Living Out Justice: A Christian Call to Action

Summary

In our journey through life, we are all equipped with an innate sense of right and wrong, a conscience that guides us in recognizing injustice. This moral compass is a reflection of being made in the image of God. As followers of Jesus, we are called to engage with the world around us, particularly in matters of justice. The concept of justice, especially social justice, has become a contentious topic, even within the church. Some argue that justice is an individual responsibility, while others see it as a systemic issue. However, as Christians, our understanding of justice should be informed by the Bible, not by political ideologies.

Throughout scripture, God identifies Himself with the vulnerable—the fatherless, the widow, the poor, and the immigrant. This "vulnerable quartet" is a recurring theme, emphasizing God's heart for those who are marginalized. Our response to injustice should be threefold: to see, empathize, and help. This is not merely about feeling sympathy but acting on it, embodying the biblical principles of mercy and justice.

In the Old Testament, justice is a central theme, with over 200 references. The nation of Israel was instructed to make provisions for the vulnerable, such as leaving gleanings in the fields for the poor. This principle of generosity and fairness extends to us today. We are encouraged to create margin in our lives to meet the needs of others, to give, save, and live in a way that honors God.

Jesus exemplified this in His ministry, reaching out to the marginalized and challenging societal norms. He calls us to do the same, to disrupt the status quo and engage with those in need. Our faith should be evident in our actions, not just in our words. We are reminded that we were once spiritually poor, and through Jesus, we have been made right. Therefore, it is our duty to help make others right, to extend the grace and mercy we have received.

Key Takeaways:

1. Innate Sense of Justice: Every person is born with a conscience, a reflection of being made in God's image. This innate sense of justice compels us to act when we witness unfairness or injustice. As Christians, we are called to respond to this inner prompting by engaging with the world around us, advocating for those who are marginalized and oppressed. [01:00]

2. God's Heart for the Vulnerable: Throughout scripture, God identifies Himself with the vulnerable—the fatherless, the widow, the poor, and the immigrant. This "vulnerable quartet" is a testament to God's heart for those who are marginalized. Our response should be to see, empathize, and help, embodying the biblical principles of mercy and justice. [05:00]

3. Biblical Justice vs. Political Ideologies: Our understanding of justice should be informed by the Bible, not by political ideologies. The Bible provides a foundation for how we are to think and act regarding justice, emphasizing fairness, generosity, and compassion for the vulnerable. [02:10]

4. Practical Generosity: We are encouraged to create margin in our lives to meet the needs of others, to give, save, and live in a way that honors God. This involves being generous and fair in our dealings, ensuring that we are not squeezing every inch of profit at the expense of others. [15:25]

5. Faith in Action: Our faith should be evident in our actions, not just in our words. Jesus exemplified this by reaching out to the marginalized and challenging societal norms. We are called to do the same, to disrupt the status quo and engage with those in need, extending the grace and mercy we have received. [19:07]

Youtube Chapters:

[0:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Innate Sense of Right and Wrong
[02:10] - Biblical Justice vs. Political Ideologies
[03:35] - Encountering Injustice
[05:00] - God's Heart for the Vulnerable
[06:52] - Justice in the Old Testament
[07:54] - Mercy and Justice
[09:42] - Overcoming Overwhelm
[11:03] - Acting on Mercy
[13:11] - Jesus and the Vulnerable
[15:25] - Practical Generosity
[18:14] - Living Justly
[19:07] - Faith in Action
[21:28] - Engaging with Need
[23:14] - Stewardship and Generosity
[25:17] - Avoiding Guilt and Legalism
[27:28] - Making a Difference
[30:33] - Prayer and Action

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 1:17 - "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."
2. Micah 6:8 - "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
3. Psalm 82:3-4 - "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what is the "vulnerable quartet" that God identifies with throughout scripture? [05:00]
2. How does the sermon describe the innate sense of justice that every person has? [01:00]
3. What examples from the Old Testament were given in the sermon to illustrate God's provision for the vulnerable? [06:52]
4. How did Jesus exemplify reaching out to the marginalized during His ministry, as mentioned in the sermon? [19:07]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for Christians to have their understanding of justice informed by the Bible rather than political ideologies? [02:10]
2. How does the concept of "practical generosity" challenge the way Christians are encouraged to live, according to the sermon? [15:25]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our faith should be evident in our actions, not just in our words? [19:07]
4. How does the sermon interpret the biblical principle of gleaning, and what implications does it have for modern-day Christians? [14:21]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: How often do you respond to the inner prompting of your conscience when you witness injustice? What steps can you take to be more proactive in these situations? [01:00]
2. Consider the "vulnerable quartet" mentioned in the sermon. How can you personally engage with and support these groups in your community? [05:00]
3. The sermon emphasizes creating margin in our lives to meet the needs of others. What practical changes can you make in your budget or schedule to allow for more generosity? [15:25]
4. Think about a time when you felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of injustice. How can you focus on doing for one what you wish you could do for everyone, as suggested in the sermon? [25:52]
5. Jesus disrupted societal norms by engaging with those in need. What societal norms might you need to challenge in order to live out your faith more fully? [19:07]
6. The sermon encourages us to avoid passion projection. How can you share your passion for justice with others without imposing guilt or legalism? [25:17]
7. Reflect on the prayer mentioned in the sermon: "God, would you burden me with what burdens you?" How can this prayer guide your actions and decisions in the coming week? [30:33]

Devotional

Day 1: Innate Sense of Justice
In our journey through life, we are all equipped with an innate sense of right and wrong, a conscience that guides us in recognizing injustice. This moral compass is a reflection of being made in the image of God. As followers of Jesus, we are called to engage with the world around us, particularly in matters of justice. The concept of justice, especially social justice, has become a contentious topic, even within the church. Some argue that justice is an individual responsibility, while others see it as a systemic issue. However, as Christians, our understanding of justice should be informed by the Bible, not by political ideologies. [01:00]

"Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place." (Jeremiah 22:3, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you witnessed injustice. How can you respond in a way that reflects God's heart for justice today?

Day 2: God's Heart for the Vulnerable
Throughout scripture, God identifies Himself with the vulnerable—the fatherless, the widow, the poor, and the immigrant. This "vulnerable quartet" is a testament to God's heart for those who are marginalized. Our response should be to see, empathize, and help, embodying the biblical principles of mercy and justice. This is not merely about feeling sympathy but acting on it, embodying the biblical principles of mercy and justice. [05:00]

"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." (Isaiah 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: Identify someone in your community who is vulnerable or marginalized. What practical steps can you take this week to support and advocate for them?

Day 3: Biblical Justice vs. Political Ideologies
Our understanding of justice should be informed by the Bible, not by political ideologies. The Bible provides a foundation for how we are to think and act regarding justice, emphasizing fairness, generosity, and compassion for the vulnerable. This means that our actions and beliefs should be rooted in scripture, allowing God's word to guide our understanding of justice rather than the shifting sands of political thought. [02:10]

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your current understanding of justice. How can you align your perspective more closely with biblical teachings rather than political ideologies?

Day 4: Practical Generosity
We are encouraged to create margin in our lives to meet the needs of others, to give, save, and live in a way that honors God. This involves being generous and fair in our dealings, ensuring that we are not squeezing every inch of profit at the expense of others. By living generously, we reflect God's character and open ourselves to being used by Him to bless others. [15:25]

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." (Proverbs 19:17, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your financial habits. What changes can you make to create more margin for generosity in your life?

Day 5: Faith in Action
Our faith should be evident in our actions, not just in our words. Jesus exemplified this by reaching out to the marginalized and challenging societal norms. We are called to do the same, to disrupt the status quo and engage with those in need, extending the grace and mercy we have received. Our faith is not just a private matter but a public testimony of God's love and justice. [19:07]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where your actions do not fully reflect your faith. What steps can you take today to align your actions with your beliefs?

Quotes

1) "Now, every one of us, the day we were born, we were instilled within us a sense of right and wrong. Romans one says, everyone who's ever lived has been born with a conscience. It's what rises up within us when we see somebody being treated unfairly. It rises up in us. When we watch the news, when we hear reports, when a friend or family member tells you about how they were treated, when a young child tells them how they were treated at school, it rises up in us. That's not fair, right? When we're at the grocery store and somebody with twelve items goes to the line that says ten items or less, everything in us says that's wrong. There's rules for this type of thing, and you're outside the rules. Get into your own line, right? We feel it every day, hundreds of times a day. There are things in us that we see. And it was like, that's not right, that's not fair. That is because we were made in the image of God. That is one of the implications, being made in the image of God. We have a sense of right and wrong." [01:00] (-440 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "And when we see somebody being treated unpoorly, it is our right and our obligation to do something. We are in the middle of a series that's coming to an end called Jesus. And every week we've been looking at different cultural topics that we are faced to address, even as a follower of Jesus. Things like gender and politics and abortion. And this week we're looking at justice. Now, at first glance, you may think, well, I don't understand the problem with justice. Actually, it's becoming more and more of a hot button topic, especially even in the church. Justice, this term called social justice, that, no, all the church should be doing is preaching Jesus. We shouldn't be involved in social justice. And so there's really two camps of thought when it comes to justice. One is that's an individual problem. So the individual needs to solve the problems in their life, pull themselves up by their bootstraps and figure it out. Come on, what's your problem? The other camp would say, no, this is a systematic issue. This is because of poor corporations and this is because of government programs." [02:10] (72 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "When I was just graduated from Bible school, my wife was still in college, and so I needed a job in the Chicagoland area for a couple years. So I took a job at Lydia Home association. It's a residential home for boys and girls, about 40 boys and girls, 20 girls, 20 boys. And I was a house parent on a floor of about ten boys. Now these children were so behaviorally challenged, they couldn't go into a, quote, foster home. And so this was more of an institutional home for 40 children. Now, remember quickly of being exposed to injustice by working in this home, because six out of the ten, the first ten boys I worked with, six of them had physical scars on their body that they were carrying around from the sins of their parents. Scars like cigarette butts that they would burn into. I mean, one boy had, his whole arm was covered with cigarette butts, or children that had been strangled with extension cords and tied up in closets. And I remember I had all this biblical training. I was idealistic and zealous and ready to go change the world. And my first job was in this home in Chicago. It was overwhelming. And as that moment, I realized what God calls himself. All throughout scripture, God identifies himself as the father to the fatherless. He sees the refugee. He identifies himself with the poor and with the widow. Those are what the Bible calls the vulnerable quartet, the beautiful quartet that over and over and over again, all through scripture, God says, I'm their God. I see them. I see every immigrant, I see every widow, I see every orphan, and I see everyone who would consider themselves poor." [03:35] (117 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Every week we've identified three things that you and I are to do all throughout our day. When we run into a need, when we see a challenge as a follower of Jesus, we're to say, I see you, go to places where you see people who are in need. I see you. I empathize with you empathize. I understand I'm going to do what I can to understand. I'm not in your shoes, but I want to be in your shoes. I want to understand what it's like to be in your shoes. And the third is, I want to help you. I want to help you. I see you, I empathize with you and I want to help you. God identifies himself. There is no other God of any other religion that would identify himself with the poor. I mean, that is his name." [05:00] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "In the Old Testament, over 200 times, this idea of justice shows up over and over and over again. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is what we would call a theocracy. We won't see the theocracy again until God's kingdom comes to earth. But right now, we don't live in a theocracy. So don't try to implement the theocracy, Christian. But we live in a republic, right? And so we have a say in what laws and legislations are passed. We get an opportunity. We have the responsibility of, of voting. But what does justice look like in the Old Testament? In God's economy, he always made room for the vulnerable quadrant, always made room for the poor, for the widow, for the orphan, and for the immigrant. And as such, you and I should always make room for those four. Our church should make room and have margin for those four." [06:52] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Micah six eight. What does the Lord require of you? Here's a summary of how to live Christian. What's the Lord require of you? To do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with the Lord. Does that define you? Does that describe you? To love kindness? The word for mercy in the Old Testament is hesed. Hesed. That is, the disposition or the attitude of mercy. When you see someone, you have empathy for them. That's hesed. It's God has said for us. But he doesn't stop with hesed. He doesn't just stop with the attitude, right? God hasn't called us just to have sympathy for people, but to act on it. The verb of mercy is misfought. It's justice. To treat people equitably, either punishment or rights, to give them their due. What is due them? That is the verb." [07:54] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Why? Why would I do that as a follower of Jesus? Because I've been made right. Because I was made right. It is always right to help make you right. If you're taking notes, let me say that again. Because there was nothing I could do. I was spiritually poor. I was spiritually broken. There was nothing I could do to save myself. It was only by God's grace that he came to me and he saved me. He gave me grace. He gave me misfot. He gave me mercy. He didn't just have sympathy for me. Aren't we glad Jesus just didn't have sympathy? He showed it in action. Because I've been made right. Because of the goodness and the grace of God in my life now. It is always right to help make other people around me right. Defend the rights of the poor and the needy. Give people what they are due." [11:03] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "If you are in school, you see injustice in the classrooms, if you are at work, you see injustice. In the corporate world, it happens. The quartet of the vulnerable why? Why does God highlight those four? Here are the reasons why they had no social power. When was the last time you did something for someone who could not pay you back and it wasn't, you give to them so that one day they'll give to you. They had no social power. They lived at a subsistence level. They lived day. Today they were only days away from starvation. Because if famine arrived, if invasion came in, if social unrest showed up, if they went to Costco and there's no toilet paper left, are we really doing this again? I think today's modern age, we could add a few other groups of people, homeless, seniors who live on a fixed income and have no family around. The refugee. At times it could be the single parent. Anytime we see someone who's in need, it is our job as followers of Jesus to respond, to execute justice. God's always thinking about these four. God is not the God of power. You think of the life that Jesus lived when he came to earth." [13:11] (98 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "Jesus shows up and he sets prisoners free. He gives sights to the blind. He watches over the immigrant. No preference to the rich or to the poor. Luke 14. He's telling a story of the owner of the home is going to throw a party, which is not wrong to throw parties. It's okay to throw parties. It's okay to spend money to have some fun in this world. But the owner opens up his doors and he asks and invites his coworkers and all the people that hang out with him, the people who are like him, and none of them show up. So Jesus tells the story. Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. It's easy to give to people who can do something back to us. It's easy to give to people who can repay us. What would it look like for you and I to meet needs of people who in no way on this side could ever repay us? That's what Jesus is asking, Jesus lived his life. He raised the son of the poor widow. He tells the story of the good Samaritan that we read this morning, and he makes the hated Samaritan. He's telling to a jewish crowd, the jew was the one who was robbed, who was laying sick in the ditch. And, you know, he makes. The hero of the story is the good Samaritan who they all hated." [20:12] (81 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10) "At the end of the day, whatever we do, we do it unto Jesus. Jesus says, hey, when you went to visit the prisoner in prison, you visited me. When you gave that bottle to the man at the corner, you gave it to me. When you brought clothes to clothe the family, you did it for me. We do it because Jesus did it for us. Here's the reality. We were all spiritually poor. And anytime you see somebody in need, do not have an attitude of superiority, for that was us. For that was us. Spiritually, we're all poor. We're all immigrants. This is not our home, my friend. We're all foreigners. We're all strangers. We're passing through. We're all orphans. Spiritually, through Jesus, we have a heavenly father who sees every need. And in the church, we're the bride of Christ. Prior to Jesus, we were all widows. Jesus is the groom of the church. Love always works." [33:06] (78 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

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