The Problem With Injustice
I recently wrote an article called “The Problem of Poverty”, in which I claimed that the problem of poverty is us. We have become so enveloped in ourselves, that meeting the needs of the impoverished is at the bottom of our agenda. When I wrote it, I did so not expecting a load of people would end up reading it. If I would have known, I think I would have switched things around and wrote this article first. I feel like poverty is but one piece, mind you a very big piece, of the big puzzle of injustice in the world. My hope and prayer is that, as my article on poverty has moved me to act on the problem of poverty, the problem of injustice will move me and us together to act.
As I was taking a shower a few moments ago, I was sitting there, well actually standing there. Anyways I was standing there thinking about this idea of injustice and how we conjure up so many different descriptions for the word injustice. I immediately imagined what it would be like to survey people on what their ideas of injustice were. To make it more fun, I imagined what it would be like having conversations with residents of the town I just moved from: Asheville, North Carolina. That’s right, Asheville. The tree hugging, liberal capital of at least the southeast and I’m going to go ahead and say the world. I hope as you’re reading this you’re not offended by my use of the term tree hugger. I’ve hugged a tree once, plus it seems as though tree huggers embrace the term because if you google “tree huggers”, the first image that pops up is a group of naked men each hugging their own tree in the snow. I would imagine a conversation in Asheville about injustice going something like this:
Me: Excuse me m’am. I’m conducting a survey and would like to ask you a question?
Common Citizen: Survey?! Ain’t that them people that stand on the highway with them tripod cameras, taking pictures I guess to see how many cars drive by?
Me: Um, yeah. Well let me just ask you something. What are your ideas about injustice?
Common Citizen: Injustice!? I’ll tell you an injustice? Al Gore not winnin’ the election against Bush in 04’s an injustice!
Me: (Walks away from conversation perplexed and wonders if he should’ve told the common citizen that Al Gore’s never run for President.
Now despite the triviality of the above imaginary conversation, I feel like this is how many people would speak of injustice. We get fired up when we think that Paris Hilton gets off with a light jail sentence or someone doesn’t get a speeding ticket for going 70 mph over the speed limit and we get a ticket for going 10 mph over or when the wrong politician gets elected to office. Are these really the injustices that fire us up? How about the fact that more than 1 in 3 Native Americans will be raped in their lifetime? How about the fact that over 200,000 children across the world are serving in armed conflict for militias, oppositional groups, and government armies? And how about those who are beaten and killed for their sexual orientation? What is our response ? I could go on for pages listing atrocities of injustice that continue.
Our response is that if it doesn’t affect us, then we don’t care. It was put best in the movie “Hotel Rwanda”, when after an American photographer receives thanks from a Rwandan for shooting footage of the genocide for the world to see, he replies: “I think if people see this footage, they’ll say ‘Oh, my God, that’s horrible. And then they’ll go on eating their dinners.’” People will peel their eyes to CNN and appear so ravished at the tragedies they see on the news, but have soon after found something new to please their fancies. When was the last time you saw something on the news about the Virginia Tech shooting? Since it isn’t on the news anymore, does that mean the people involved are no longer feeling the trauma and tragedy of it?
The question that I’m now struck with is: “Well what do you do now”? Are you going to advocate for the impoverished, the wrongly imprisoned, the sexually assaulted, the tortured, and the killed? Of course not. We’re not saviors; we’re half obedient Peters and doubting Thomases. Even if you look at the life of Jesus, you’ll notice that he did not have a wide gamut of people groups that he was specifically making a difference in. Look at the Christian Church today. It started with a few people, in an upper room, in a small town, who rallied around a common vision to continue what Jesus had begun. Imagine the possibilities if we all invested into just one people group or invested into one social justice cause. Talk about being a part of something bigger than yourself.
As the years go by I hope that in some way I can say along with King Lemuel: I’m speaking up for those who have no voice, defending the rights of those who are down and out, and standing up for justice. My prayer and hope is that I and we together would embrace the words of Isaiah from the Bible:
“…and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”
Posted on August 20, 2007 12:00 AM
Comments
I feel you, and am guilty.
One place that is doing something is International Justice Mission.
MY daily life gets in the way. And as I attempt to figure out the problem and discuss this with friends and family (one who is in Peace Corp in Gambia) we come to a place where there are two responses:
there is nothing we can ever do to fix it for good
-and-
i can live my life in such a way as to do something meaningful and be aware and active in the ways that life affords me (which seems never enough).
So what I remember is the complement of Christ's comments: you will always have poor and suffering (there is no cure); when you do this to the least of these you do it unto Me.
We can't expect Heaven here. Many times our feelings of inadequacy come from using Heaven as a measuring stick. I think we should try to remember that bringing people to Christ is what alleviates suffering for good and the best way to do that is to alleviate suffering as much as possible NOW and to teach people that Christ ends suffering forever.
How? Well thats a good topic for discussion but I would suggest ANYhow, Anyway, everyday.
Posted by: Matt | August 20, 2007 1:34 PM
In response to the last comment, I do believe you've misquoted Jesus.
"You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
He says nothing about suffering. Being poor is a state that is not necessarily evil. Now when people are suffering, that is a little different. If poverty is so severe that there's a sanctity of life issue, then we start falling under the 2nd commandment.
And poverty is relative to the society, anyhow.
Suffering will NOT always be with us. The poor will. And I would also suggest you be careful about your views on bringing people to Christ. I don't know about you, but I have certainly not had my suffering alleviated "for good."
This kind of thinking easily turns into an excuse for most people. We bring Jesus and forget to bring food, water, necessities, etc. We care for the soul (in the best way we know - or the best way we've been taught) but we only use the physical as a bribe to share Jesus.
I don't think Jesus intended his way of life to be a product that needed to be marketed.
And I disagree that Heaven cannot exist here. I strongly believe that the kingdom of heaven can exist here and now. "Your kingdom come, your will be done..." One of my objections to the ministry of Mother Theresa was that she believed that suffering was good and that it would always be with us. When we give up on the big issues before we even begin, we act like a doctor who alleviates symptoms, but refuses to treat the problem.
Posted by: Chris A. | August 21, 2007 5:20 AM
Spencer thanks for writing this article. Many times our thoughts and actions revolve around ourselves, and these issues are much bigger than us. As people who are following Jesus, we must learn to be involved in the lives of the last, least, and lost. Those that you say "have no voice." Thanks for reminding us to rethink what injustice is.
Posted by: Kevin Williams | August 21, 2007 9:23 AM
Forgive me. The generalization "suffering" as it relates to poverty was intended. I did not intent to misquote but did. Its a good point.
Sorry to have pissed you off so bad Chris. I have no idea where how marketing came into it?
I guess my point is that helping people in real ways on a personal level attempting to allieviate injustice while keeping a perspective that is reality (as in becoming a Christ disciple doesn't mean suffering is going to simply go away in this life). But it seems that pointing people to Christ who saves (in an eternal perspective) and brings us into heaven (not speaking of kingdom living here) after death where there will be no poor OR suffering is my point.
I don't know much about mother terresa?
I am poor. (not as poor a most)
Sometimes I suffer. (not as bad as most)
I have faith and hope that someday I and all who know Christ will no longer know either.
Anyway just didn't want people to think that your perspective was what I intended.
Posted by: Matt | August 21, 2007 1:08 PM
Chris A,
I just wanted to point out that both Jesus and Paul said that as long as we professed to be followers of Christ, we would be persecuted and would suffer. Suffering won't end until Christ returns. At that point so will poverty. I also would disagree with you that we can have "Heaven" here and now. We can have an abundant life that is full of joy and peace, but Heaven is a place of perfection without sin and suffering. That won't occur until Christ returns.
Posted by: Patrick Sexton | August 22, 2007 6:47 PM
Sorry to come across that way, Matt. No offense intended. I just feel that Christianity today has too many excuses for doing far less than enough.
And Patrick, you may want to reconsider your views on heaven. The Bible has quite a few verses about heaven that don't jive with your take on it. Check out a few at http://members.shaw.ca/tfrisen/Religion/Heaven.html
For example: Matthew 11:12
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Violence in heaven?
The kingdom of Heaven is a place that will come as a permanency, but we can have glimpses of it today. It's not the shiny golden palace we're taught in Sunday School.
Besides, if the Kingdom of heaven can't come to earth, why didn't Jesus bring it last time instead of hanging over our heads for 2000 years? (No pun intended) If it's something that he brought before, well then, he just may have actually filled the Messianic prophecy when he taught us how to bring the new Kingdom. (The jews denied him as Messiah for a variety of reason, but one of those reasons is because the Messiah was supposed to be the "Prince of Peace" and Jesus did not usher in an age of peace. Well, at least according to the worldly standards that we judge by.)
So my point is - Jesus HAD to have brought an age of peace. And it certainly isn't here physically.
And in any case, the Jewish people were so sure they knew what the Messiah would be like that he slipped right through their fingers. What's keeping us from doing the same? So I would advise you to be very careful (And thoughtful!) about what Jesus Kingdom looks like.
Peace!
Posted by: Chris A. | August 23, 2007 7:50 PM
Chris A.,
In two of your posts, you have advised people from interpreting the Bible. Man, you need to just read the raw word of God. Please see Revelation 21. Focus on verse 4 and 5 where God wipes away tears, pain, death...can we agree this is suffering? Verse 4 says that the "old order" has been replaced. Can we agree that we are currently living in the "old order", therefore suffering will exist until the "new order" or Christ's second coming.
God's teaching are not always complex, so I would advise you to not make the simple, complicated.
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars�their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
Posted by: Chris | August 24, 2007 9:43 AM
We as Americans have so much: money, resources, technology, on and on. And to who much is given, much is expected. What are we going to do with what we have? and what are we going to seek? Are we going to seek comfort and easy living, or are we going to seek justice for the poor, the widow, and the orphan.
Our feelings and convictions (that are informed by the stats we read and awful images we see) must no longer be at the mercy of our convience.
As I read the Bible, it seems to me that God judges people not by what vices they ran away from, but by what people they ran to and blessed by the giving of themselves.
I agree with the notion in the second to last paragraph: that Christianity started in a small room with only a few people, and so can change in the world. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed. It's small, almost invisible, but it grows to be something great, and birds find rest in it. So, it is with each person's decision to think outside himself. It is a small thing, but it will grow to be something great, and give rest and shelter to the oppressed.
Posted by: Michael Dallas Miller | August 24, 2007 4:45 PM
Chris.
First of all, I am NOT advising people from interpreting the Bible. I'm encouraging them to think critically.
I've been trying to point out this:
That Christians use scripture as excuse. A very mysterious and debated book (Revelations) says there's going to be a NEW Heaven and Earth. So what's that mean to most Christians today? Well, we don't have to worry about Global warming because Jesus will make earth new!
Focusing on end time prophecy is a destructive and dangerous trend in American Christianity today. When you constantly talk about how nice it will be someday when Jesus comes back, we give people excuses from living like Jesus today. We let ourselves become stagnant and turn a blind eye to most of the suffering in the world.
Here's some scripture back at you. But remember, even Satan used scripture to try and tempt Jesus. We have to use so much more than our own eisegesis to read into these scriptures.
26-27Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
Which brings us back to the nature of this article.
And finally - I believe that Jesus will return and set up a new heaven and earth! But the Kindgom of heaven is different than heaven! (Like the kingdom of rome is different than the city of rome...)
James 2
14-17Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
Posted by: Chris A. | August 25, 2007 10:25 AM
Michael,
That's beautiful.
Posted by: Chris A. | August 25, 2007 10:40 AM
Chris A,
You just exposed yourself by bringing up global warming. Your doing the very thing you warn against by using scripture to back a political agenda (global warming). Secondly, the only thing we need to read and interpret the scriptures is the Holy Spirit. You still never answered the question of how you think there will be no suffering on earth when numerous time Christ taught that we would suffer for Him.
Posted by: Patrick Sexton | August 26, 2007 7:20 PM
Patrick,
Why do you use language like "You just exposed yourself" - as if Chris A. is sitting before an Inquisition and he finally said the words that will exile him from the kingdom? Why do I get the sense that you were waiting for it? Why do you persist, week after week, to present yourself as the lone guardian of Biblical truth?
It is obvious that Chris wasn't making a political point. Stewardship of the earth is a moral issue, one that is clearly expressed throughout the Bible. Chris wasn't cherry-picking scripture to support his politics. To the extent that global warming requires a political solution, we are obligated to give Chris the benefit of the doubt that his politics emanate from his theology and not the other way around. Given some of your past comments on this site, I would assume that you would prefer the same benefit of the doubt as to your own political persuasion.
John
Posted by: John Pattison | August 26, 2007 9:27 PM
Thanks for the benefit of the doubt, John. Patrick, you don't need to be so defensive. We're having a discussion. We all agree that these things are important and we all have a difference of opinion, but attacking me will never prove your point.
Global warming is one of many issues that I could have pulled upon for my example. I have no political stance to support. I never warned about backing up political agendas with scripture. I warned about Satan using scripture for his own means.
And when it comes to the problem of suffering, I believe that Jesus is the Way. He said himself that "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."
Christ taught that we would suffer, yes. He taught that HE would suffer as well. But my point isn't about suffering for Jesus. It's about people suffering for no reason at all. I would go so far to say that those are two very different sufferings.
You're skirting around the issue, Patrick. It's much more practical. There is a 6th commandment issue going on here. This is about life. We know about suffering all over the world, yet we do nothing to change the outcome. We shrug our shoulders and say "There'll always be suffering until Jesus comes back, nothing I can do."
And THAT is what I have a problem with. EVEN IF IT IS TRUE. It's a horrible mindset. Jesus relieved suffering where ever he went. Did he stop because all things will be made new someday? No, no he didn't. he fed, he prayed, he ate, and he comforted. Jesus was about people. About giving them life, eternal and physical.
Patrick, if we got everyone in the United States on board with this kind of thinking, we could END WORLD HUNGER. We could provide shelter and medicine and HOPE for every single person on the planet. One statistic shows that the money Americans spend on ice cream each year could do just that. See where I'm coming from? Ice cream!
We have suffering in even the most wealthy nations, and that's because suffering goes beyond the physical.
Just because it seems insurmountable doesn't mean it's going to take the end of the world to change it. God already tried pressing the reset button (remember the flood?)
I hope you take my explanation to heart. It's about attitude, Patrick.
Excuse my rambling - it's late and I have early classes. Thanks again, John.
Peace.
Posted by: Chris A. | August 26, 2007 10:40 PM
Chris A., Iron Sharpens Iron bro.
Peace, Matt
Posted by: Matt | September 5, 2007 9:55 AM