Facing Injustice (Luke 13v1-9) by Stephen Coffin

Injustice is a sad fact of life

• By people (Pilate)
• By accident (Siloam)
• By natural disaster (Haiti, Chile)

Sometimes we see the cause (or mix of causes)

• Human sin (Pilate)
• Negligence (Siloam)
• The way the world works (Haiti, Chile)

Do victims deserve it?

• Jesus says no!

Does God care?

• He suffered injustice in Jesus
• He loves us & suffers with us still
• He lives in us by his Spirit to help us

Jesus calls us to repent

• How we respond matters

Fight for justice for others

• But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 5v24)
• What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6v8)
• "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?” (Isaiah 58v6)

Support organisations striving for justice, such as

• ACAT
• Tearfund

Temper justice with mercy

• The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. (Psalm 33v5)
• Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. (Psalm 89v14)
• "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion." (Hosea 2v19)

Facing personal injustice

• Don’t be a doormat !
• Commit your cause to God in prayer
  • Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12v19)
• Trust God to work for good
  • We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him... (Romans 8v28)
• Love & forgive those who treat you unjustly
  • But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5v44-45)

Jesus (on the cross) is our example

Questions to consider

1. How do you face injustice yourself? When is it “not fair” in your experience?
2. Should we expect life to be fair always?
3. How can you ensure you act justly yourself?
4. What should you do when you realise you have acted unjustly?

1. How do you react when you are treated unfairly?
2. How should you react when you are treated unfairly?
3. How can you continue to love & forgive those who treat you unjustly?
4. How can you commit your cause to God in prayer?

1. What issues of justice in the world concern you particularly? e.g. the gulf between rich & poor, “climate justice”, gender discrimination, trade issues, those falsely imprisoned, religious persecution, access to clean water & sanitation
2. What can you do about these?
3. What organisations do you support that work for justice? e.g. www.tearfund.org, www.acatfrance.fr, www.acatuk.org.uk, www.banabasfund.org, Amnesty International
4. What are you doing to promote justice

• in the world, *locally,
• in your family,
• etc.?

1. How would you respond to someone who claimed that God is unjust?
2. How does Jesus’ example speak to issues of justice?
3. Is there any sense in which injustice contains the seeds of its own inevitable downfall?
4. How do you feel about the idea that God will ultimately punish injustice?

Would you be willing to commit to writing ACAT letters regularly?
Alison Coulavin will supply you with material at intervals of your choosing….
Please ask her….