God and Social Justice [Introductory]

I think for as long as I can remember, I was indifferent to the struggles of humanity. I wasn't really bothered. As much as scenes of poverty were a daily reality, I feel like I was sheltered from such--sheltered by love perhaps and escapism through novel reading and self-centeredness. I existed for my own pleasure and that was that. Perhaps there was a desire to escape from poverty but even that very desire was rooted on selfishness:self-indulgence, materialism and the like. So, essentially I wasn't really bothered by the next person--perhaps here and there, the were scenes that plunged my soul with pain such as alcohol abuse, and women abuse but these would soon be watered down by other issues.

The reality of society has really begun to sink in only two years ago. I moved to Cape Town and I feel like for me, Cape Town awakened me to the daily struggle of others. Seeing people sleep in the streets, living in slums, and so forth is a daily thing. Then, there's been racism, experienced by loved ones, who have been rejected sorely based on their skin color such that buying a house became a tedious transaction--only because they are black and they have an African name. As I became increasingly aware of these injustices, it became clear that freedom, justice, human rights, and all these other terms are just terms to shield us from the evils that are faced daily b black people. Slavery still exists, just that it has been colored by charters that are the very reasons for so mcuh evil. There's been a lot of human rights, any system made to strip us of morality while making us think we are free.

And so as I awakened to how the black person continues to struggle, how as blacks we've become each others enemies, and how whites have continued to act like they never did any evil, I became angry. Daily, I saw how classism was and still is a major thing. I would be astonished at how one group can live lavishily, in mansions, and just across the road, people would be living in houses that are not meant for human inhabitation and so forth. And I actually started uttering the same cry: What sin have black people committed? If God cares, why all this injustice, especially towards non-whites? These were the questions that were starting to bother me daily. I found myself distancing myself even from God. It didn't really make sense honestly.

And many of my young African friends have continued to ask the very same question, to the extent where they start questioning God Himself. God is viewed as the very enemy or the God of the oppressor. After all, it is through this God that the oppressor gained victory over the black people, so they say. These arguments began to make sense. And so I had to go back to God and ask Him these very questions. And when I did, I was comforted. For I personally, understanding the role of free will, sin,and the great controversy have enabled me to make sense of all these injustices. But above all, understanding who God is has truly made me understand and have every question answered.

I've so learnt that, the most crucial thing for every basic human, whether s/he has these very qiestions or any other, is to understand who God is, according to His Word and His dealing with mankind. In this, I've only uttered: truly, amindst all of these evils, God is the God of both the white and the black. He mourns with the oppressor while he hates the oppressors' method. He's not smiling or sitting back and indifferent. What has silenced me, is Christ, man's Creator, hanged on the cross, for a better cause than human rights. For reconciliation in the truest sense, thorough transformation, for until we can experience grace, injustices will continue. So, for me, when all these questions come rushing, I'm ever silence by the thought that God-The Son hanged naked on the cross. And on this very premise, of sacrifice life, when He could've destroyed mankind, is the very confirmation that human suffering inflicts pain to God Himself. And if God Himself can die to free mankind, at the expense of His comfort, how can he not be moved by racism, poverty, slavery etc? I know He is moved. Even looking at how God deals with me personally is proof that God is siding with me.

And my plea is one: may you prove God for yourself: through His Word and His dealings with you. For the safest place is going back to the Creator when nothing makes sense. He's willing to reason with us within the confines of His Word, outside of others' opinions. Listen, let Him explain Himself and humbly submit.

While you at it, consider:

One Family by Creation and Redemption

No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is recognized by God.

He is the Maker of all mankind. All men are of one family by creation, and all

are one through redemption. Christ came to demolish every wall of partition, to

throw open every compartment of the temple, that every soul may have free access

to God.... In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free. All are brought

nigh by His precious blood.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 386.

The Lord has looked with sadness upon the most pitiful of all sights, the

colored race in slavery. He desires us, in our work for them, to remember their

providential deliverance from slavery, their common relationship to us by creation

and by redemption, and their right to the blessings of freedom.—Testimonies for
the Church, 7:223.

My favorite :)

When the sinner is converted he receives the Holy Spirit, that makes him a

child of God, and fits him for the society of the redeemed and the angelic host. He

is made a joint heir with Christ. Whoever of the human family give themselves

to Christ, whoever hear the truth and obey it, become children of one family. The

ignorant and the wise, the rich and the poor, the heathen and the slave, white or

black—Jesus paid the purchase money for their souls. If they believe on Him, his

cleansing blood is applied to them. The black man’s name is written in the book

of life beside the white man’s. All are one in Christ. Birth, station, nationality, or

color cannot elevate or degrade men. The character makes the man. If a red man,

a Chinese, or an African gives his heart to God, in obedience and faith, Jesus loves

him none the less for his color. He calls him His well-beloved brother....(emphasis mine)

Statements retrieved from: Selected Messages, Book 2, PP.485-488

The Christian's position in the midst of the 'fees must fall movement' and other protests-Part 1

Disclaimer:I am still to study on how we should deal with social injustices,whether we should protest and join trade unions as Christians.So this is something I still need to study extensively.Yet God has settled some of the questions I had.

NOTE:The word of God has counsel for EVERYTHING.We should consult it .

In light of the 'fees must fall movement' and many other protests that happen in South Africa,the cry is genuine.Education should be made accessible to everyone,since it is a skill most needful for survival (debatable;but I will not discuss it now ).All these claims are just and Christianity calls us to uphold justice (Isaiah 58).When you read in the Old Testament we see God advocating for the rights of the orphan,poor,widow and He goes on to command us to do so too.God,even goes on to counsel us to not oppress foreigners living in our land (Deuteronomy).He goes on to say,interest should not be added if you borrow someone money.So,clearly,God is all for justice.In fact,He is just (Deuteronomy 32:4)

But it's also important to note:

• Christianity does not operate on carnal nature:violence,anger,disrespecting authorities (Galations 5:19-21;Romans 13:1-3).Now,people often mistake respecting those we are under as God ordaining slavery.But God does not uphold slavery. In fact, He hates slavery so much that He created us as free moral agents-free to choose.Yet God is also a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:34) and for this reason authority has been put in place.

• Christ is our example (1 John 2:6).Christ also suffered like us South Africans-not on the issue of race;but because He was righteous such that he was hated.Hated for nothing,like blacks were hated during apartheid and by racists.Furthermore,Christ was abused,beaten,to the point of death (Isaiah 53).

• What did Jesus do in all of this?Philippians 2:8-He kept quiet and He prayed.He even prayed for His enemies,saying,"forgive them Father,for they know not what they do" .
•  In John 18,we find Jesus in a crisis.He is about to be put to death-what He came for-to die for a sinful world.But His disciples,Peter specifically, takes a sword and hurts one who wanted to take Christ.To a certain degree,what Peter does seems just-He is saving his friend.Yet he causes violence.

Yet for the Christian,violence is not an option. 

^" Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."-John 18:36

Another thing to consider,when we become Christians we are created anew (2 Corinthians 5:17),meaning that we no longer think like we used to.Our minds are transformed (Romans 12:2;Ephesians 4:23).In fact,we are said to have the mind of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:16).Philippians 2:5-8 goes on to tell us the Spirit Christ possesses (mind of Christ) and in fact Heaven is ruled by it-meekness.We're told the meek will inherit heaven.This is how we should react,with meekness.A very hard attitude to possess YET  a gift from e God,through the working of the Holy Spirit.

Christianity does not call us to keep quiet and be indifferent about social justice;neither does it call us to violence.

We are also counselled to intercede:I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;-1 Timothy 2:1-3

Something to not forget:
¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.-Ephesians 6:10-12