The Terrorist

There was once a terrorist...

His mission in life was to bring Christianity to an end.

I think my first reaction, were I to come across this man on a road in the middle east, would be a desire to execute judgement.

As an American male my desire in hearing of such acts would be to "go all Rambo on his ass" and "take him out".

But in this case God had something different in mind; a desire to see JUSTICE
rather than simply ending injustice.

He met this man on a road, and brought about REDEMPTION.....
And a man named Saul changed his name to Paul.




So often we think about ending injustice, but what about bringing justice? Is justice nothing more than the absence of its opposite, or is it something more proactive?

Throughout the Old Testament, God shows his people what justice looks like. We are told not to forget the widow, the orphan, the refugee. God placed laws in effect to make sure the 'least' were cared for. Laws ensuring that the poor had food to eat; that slaves were not mistreated. There were laws in place so that eventually debts would be erased and slaves would go free...

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth: in a world where people did not recognize that everyone had value and a sacred humanity; these laws showed that everyone's life had just as much value as your own. God gave his people laws to show the world what a society living in justice should look like.

When God's people didn't live up to these laws, God sent prophets. When justice was lacking prophets cried out and brought light to the dark areas of society, reminding people what justice should look like. The word of the Lord came to _______ (fill in the blank with almost any prophet's name) and injustice is exposed and God's desire to see justice on earth is voiced.

Their houses are full of deceit;
they have become rich and powerful

and have grown fat and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;
they do not defend the just cause of the poor.

Jeremiah 5

God's desire for justice, this word of the Lord, came to prophet after prophet after prophet. And finally....

the word

became flesh

and dwelt among us...

John 1

God's desire for justice in the form of a man... and what does He do?

Surrounded by Zelots who want to fight against oppression, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us..... Then, as he is being put to death he actually does it.

"Father forgive them for the know not what they do"

Jesus drives home the point that people have a sacred value. He adds a point to the eye for eye tooth for tooth scriptures by saying turn the other cheek. This isn't saying 'be a sissy.' This is saying, in a culture where you only interact with people using your right hand, including slapping them, 'when someone backhand slaps you across the face as an inferior, turn and look them in the eye, as an equal, created in the image of God.'

What does the summary of God's love and desire for justice expressed in the prophets look like?

Jesus sums up all the law and the prophets:

LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE.

Jesus asserts our sacred humanity. He challenges us to love and be merciful. His life is a testimony to God's desire to redeem.

If we lived in a world where people recognized that everyone else was valuable and that life is sacred - one third of the population of Moldova would not have been trafficked out of the country.

If we lived in a world were we showed mercy to our debtors - there wouldn't be entire communities in India trapped in generational debt slavery

If we were actually the salt of the earth, the flavor of God in this world, if we actually loved our enemies - perhaps Islam would begin to grasp the idea of a God who is not to be intensely feared, but would begin to understand what a God who intensely loves looks like and perhaps that would transform the middle east from its foundations.

If we loved God and loved people, if we acted righteously to one another and became lovers of mercy walking in humility, then maybe, just maybe...

THAT would bring justice, the kingdom of heaven, here to this earth.

Staffing a justice focused DTS, I am constantly challenged in my thinking about justice issues. What does Justice look like here? Sometimes in the details it seems less simple, but I want to keep pressing into the learning heart of the one who leads justice to victory (Matt 12) The more I look into these things, the more I see Jesus being the most relevant solution to the injustice in the world. If traffickers, terrorists, recruiters of child soldiers, high cast slave owners, and corrupt politicians were to become actual disciples of Jesus, the culture of this world would be transformed from the ground up. We can tack on aid programs, fight wars and raise awareness, but unless people's heart's are changed and culture is transformed from its roots we will not see justice flourish.

As I review my thoughts, I realize, this is why I need to be more than an activist... I need to be a disciple, a disciple and a missionary.