“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
“So are you like an activist or something?”
“Ummm….”
This is a conversation I’ve had several times. If me writing this book wasn’t hint enough, I’m the one saying, “Ummm…” after being asked a question that seems loaded. Like it could be interpreted as, “So I know you’re an activist and I’m tryna figure out what the deal with that is? ‘Cause it really don’t make sense to me? Ain't activist crazy? And ain't you a Christian?”
Well, the Bible is clear. As children of the King and followers of Christ, we are called to be creators or disciples (Matthew 28:19), makers of peace (Matthew 5:9), seekers of justice and correctors of oppression (Isaiah 1:17). Why then if this instruction has been given, many of the leaders in global movements for social justice have not been Believers? And let’s be real, at times what we saw in the Civil Rights Movement wasn’t necessarily Christianity but a form of Godliness.
The Creation story points to God’s perfect will for His children and image bearers. He gave Adam and Eve the charge of not only having dominion over all His creation, but to subdue it. Merriam-Webster defines subdue as, “to get control of (a violent or dangerous person or group) by using force, punishment, etc.” At the time this duty was given, man lived in the peace and prosperity of Eden. They knew not of the violence of genocide, the dangerous of racism and war, they experienced nothing outside of God’s reign. But God in His omnipotence knew that the very one’s He charged as dominion holders would fall. He knew they will relinquish the authority they had in the Earth, sin would enter, and Satan, the prince of this world would emerge. Subduing the Earth was a future job description for our present condition.
The moment Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they relinquished all authority they had to dismantle oppression when the land faced it. This is a fact Satan argued when he led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. “And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this realm and its glory [its power, its renown]; because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.” (Luke 4:6). The serpent, the cunning deceiver had become the prince of the world we were intended to rule. With his rulership, his character was released. The eating of the forbidden fruit gave opening for everything opposite of the fruit of the spirit. Instead of love, there’s hate. Instead of joy, misery and sorrow. Peace became conflict and war. Patience, intolerance and bigotry. Kindness, inhumanity. Goodness, wickedness. Faithfulness, treachery. Gentleness, violence. Self-control, lust, greed, gluttony.
These are the fruits that bear racism, misogyny, genocide, hunger and famine, capitalism, murder, poverty, abortion, police brutality, the school-to-prison pipeline, educational inequality, and an area of injustices that are displeasing to the heart of God. When we relinquish our authority, we give these fruit remove to be fruitful and multiply.
But God! He loved us enough to send Jesus. He sent Jesus not only to save our souls, but to set us back on the course of dominion holders and subduers. Having passed the test of temptation, Jesus began His public ministry reading a prophecy of Isaiah pointed to His purpose:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah),
Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy),
to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly].” Luke 4:14-19 (emphasis added)
His first go at official ministry and comes out and say I’m here to bring salvation AND I’m here for those in poverty, those held captive, the sick, the oppressed peoples of this world. For Christ, social justice was not and additive to His ministry, neither was it a distractor, nor was it the antithesis of it. Rather social justice was a vehicle He would use proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.
Because Jesus died, because Jesus rose, and most importantly because He is forever living in us, all authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to [Us].” We have our power back. Jesus has done His part. Now, we have been commissioned to spread Christ’s character to the world, doing greater works than He.
So, leh' go. It's time for us as Believers to add some works to our faith. We have humbled ourselves and prayed, we have sought His face, we have turned from our wicked ways. It's now time for God to do some healing. If we look in His Word, healing came as a result of faith coupled with human action and obedience. Whether is was getting up and walking, touching Christ's garment, or even taking mud to the face. Faith action preceded divine healing. They out here hungry, let's feed them. They out here thirsty, let's give them something to drink. They naked, they strangers, they sick, they imprisoned, where we at? (Matthew 25:35-36). This is for the justice seekers. The followers of Christ. The peacemakers. You ready to work? Let's get it!
“So are you like an activist or something?”
“Ummm….”
This is a conversation I’ve had several times. If me writing this book wasn’t hint enough, I’m the one saying, “Ummm…” after being asked a question that seems loaded. Like it could be interpreted as, “So I know you’re an activist and I’m tryna figure out what the deal with that is? ‘Cause it really don’t make sense to me? Ain't activist crazy? And ain't you a Christian?”
Well, the Bible is clear. As children of the King and followers of Christ, we are called to be creators or disciples (Matthew 28:19), makers of peace (Matthew 5:9), seekers of justice and correctors of oppression (Isaiah 1:17). Why then if this instruction has been given, many of the leaders in global movements for social justice have not been Believers? And let’s be real, at times what we saw in the Civil Rights Movement wasn’t necessarily Christianity but a form of Godliness.
The Creation story points to God’s perfect will for His children and image bearers. He gave Adam and Eve the charge of not only having dominion over all His creation, but to subdue it. Merriam-Webster defines subdue as, “to get control of (a violent or dangerous person or group) by using force, punishment, etc.” At the time this duty was given, man lived in the peace and prosperity of Eden. They knew not of the violence of genocide, the dangerous of racism and war, they experienced nothing outside of God’s reign. But God in His omnipotence knew that the very one’s He charged as dominion holders would fall. He knew they will relinquish the authority they had in the Earth, sin would enter, and Satan, the prince of this world would emerge. Subduing the Earth was a future job description for our present condition.
The moment Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they relinquished all authority they had to dismantle oppression when the land faced it. This is a fact Satan argued when he led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. “And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this realm and its glory [its power, its renown]; because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.” (Luke 4:6). The serpent, the cunning deceiver had become the prince of the world we were intended to rule. With his rulership, his character was released. The eating of the forbidden fruit gave opening for everything opposite of the fruit of the spirit. Instead of love, there’s hate. Instead of joy, misery and sorrow. Peace became conflict and war. Patience, intolerance and bigotry. Kindness, inhumanity. Goodness, wickedness. Faithfulness, treachery. Gentleness, violence. Self-control, lust, greed, gluttony.
These are the fruits that bear racism, misogyny, genocide, hunger and famine, capitalism, murder, poverty, abortion, police brutality, the school-to-prison pipeline, educational inequality, and an area of injustices that are displeasing to the heart of God. When we relinquish our authority, we give these fruit remove to be fruitful and multiply.
But God! He loved us enough to send Jesus. He sent Jesus not only to save our souls, but to set us back on the course of dominion holders and subduers. Having passed the test of temptation, Jesus began His public ministry reading a prophecy of Isaiah pointed to His purpose:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah),
Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy),
to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly].” Luke 4:14-19 (emphasis added)
His first go at official ministry and comes out and say I’m here to bring salvation AND I’m here for those in poverty, those held captive, the sick, the oppressed peoples of this world. For Christ, social justice was not and additive to His ministry, neither was it a distractor, nor was it the antithesis of it. Rather social justice was a vehicle He would use proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.
Because Jesus died, because Jesus rose, and most importantly because He is forever living in us, all authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to [Us].” We have our power back. Jesus has done His part. Now, we have been commissioned to spread Christ’s character to the world, doing greater works than He.
So, leh' go. It's time for us as Believers to add some works to our faith. We have humbled ourselves and prayed, we have sought His face, we have turned from our wicked ways. It's now time for God to do some healing. If we look in His Word, healing came as a result of faith coupled with human action and obedience. Whether is was getting up and walking, touching Christ's garment, or even taking mud to the face. Faith action preceded divine healing. They out here hungry, let's feed them. They out here thirsty, let's give them something to drink. They naked, they strangers, they sick, they imprisoned, where we at? (Matthew 25:35-36). This is for the justice seekers. The followers of Christ. The peacemakers. You ready to work? Let's get it!
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