We start hearing from a young age that life is not fair. When we see someone else gets a bigger piece of pie, we don’t get all we asked for at Christmas, someone else won MVP, we soon realize inequality is a fact of life and pitching a fit doesn’t always help. All around the world, there are things that happen every day that are not right, whether trivial or life changing. People steal from one another, hurl insults in person and online, the poor are exploited, minorities are ostracized and condemned, people are exploited. We may not see this blatantly done in our cushioned Midwest hometowns, but it still happens. Kids are slighted and bullied in schools, and domestic abuse happens in every community, but in some parts of the world, it is just a struggle to survive, much less thrive. We have all experienced injustice to some degree, and may have even been the instigator at one time or another, but what can we do about it now?
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9
We have been trying for centuries to make things right, and as much as technology and laws may have improved life in some places, there are still atrocities that are taking place this very day. That is because there is still one thing that doesn’t change from each generation and that is the human heart. Each person is born in sin and has the capacity for great evil, but also great love. We all have a need for forgiveness and a Savior. When we realize this, we are then more capable and empowered to love and seek justice for ourselves and others in this world. As much as we may ‘improve’ as a society, there will always be needs and wrongs to be righted all around us.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
So, what can we do about injustice in the world and even in our own community? When we see it, speak up for those who do not speak up for themselves. Alert those in authority when laws are broken or something can and should be done to intervene. If no one else will take action, who should, do what you can to make things right, though not in a Batman/Robin Hood vengeance sort of way. Get to know and give to organizations that can and do make a difference to correct wrongs and help those who truly need help. Lastly and most importantly, pray for those in difficult situations and ask of God what part you can play in truly helping. Love with your words and actions in ways that are honorable to God and your fellow humans and stand for His truth!
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. Ephesians 6:14
In Christ,
Clark
