible, is the restorative action of the Holy Spirit in restoring people. This action is done through God’s servants on earth. Who are these people who hunger and thirst for justice, who value others and show kindness in the face of injustice?
People like Moses, who, in the face of the oppression his people suffered, stood up to an Egyptian. Or Nehemiah, who, when he learned that his people were in great misery, wept for several days, stood up and did something to change their situation, and many others.
The blessed are people who don’t accept the hunger of those on the streets or the pain of those who are wronged, but act to be agents of restoration. To restore God’s justice is to do God’s work. It is to reach out to the one who is sinking, it is to be relief.
There is a reward for those who fight for justice. Those who fight against inequality and who long for God’s justice will be filled. When are we going to abandon our selfishness, our greed, and start caring about our neighbour? By doing good for someone in need, you are doing good for God Himself. Let’s pray together and individually ask God to help us to close the gap between what we say and what we do, so the justice will flow through us like a stream.