Can I fathom...

...what injustice is? Today's speaker was Captain Iglehart from the Southern terriory talked about injustice. Injustice has been a buzz-like word for me lately. It came up a lot at Urbana. And I've really been staying in the same place in Scripture lately...it's like there is something I haven't caught on to yet. I've been stuck in Jeremiah 1 and Isaiah 58. Jeremiah 1 talks about speaking truth against fear of what others may think or do. God tells Jeremiah that he cannot fear stop him from saying what God wants to say through him. That alone makes me stop. And realize how often I hold back when I shouldn't. That I ride on the safe side of the street. And it's just not me that struggles with this. Many Christians like being comfortable and staying that way. I'm getting a little tangenty but in reference to injustice Isaiah 58:6-7 say:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from own fresh and blood?" and a few verses later (9b-10): "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."

There are challenges and promises within these verses. God is laying out a command to his army of Christians. Do we all stand for truth in the darkness that can be this world? Or do we wimp out? Do we quit when results don't meet our expectations? What would our world look like if the chains of injustice were loosed and the oppressed given freedom? Yes, there are organizations that exhist to storm forts of darkness like the International Justice Mission!

I guess to even attempt to answer the above we have to have an idea of what injustice is. I have been trying to wrap my brain around this definition for a while. I saw countless injustices in India...whole families living on the street, with their only clothes on their backs get up hoping to find work to buy food. I've seen specials on poverty, read books, watched documentaries, and even gave money to child beggars. But do I understand injustice. Can I really comprehend what it is like given that I've grown up in a privleged country?

Do I believe that God is calling me to be an advocate? I'm not entirely sure...but I do know that he is calling me to action...passive living and ignoring the least and the lost are not an option! In the midst of all this...I came across an SA song that reminds me of Isaiah 58:6-7 and injustice.

Storm the Forts of Darkness

1 Soldiers of our God, arise!

The day is drawing nearer;

Shake the slumber from your eyes,

The light is growing clearer.

Sit no longer idly by,

While the heedless millions die,

Lift the blood-stained banner high,

And take the field for Jesus

Chorus:
Storm the forts of darkness,

Bring them down, bring them down!

Storm the forts of darkness,

Bring them down, bring them down!

Pull down the devil's kingdom,

Where'er he holds dominion;

Storm the forts of darkness, bring them down!

Glory, honor to the Lamb,

Praise and power to the Lamb,

Glory, honor, praise and power,

Be forever to the Lamb!
2 See the brazen hosts of Hell, Their art and power employing,

More than human tongue can tell, The blood-bought souls destroying.

Hark! from ruin's ghastly road Victims groan beneath their laod;

Forward, O ye sons of God, And dare or die for Jesus



3 Warriors of the risen King, Great Army of salvation,

Spread his fame, his praises sing, And conquer every nation.

Raise the glorious standard higher, Work for victory, never tire;

Forward march with blood and fire, And win the world for Jesus.

By: Robert Johnson

Please feel free to leave any comments or questions!