Responding to Injustice

There is HOPE in how we respond to injustice. How should we respond to injustice? It’s only natural ad human to be angry. But that’s not how God asks us to respond. How do you feel when an injustice is done to you or when you see an injustice. That question was asked in the last post, so perhaps this is part two; our response.

There are many examples of injustices throughout the Bible. Joseph’s response to his injustice is a good example. If you haven’t read the passage yet, please take a few moments to read it, (Genesis 37 and 50:15-21). Joseph responded with forgiveness. Verses 19 -21 in chapter 50 says; “But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God?  Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.  So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.” Joseph also gave what his brothers needed. He spoke kindly to them. I believe Joseph had compassion because he provided for his nieces and nephews as well.

Another example is in the parable that Jesus told of the unmerciful servant. Peter asked how many times must he forgive his brother in Matthew 18:23-35. Jesus replied” not seven times, but seventy times seven.” Jesus goes on to tell of the parable of a king settling accounts with his servants. One servant owed ten thousand bags of gold and begged the king to give him time to repay, he asked for patience. The king took pity and granted his servant’s debt paid. However, the same servant found one of his fellow servants who owed him and demanded he be paid back. The other servants found out about this and went to the king. The king’s response; verse 32 – 33, “You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ The servant who lacked a little empathy as well as mercy and was thrown in jail. When we don’t forgive others, we are just perpetuating the injustice. Regardless if the injustice was directly toward us, walking around with an angry unforgiving heart is literally unhealthy to our bodies. (Psych Central) We are hurting ourselves more than the person who hurt us, physically and spiritually. Mark 11:25 – “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Matthew 6:15 “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

(NIV)

Another example of forgiveness is Jesus forgiving the thief on the cross. Luke 23-32-43, Jesus forgave those who were mocking him, verse 34 – ” “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” ” And when the thief asked for forgiveness Jesus immediately forgave him; verse 42 – 43, “Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Salvation really is that easy, a repentant heart and asking Jesus into your heart.

It comes down to this. How do you want to be treated when you are the one causing the injustice? When you have been the one to hurt someone else? When you feel remorse and regret for your actions and words?

Let’s recap:

1 . FORGIVE. First go to God and ask for His forgiveness. Then ask for forgiveness from the one you hurt. Forgiving isn’t letting the offender off the hook. It’s freeing you of the bondage of bitterness. Your hands are washed in a situation when you forgive. God will deal with the other person. Ephesians 4: 31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord

2. Have MERCY like the king had on his servant. Treat others with the same grace and mercy. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, Luke 6:31. Be empathetic, have compassion on others. It’s not always easy. Make the choice to forgive and your heart will catch up. It’s not easy to make that choice. But if you’re making the choice based on your feelings; it’s gonna be hard. Make your choice based on being obedient to God, makes making that choice easier.

By choosing forgiveness, we are offering HOPE to a fallen world, just as God has done for us. By choosing forgiveness we are being imitators of God. So, HOPE can be found in injustice through forgiveness.

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