Judges 21:25 (MSG) #verseOfReflection
25 At that time there was no king in Israel.
People did whatever they felt like doing.
No Justice. No Peace.
Know Justice. Know Peace.
As I prepare for a sermon to be given on this Sunday in accordance with the United Methodist Church's "Peace with Justice Sunday", Baltimore, Ferguson, and Jacksonville are ever present in my mind. We all seem to want peace, which I learned from watching The Avengers: Age of Ultron, is not to be confused with quiet. But what is peace exactly? And how has the notion of justice been perverted by both those who execute and those who desire [it] more than anything?
People are angry and rightfully so, but what does the Bible call us to do when we are angered?
"Post this at all the intersections, dear friends:
Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.
God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger." (James 1:19-20, MSG)
The way in which many are choosing to respond to the inequities of our society are drawn from a place of what we shall term "human anger", whereas if we were to be angered as believers (or people who walk in integrity and are tired of the perversion of justice) it would be called "righteous indignation".
As I sit back and monitor what has been happening around the country and the world for that matter, I keep my ears open to see if there is a simple solution being proclaimed. I do believe we have the answer to our problems; however, it seems to not be dressed up in a way which would suit our fancy. And being a good teacher I'm not going to give you the answer...yet.
Everyone is shouting justice!
No one has really defined what justice is or if in fact we want justice done in such a way that we're pleased OR if we'd be willing to wait on God's justice. As a Christian and for those who walk in that way, we have nothing to fear even considering that which is happening. I do believe it is obvious the salt being thrown, not only on old wounds but also into the melting pot that is America, was done so in anticipation of / for the boiling over of our anger, most notably a lack of forgiveness with regards to the past as African-Americans and those belonging to the black diaspora.
Isn't that what this is all about?
Someone did our ancestors (not us!) wrong so long ago and we feel as if we're still owed something. There are even those who profess Christ and would seek reparations (I'm talking about being the FIRST in line); FOR WHAT?! No 40 acres, mule, or amount of payment will heal those wounds and make the pain go away!
It doesn't work like that.
What pains me the most in these "national conversations on race" is even those who are ordained don't seem to be advocating for the preaching of Jesus. What do I mean? In the given frameworks surrounding our conversation we often err on the side of grace, forgiveness, love, etc. which is great; however, if people haven't come to a place to know WHAT love is, HOW to forgive, or the WAY it looks when one grows in grace, how in the HELL are these traits going to manifest in their life?!
More specifically is there ANYONE we can look to who displays this as a central part of their character? Is there one, willing to say, "Hey guys, I know you're mad, but this is the way it must be done."? Has history seen at even a short point of evolution such an event which should cause us to look on it with awe and wonder, taking into full consideration how we might learn from it?!
The answer emphatically: Yes! But who? Where is your king!?
Everyone is wondering how Martin would do...or what Martin would say...or even in my case, how Martin would feel. I assure you in these times what we don't need are more leaders to step up and be the standard bearers of righteousness apart from He who is righteous himself. The epitome of righteousness. The one who was before time began. In fact he has said, "Before Abraham was, I AM."
We have all of these problems. So many questions. There is only one solution: Jesus.
He always has been and always will be the "answer for the world today".
One thing I've learned is no matter what happens in life, the only constant is change.
One thing I've learned is life, is you can't choose what happens to you.
One thing I've learned in life, is He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
You want justice? Are you looking for a King? Turn to Jesus.
Sumthn2Ponder (s2p):
- What is justice to me?
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