The social injustice that is happening in the world today is mind-blowing. And it seems as if most of us only want to get involved when there’s something we can get out of it. So the motive seems to be the issue.
Speak up about things that are wrong in the world! And when you do it, do it because your heart is in the right place. Do it because you care about mankind (oops – “humankind” would be a more politically correct word). And when there is injustice against animals, speak out against that as well. Do it because you care. Do it because you want to see change. Do it because you are tired of seeing suffering in the world.
We have become such a self-absorbed society, focused on our own little issues, that we are blind to the real problems in the world. And so often our own problems are the result of our own bad decisions. So often we direct our attention to things that, in the bigger scheme of things, don’t really matter. When ball-tampering happens in a cricket match, the world is appalled by it. I am not saying cheating is good. But is it such a big deal compared to real problems in the world? Kim Kardashian breaks a nail and millions of people sympathise with her.
We seem to have lost the ability to determine what is important. Since I started writing this post:
- people have been murdered because of someone’s greed
- children have died of hunger
- children have died because of the lack of clean water
- children, as young as 3 years old, have been sold as sex slaves
- children have been forced to become soldiers and kill
- women have been battered by their husbands
- people have overdosed on drugs
- children don’t have the opportunity for education
- etc, etc, etc,
Those are real issues! Those are the real things that should concern us , make us sit up straight and say: “Enough is enough!” Instead, we concern ourselves with insignificant nonsense.
If you really want to know what it feels like to be alive, then find your voice when it comes to the social injustices in the world. Speak up for those who can’t speak up for themselves! Stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves! Having a voice for the “voiceless” is essential, but progressing from speaking out, to acting out is even more important. Words can convict but actions will convince. Good intentions are important, but they have to be followed by actions.
Jesus has called us to be the light and the salt of the earth. Light stops us from falling over obstacles. Salt preserves and stops things from decaying. When I look at the world today, we don’t seem to be doing a really good job of being that light and salt. The world seems to be a stumbling- and rotten place considering all the wars, the hatred and selfishness going on. Proverbs 31:8 says: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
The church seems to be spending so much time criticising, that we don’t have time to put our love for our neighbour into action. We are so busy with our meetings and social get togethers and our “religious mumbo-jumbo” that we don’t have time for what Jesus actually called us to do. The main focus of the church shouldn’t be the church – it should be the world out there who needs to see the love of Jesus in action!
“Quit your worship charades.
I can’t stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You’ve worn me out!
I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I’ll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I’ll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don’t have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
Isaiah 1:13-17
Mark Davidson
