Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for Justice…pt 2

What does it mean to ‘seek justice’? Moses, while out in the chariot one day, encounters an Egyptian beating a fellow Hebrew. He becomes so enraged that he kills the Egyptian. Is that justice? Samson, after discovering that his Philistine father-in-law gave his promised wife to another, gathers 300 foxes, ties them together in pairs, sets their tails on fire and releases them in the dry, ripe grain fields. Is that justice? There are Christians, standing outside an abortion clinic with signs – yelling and screaming at the young girls as they enter, that they are killing their babies and God’s judgment will be upon them. Is that justice? Bruce Willis takes matters into his own hands, and though he overcomes the evil terrorists and saves the ‘day’, incredible destruction and death is left in his wake. Is that justice? Celebrities take on a cause and use their celebrity status to bring awareness to the cause of the day but seem to maintain the centre stage for themselves. Is that justice?

We like the idea of justice – especially justice for ourselves. But generally, we have a very poor concept of justice. I’ve been thinking a fair bit about this lately, particularly related to the kind of work we do in our programs and increasingly on the world stage. We desire those with exceptional needs experience justice where before, they had none.

Amos 5:24 says, “But let justice roll down like waters and righteous like an ever-flowing stream”. Hear those words! There is healing and hope in them. Another passage that has been causing a disturbance within my soul is Matthew 12:18 -21. The idea is clearly connected to the “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for Justice”.

“BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. :19 HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. :20 A BATTERED READ HE WILL TO BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. :21 AND IN HIS NAME GENTILES WILL HOPE”

The ‘how’ of justice in God’s mind is intriguing to me. ‘He will not quarrel, nor cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the street’. This is significantly different than then the images of justice that we seem to have around us. We at CH are involved in bringing justice to others. However, we need to closely examine our methods and the motivations of that justice. Have we accepted the world’s concept of justice (my personal rights, entitlement, what impacts me) or do we emulate the justice of Christ? It’s a trickier question than perhaps we think. I wanting to discover how to 'do justice' Jesus style. That it is not about me, or my opinions, or what I think is important, or what I want to see happen, but, that the focus of that Justice is on those who are the broken reeds, and the smoldering wicks. The gentleness that surrounds Jesus Justice. Are my actions of justice defined by gentleness, that bring hope, courage and benefit to another? I don’t have all the answers of what this ‘Jesus style’ of justice is all about, but I’ve become convinced that I need to discover His “just” way. Read this passage in a different way, which I think God would permit. As well, apply your own personal name.

“BEHOLD, MY SERVANTS, CHRISTIAN HORIZONS, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED; I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT UPON THEM, AND THEY SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THOSE WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS. :19 THEY WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR THEIR VOICE IN THE STREETS. :20 A BATTERED REED THEY WILL TO BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK THEY WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL THEY LEAD JUSTICE TO VICTORY. :21 AND IN HIS NAME THOSE WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS WILL HOPE”

I don’t know what all this entails – but I’m convinced we’ve got a lot to learn. But I’m excited about the journey. You?

Anyway, I was just thinking.

Neil