A LEADER…A CHRISTIAN – III

Equality, fairness and justice are things that don’t matter much, to most people, when life is going well. We don’t think much about them, when it is others who are struggling, and not we ourselves. However, when injustice, oppression and violence, come knocking on our door, then we begin to feel the pain, and experience truly, the anguish of what suffering is all about.

The Word of God, gives us a very clear mandate for a child of God. The Christian is commanded to be concerned about the poor and the needy – “4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor….12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. 14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.” The point to note, is that, the vulnerable, marginalised, neglected, helpless and hopeless of the world need the voice of Christians to uplift and uphold them. In doing so, we uphold the justice and righteousness of God.

The above words are not political in nature. It is not the agenda of some activists trying to transform the world. It is not something called, “social gospel” or “liberation theology” or anything like that. These are the words of Solomon, from the Bible. These are God’s words…spoken through His servant. The God of the Bible is concerned about injustice and oppression, and wants us to use the transformative power of the gospel, to help the poor, needy and the marginalised, to find help for the present, and hope for a future in Jesus, and His righteous kingdom.

Standing for the poor and the marginalised is always in the context of non-violence, and the transformation possible in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In simpler words, it is we being, the salt and the light…by letting our light of our good works shining in the ever darkening world – Matthew 5:13-16.