Justice is God’s Business
Over Christmas, while sitting in the airport waiting for one of the few planes that actually made it into Portland before Christmas Eve, I learned something that turned my world upside down. “…the church needs to remember that justice is God’s business. God’s people are important but are secondary players in this cause. The gospel underlines that only God can establish peace and justice” (Labberton 98,99). As I read these words, a mirror was put up to my face, and when I looked at the reflection, I saw the face of arrogance. I have somehow taken this issue of justice and made it entirely my own.
“Don’t worry, God, I’ve got this one covered.”
Right…
While it IS our responsibility to be His hands and feet of justice and mercy–this is apparent throughout Scriptures, from Old to New Testaments (I highly recommend doing a word study on poverty, justice, oppression, widow, orphan)–it is ultimately God’s work. There is a tension that we must live in, the tension of pouring our lives out on behalf of the poor and oppressed while still recognizing that this is God’s work. When we take it (social work or whatever you want to call it) as our own, it is no longer His, and we are not living His kingdom or His purpose (though thankfully, He will always accomplish His will–I would just like to NOT miss out on being a part of it). On the other hand, it is far too easy to say, “Well, it’s God’s work. I can do nothing.” Ah, the tension. Pour out myself while letting God be God and not allowing all of ME to get in the way.
Question of the day: Where do I fall right now?
Am I forgetting that justice is at God’s heart and trying to play God all by myself, trying to create my own justice rather than being a part of God’s plan for justice and peace?
OR
Am I forgetting that justice is at God’s heart for my life, that He has called me to be a part of his plan for justice and peace?
OR
Am I living in the tension that seems to mark so much of the Christian life, in full recognition that God is God and He is a God of justice, that He will ultimately accomplish His purpose AND in full recognition that part of that plan for justice involves my whole life? God doesn’t need me, but He wants to use me. He doesn’t want me to miss out on His purpose and He has purposed to use us broken humans to bring about His justice and peace. Wow.
By the way, the book that I was reading is entitled The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God’s Call to Justice, by Mark Labberton. I highly recommend it, but I will say this much, reading it is dangerous…
