15 We Go: Ministry of Justice
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Where of going – Going beyond the community. beginning locally, then regionally, nationally, globally.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
all nations. The nations. Etc.
all nations. The nations. Etc.
What of going #3 – ministry of justice
What is justice?
When we think of justice what normally comes to mind is 2 things. criminal justice – making someone pay for their crimes with an appropriate punishment and restitution. Or the setting right of undeserved treatment.
And Social justice – taking care of the social and cultural issues of the day. Correcting poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, prison, slavery and human trafficking, racism, creation care.
The ministry of justice is following Jesus into the heart of God for rescuing those who are forgotten, left behind, and put down. Those who are least able to defend themselves.
Justice is about evening the odds, leveling the field by putting down the oppressors and lifting up the oppressed. Doing what is fair and right.
Going back to creation – God created mankind for relationship. That relationship was broken and all of creation has suffered. The rest of the story is God making the way back and rescuing the lost. Jesus is the provision for that and in His teaching also is the message of justice.
Justice is very closely tied to compassion and the Gospel. Justice is the essence of the 2nd commandment. Love God, Love your neighbor. Followers of Christ are to use their privilege, blessing, and abundance to serve the needs of others.
God’s Heart for Justice
God’s Heart for Justice
1 God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”: 2 “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
how long will you defend the unjust? Defend weak, fatherless, poor, oppressed, weak, needy.
how long will you defend the unjust? Defend weak, fatherless, poor, oppressed, weak, needy.
righteousness and justice foundation of throne, steadfast love and faithfulness
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.
righteousness and justice foundation of throne, steadfast love and faithfulness
righteousness and justice foundation of throne, steadfast love and faithfulness
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
to do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice
to do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
righteous care about justice for the poor, wicked not so.
righteous care about justice for the poor, wicked not so.
Proverbs 31:8-9
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
addressing the rebellion of Judah against God. Still carrying out the motions of law. Vv.12-13 who asked this of you. Stop bringing meaningless offerings. Vv.15 when you pray I hide my eyes and do not listen. V.17 learn to do good. Seek justice. Hep the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans, rights of widows. "the sacrifice I want is justice"
addressing the rebellion of Judah against God. Still carrying out the motions of law. Vv.12-13 who asked this of you. Stop bringing meaningless offerings. Vv.15 when you pray I hide my eyes and do not listen. V.17 learn to do good. Seek justice. Hep the oppressed.
post 1-17 in app
17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
similar to sacrifice not pleasing but the Lord requires do justice love kindness walk humbly with God.
Defend the cause of orphans, rights of widows. "the sacrifice I want is justice"
post 1-10 in app
, is this the fast that I want? The fast I want is justice.
, is this the fast that I want? The fast I want is justice.
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 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 them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
is this the fast that I want? The fast I want is justice.
the tithe I want is justice.
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
the tithe I want is justice.
The religion I want is justice
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
The religion I want is justice
Our Simple First Steps
Our Simple First Steps
Have a right perspective of yourself and others. start by seeing people as God sees them.
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
do not think that you are better than you are. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.
do not think that you are better than you are. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.
Do not judge.
Do not discriminate
Our Call to Justice
Our Call to Justice
1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
notice the suffering of others as if you were there suffering with them.
notice the suffering of others as if you were there suffering with them.
Compassion is mostly individual but has an aspect of corporately meeting needs as well.
Justice has an aspect of individual responsibility but is more focused on groups and larger scale systemic changes.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Application points – whereas the action with compassion is to be sensitive to those around you as you go and look for opportunities to meet needs, (Good Samaritan) and to be intentional about regular engagement where help is needed, the action with justice is to watch as you go for opportunities to right wrongs, set someone free from oppression, etc. and to be intentional about engaging with groups doing this on a larger scale. As a congregation, our goal is to partner with others doing these things.
What About You?
What About You?
Discussion:
Rich Man and Lazarus
Read the passage together.
Work together to retell the story.
Contrast the situation in the lives of the rich man with that of Lazarus.
Which character’s situation most resembles your own? Life of abundance (enough) or life of poverty (life altering lack)?
Contrast their life situations with each of their situations in the afterlife.
Why the role reversal?
Did the rich man end up in Hades and Lazarus by Abraham’s side because of their physical or financial states? What indicators does the story give?
Considering our message on God’s heart for justice – how does this story exemplify God’s justice?
Although this story says something about salvation and our end destination, that is not the main point Jesus was making. Context shows us Jesus told several stories together about man’s relationship to wealth and how we use our blessings. Attitudes and actions are closely connected.
What attitudes and actions do you need to reevaluate and change based on the truths Jesus taught in this story? In our message on the ministry of justice?