Scott has prompted us to consider the meaning of living with social justice and how we should respond to the desperate needs surrounding us. By sharing the powerful testimony of Peter from Burundi, a member of our Church, we witness the transformative power of responding righteously to unfair treatment and injustice.
Regrettably, Peter’s family’s story is not unique; many foreigners and individuals in our country face unfair treatment and endure challenging circumstances. Without the intervention of compassionate individuals, their suffering and injustices persist.
When confronted with social injustice, we must turn to God’s Word to discern how to respond as a Church. The need for assistance is urgent, with numerous opportunities for us to get involved.
Examining Matthew 25, we encounter the parable of two kinds of people. In verses 32-33, we are cautioned that God will judge and separate us, akin to a shepherd sorting sheep and goats. God places the sheep on His right (the place of honor) and the goats on His left (the place of rejection). These verses should resonate in our hearts, compelling us to respond.
In verses 35-37, we are called to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, welcome strangers into our homes, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison. In verse 40, we are reminded that when we neglect these people, like goats, we neglect the Lord. We must cease overlooking or dismissing the desperate needs of those we encounter daily and not shift the responsibility to others. Scott’s intention is not to induce guilt but to align God’s Word with our present situation, igniting compassion and action to aid those in need.
It is not our role to judge or justify others’ situations or make excuses for not getting involved. James 5 urges us not to judge or complain about others but to focus on our own sins and responsibilities. Although God created a diverse group of people, these verses apply to all believers as part of our mandate. We are called to be a community that cares for the hurting, welcomes the lost, and extends hospitality into our homes.
While there is widespread poverty and need, our challenge is not to address the masses comprehensively but to assist the individuals God places in our paths. Let us accompany those in distress, avoiding turning a blind eye to those in pain or obvious need. Showing kindness and involvement in someone’s life does not necessarily require extensive resources, time, or energy.
To help comprehend this challenging message, Scott employs the analogy of a mirror reflecting the real thing accurately. Our treatment of the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, and imprisoned reflects our hearts like a mirror. It is not about salvation but our mission to exhibit compassion, love, and care for those around us. When we possess Jesus’s heart, we naturally extend compassion through our actions.
Let us be the Church captivated by Jesus, motivating compassionate action to aid those in our communities. Confronting social injustices may incite anger and a desire for retribution, but God calls us to a different and better way.
When faced with injustices or unfairness, God calls us to respond with forgiveness and grace. Our response to apathy in assisting those who are recipients of injustice should be repentance.
Isaiah 58 reminds us that true worship involves freeing the wrongly imprisoned and oppressed, lightening the burden of those who work for us, sharing our food with the hungry, providing shelter to the homeless, giving clothes to those in need, and not hiding from relatives who need our help.
We must cease being like goats and be convicted and challenged to be sheep.